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.

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION —REPORT—STATEMENT BY SPEAKER

The Speaker presented the following document:

Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Zambia and Mauritius, 21 to 27 September 2025—Report, February 2026.

The Speaker made a statement in connection with the report.

Health Legislation Amendment (Improving Choice and Transparency for Private Health Consumers) Bill 2026

Mr Butler (Minister for Health and Ageing), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to health, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Butler presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

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

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

Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026

Dr Mulino (Assistant Treasurer), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to corporations, financial services and the financial reporting system, and for related purposes.

Document

Dr Mulino presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Dr Mulino moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

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

BILL DECLARED REFERRED TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) declared the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025 referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.

National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Federation Chamber, a Governor-General’s message recommending an appropriation had been reported, and the bill had been agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill.

Bill agreed to.

On the motion of Ms White (Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Federation Chamber, a Governor-General’s message recommending an appropriation had been reported, and the bill had been agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill.

Bill agreed to.

On the motion of Ms Kearney (Assistant Minister for Social Services), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests —REPORT

Mrs Elliot (Chair) presented the following document:

Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests—Report concerning the registration and declaration of Members’ interests during 2025—Report, February 2026.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Mr Laxale presented the following document:

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—Annual report of committee activities 2024-2025—Report, February 2026.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Mr Laxale, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026

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—

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned (Mr Rae—Minister for Aged Care and Seniors), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

Eighteenth Anniversary of the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples and the Closing the Gap Annual Report and Implementation Plan —MINISTERIAL STATEMENT—MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF DOCUMENT—REFERENCE TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Mr Albanese (Prime Minister), by leave, made a ministerial statement relating to the eighteenth anniversary of the national apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples and the Closing the Gap annual report and implementation plan, and presented the following documents:

Closing the Gap—

Statement by the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese MP, 12 February 2026.

Commonwealth Annual Report 2025 and Commonwealth Implementation Plan 2026.

Coalition of Peaks—Closing the Gap—

Implementation Plan 2026.

Report for 2024-25.

Ms Ley (Leader of the Opposition) addressed the House in reply.

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) moved—That the House take note of the following document:

Closing the Gap—Commonwealth Annual Report 2025 and Commonwealth Implementation Plan 2026.

Debate adjourned (Mr Hawke—Manager of Opposition Business), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Mr Burke declared the order of the day referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026

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—

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.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice being asked—

Member directed to leave

At 2.50 pm the Member for Herbert ( Mr Thompson ) 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 3.15 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.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Cost of living

The House was informed that Mr Hogan had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “This Government’s betrayal of Australians due to higher energy costs and other cost of living pressures”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Mr Hogan addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026

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—

Debate resumed.

Ms Landry addressing the House—

ADJOURNMENT

It being 4.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

The House continuing to sit until 5 pm—The Speaker adjourned the House until 10 am on Monday, 2 March 2026.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 12 February 2026 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Australian Citizenship Act 2007— Exercise of ministerial discretion under subsection 22B(1A)—5 February 2026.

Defence Act 1903— Defence (Individual benefits) Determination (No. 2) 2026 [F2026L00099].

Sydney Airport Curfew Act 1995— Dispensation report—02/26.

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except *Mr Burns, Dr Haines, Mr Katter, Mr Marles, *Mr Neumann, Mr L O’Brien, *Ms Payne and *Dr Reid.

* On leave

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

The Federation Chamber met at 9.39 am, a division having been called in the House.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements being made—

Suspension of meeting

At 9.43 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 9.55 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Members’ constituency statements continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 10.03 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 10.13 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Members’ constituency statements continued.

Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) 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 Mr Ted O’Brien, 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 notes the:

(1) Government has cynically cobbled together unrelated measures within this bill in an attempt to play wedge politics, not deliver policy outcomes;

(2) Opposition is supportive of Schedules 3, 4 and 6, which deal with tax incentives for the Rugby World Cup, a tax treaty with Portugal and an increase in the Wine Equalisation Tax producer rebate cap;

(3) Opposition wishes to see the smooth passage of Schedules 3, 4 and 6 and are willing to work with the Government on these uncontroversial aspects; and

(4) Opposition has serious concerns about Schedules 1 and 2 of this bill, which restrict choice in superannuation”—

And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Spender, viz.— That all words after “whilst” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

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

(1) affirms the objective of superannuation is to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way;

(2) notes that:

(a) while advertising of superannuation products has led to poor outcomes in some circumstances, advertising does and should continue to play an important role in fostering competition and driving innovation among super funds;

(b) while Australians are often disengaged with their superannuation fund, efforts to legislate additional consumer protections in response to this disengagement can unintentionally weaken competition between funds; and

(c) any weakening in the competitive pressures on super funds to maximise net returns for customers also has a hidden cost to the retirement balances of account holders; and

(3) calls on the Government to acknowledge this policy tension and commit to reviewing this and other legislative measures for the individual and cumulative impact on fund incentives and performance”—

Debate resumed.

Suspension of meeting

At 11.58 am, the Deputy Speaker left the Chair due to the lack of a quorum.

Resumption of meeting

At 12.41 pm, the Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair, and a quorum being present—

Debate continued.

Question—That the amendment moved by Ms Spender to the amendment proposed by Mr Ted O’Brien be agreed to—put and negatived.

Question—That the amendment moved by Mr Ted O’Brien be agreed to—put and not being resolved—bill to be returned to the House with an unresolved question.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr Ng moved—That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

Question—put and passed.

At 1.25 pm, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the Federation Chamber until 10.30 am on Monday, 2 March 2026.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber