The House met, at 9 am, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker (the Honourable M. Dick) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

Document

The Speaker presented the following document:

Committee reports—Speaker’s schedule of the status of Government responses to committee reports (as at 21 November 2025).

Order of the day returned to the House

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) declared the Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2025 returned to the House for further consideration.

Resumption of the debate was made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025

Ms Wells (Minister for Communications), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to telecommunications, and for related purposes.

Document

Ms Wells presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Ms Wells moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Conaghan), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Bill 2025

Mr Keogh (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act about the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Keogh presented an explanatory memorandum to this bill and the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Keogh moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Conaghan), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025

Mr Keogh (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to deal with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2025 , and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Keogh moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Conaghan), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 2) Bill 2025

Mr Keogh (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to veterans’ affairs and military rehabilitation and compensation, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Keogh presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Keogh moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Conaghan), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Airservices Australia—Aviation rescue fire fighting services NexGen project for the end-of-life facilities upgrades—Phase 1A (Queensland and Victoria)—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Airservices Australia—Aviation rescue fire fighting services NexGen project for the end-of-life facilities upgrades—Phase 1A (Queensland and Victoria).

Question—put and passed.

Airservices Australia—PFAS remediation of the former fire training ground at Rockhampton Airport, QLD—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Airservices Australia—PFAS remediation of the former fire training ground at Rockhampton Airport, Queensland.

Question—put and passed.

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time— And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Steggall, viz.— That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) our local independent breweries and spirit distilleries are in crisis;

(b) brewers and distilleries carry a huge financial burden, from growing inflationary pressure to the price of energy, and issues around staffing and the rising cost of alcohol excise taxation;

(c) excise on beer and spirits has increased by more than 17 per cent since 2020, adding significant strain on our brewers and the spirits industry;

(d) according to the Independent Brewers Association, at least 51 independent brewing businesses entered voluntary administration or closed in the two years to April 2025, as mounting costs and rising excise made it harder to stay viable;

(e) Australia’s spirits tax remains indexed to CPI twice a year and is one of the highest spirits taxes in the world; and

(f) while this bill provides relief in taxation for draught beer it does not extend this assistance to these other producers; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) freeze indexation of all alcohol excise taxes until at least 1 August 2027;

(b) index the excise remission cap annually in line with inflation; and

(c) extend the deadlines for payback of excise debt to the ATO”—

Debate resumed.

Mr Burns addressing the House—

Mr Burns was granted leave to continue his speech when the debate is resumed.

Debate adjourned (Mr Bowen—Minister for Climate Change and Energy), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

Annual Climate Change Statement —MINISTERIAL STATEMENT—MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF DOCUMENT—REFERENCE TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Mr Bowen (Minister for Climate Change and Energy), by leave, made a ministerial statement relating to the annual climate change statement , and presented the following documents:

Annual climate change statement—Statement by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen MP, 27 November 2025.

Australia’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution.

Australia’s Net Zero Plan.

Climate Change Authority—2025 annual progress report.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—

Annual climate change statement 2025.

Australia’s emissions projections 2025, November 2025.

Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts—Quarterly update of Australia’s national greenhouse gas inventory: June 2025, incorporating preliminary emissions up to September 2025.

Response to the Climate Change Authority’s 2035 targets advice enclosing the Net Zero Plan and Nationally Determined Contribution—Statement by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen MP, 27 November 2025.

Mr Tehan addressed the House in reply.

Mr Bowen moved—That the House take note of the following document:

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Annual climate change statement 2025.

Debate adjourned (Mr Leeser), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Mr Bowen, by leave, moved—That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.

Question—put and passed.

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time— And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Steggall (see item No. 11, page 399) —

Debate resumed.

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

Death of Former Senator (the Honourable Graham Frederick Richardson)—CONDOLENCE MOTION—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Speaker reported that the order of the day relating to the Prime Minister’s motion of condolence in connection with the Honourable Graham Frederick Richardson AO had been debated in the Federation Chamber and returned to the House, and presented a certified copy of the motion.

All Members present having risen, in silence—Motion agreed to.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice being asked—

Member directed to leave

At 2.14 pm the Member for Fairfax ( Mr Ted O’Brien ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for interjecting and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continuing—

Member directed to leave

At 2.20 pm the Member for Fisher ( Mr Wallace ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for interjecting and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continuing—

Member directed to leave

At 2.25 pm the Member for Cowper ( Mr Conaghan ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for continuing to interject after a warning had been given by the Chair and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continued.

Leave of absence to all Members

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) moved—That leave of absence be given to every Member of the House of Representatives from the determination of this sitting of the House to the date of its next sitting.

Question—put and passed.

Suspension of standing orders 31 and 33

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) moved—That standing order 31 (automatic adjournment of the House) and standing order 33 (limit on business after normal time of adjournment) be suspended for this sitting.

Question—put and passed, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.

Auditor-General’s Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 45 of 2024-25—Performance audit—Fraud and corruption control arrangements in Creative Australia: Creative Australia—Corrigendum.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

*Aboriginal Hostels Limited—Report for 2024-25.

* Aged Care Act 1997— Report on the operation of the Act for 2024-25.

*Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies—Report for 2024-25.

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998— Quarterly report of the Chief Executive Officer for the period 1 January to 31 March 2025.

Crimes Act 1914 —Witness identity protection certificates—Report for 2024-25—Department of Home Affairs.

*Housing Australia—Report for 2024-25.

Migration Act 1958— Section 486O—Assessment of detention arrangements—Commonwealth Ombudsman’s reports—

No. 22 of 2025—

Report.

Government response.

No. 23 of 2025—

Report.

Government response.

No. 24 of 2025—

Report.

Government response.

No. 25 of 2025—

Report.

Government response.

No. 26 of 2025—

Report.

Government response.

No. 27 of 2025—

Report.

Government response.

Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care—Review of My Aged Care—Final report, 2025.

*Outback Stores—Report for 2024-25.

Surveillance Devices Act 2004—

Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report to the Minister for Home Affairs on agencies’ compliance for the period 1 January to 30 June 2025.

Report on the operation of the Act for 2024-25.

*Torres Strait Regional Authority—Report for 2024-25.

*The documents were made Parliamentary Papers.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Power bills

The House was informed that Ms Ley (Leader of the Opposition) had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The failure of the Prime Minister to fulfil his promise to all Australians to reduce their power bills by $275 and the failure of the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, who is working part time, to deliver affordable energy for Australian households and businesses”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Ms Ley addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent no more than six Members immediately making statements of no longer than five minutes each.

Question—put and passed, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.

STATEMENTS

In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier this sitting—

Statements were made.

SUSPENSION OF SITTING

At 5.38 pm, the Speaker left the Chair.

Friday, 28 November 2025

RESUMPTION OF SITTING

At 9.07 am, the Speaker resumed the Chair.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE— Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025

Message No. 64, 27 November 2025, from the Senate was reported returning the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 with amendments.

Ordered—That the amendments be considered immediately.

On the motion of Mr Clare (Minister for Education), the amendments were agreed to, after debate.

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Messages from the Senate, 27 November 2025, were reported returning the following bills without amendments or requests:

No. 54— National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025 .

No. 55— Environment Information Australia Bill 2025 .

No. 56— Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025 ( without requests ).

No. 57— Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025 ( without requests ).

No. 58— Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025 ( without requests ).

No. 59— Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025 ( without requests ).

No. 60— Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 2) Bill 2025 .

No. 61— Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025 .

No. 62— Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Bill 2025 .

No. 63— Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025 .

No. 65— Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025 .

No. 66— Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 .

No. 67— VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 .

No. 68— Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025 .

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee —MEMBERSHIP

The House was informed that the Prime Minister had nominated a Member to be a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Mr Burke (Leader of the House), by leave, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Intelligence Services Act 2001 , Mr Thompson be appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Question—put and passed.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

Message No. 69, 27 November 2025, from the Senate was reported informing the House that Senator Duniam had been appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) moved—That the House do now adjourn.

Question—put and passed.

And then the House, at 9.46 am, adjourned until 12 noon on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 27 November 2025 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Airspace Act 2007 and Airspace (Consequentials and Other Measures) Act 2007— Airspace Regulations 2007—Determination of Airspace and Controlled Aerodromes, Etc. (Designated Airspace Handbook) Instrument 2025—CASA OAR 186/25 [F2025L01426].

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999— List of Exempt Native Specimens Amendment (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources New and Exploratory Fisheries in the Ross Sea (Statistical Subareas 88.1 and 88.2) and East Antarctica (Statistical Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2)) Instrument, November 2025 [F2025L01423].

Migration Act 1958—

Migration (Prohibited Things) Determination 2025—LIN 25/068 [F2025L01422].

Migration Regulations 1994—Migration (Arrangements for Protection, Refugee and Humanitarian Visas) Amendment (Expanding Internet Lodgement) Instrument 2025—LIN 25/121 [F2025L01435].

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986— Veterans’ Affairs (Treatment Principles) Amendment (Medical Practitioner Fee Schedule Services) Determination 2025 [F2025L01433].

National Health Act 1953— National Health (Minimum Stockholding) Amendment Determination (No. 11) 2025—PB 148 of 2025 [F2025L01436].

Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015— Health Insurance (prudential standard) determination No. 1 of 2025 [F2025L01429].

Sydney Airport Curfew Act 1995— Dispensation report—09/25.

Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Act 2020— Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) (Base and Administrative Cost Components) Determination 2025 [F2025L01438].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Gosling, Mr Hastie, Mr Katter, Ms Landry, *Ms Payne, Ms Plibersek, Ms Swanson, Mr J Wilson and Mr R Wilson.

* On leave

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

2025

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SUPPLEMENT TO VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

No. 30

FEDERATION CHAMBER

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Thursday, 27 November 2025

The Federation Chamber met at 9.30 am.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements were made.

DEATH OF FORMER Senator (the Honourable Graham Frederick Richardson)—CONDOLENCE MOTION

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the motion of Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)—That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 8 November 2025, of the Honourable Graham Frederick Richardson AO, a former Minister and Senator for the State of New South Wales from 1983 to 1994, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement—

Debate resumed.

Suspension of meeting

At 10.50 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 11.03 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Debate continued.

As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, all Members present stood, in silence.

Ms Byrnes, by leave, moved—That further proceedings be conducted in the House.

Question—put and passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms Byrnes moved—That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

Question—put and passed.

At 11.37 am, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the Federation Chamber until 12.30 pm on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber