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.

International Women’s Day —STATEMENT ON A SIGNIFICANT MATTER— Reference to Federation Chamber

Ms White (Assistant Minister for Women), pursuant to notice, made a statement in relation to International Women’s Day.

Mrs McIntosh addressed the House in reply.

Ms White moved—That further statements on International Women’s Day be permitted in the Federation Chamber.

Question—put and passed.

Selection Committee

The Speaker presented the following document:

Report No. 8 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 23 March 2026.

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Messages from the Senate, 10 March 2026, were reported returning the following bills without amendments or requests:

No. 78— Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026 .

No. 79— Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026 ( without requests ).

Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend legislation relating to the criminal law, law enforcement and telecommunications, and for other purposes.

Document

Ms Rowland presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

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

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

Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) Bill 2026 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Federation Chamber and agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill.

Bill agreed to.

On the motion of Mr Gorman (Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

National Disability Insurance Scheme—Joint Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Coker (Chair) presented the following document:

National Disability Insurance Scheme—Joint Standing Committee—Annual report No. 1 of the 48th Parliament—Report, incorporating a dissenting report.

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

Ms Coker, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) 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 Mrs McIntosh, 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 is of the opinion that the bill:

(1) does not provide sufficient certainty that universal outdoor mobile connectivity for voice and SMS services will be delivered to all Australians within the requisite timeframe, particularly for those living in regional, rural and remote Australia;

(2) places a vague and uncertain obligation on telecommunications carriers to provide “reasonable access” to outdoor mobile connectivity on an “equitable basis”;

(3) legislates the use of technologies such as voice to satellite before it either exists at scale or is commercially available, fuelling uncertainty and raising false hope particularly for Australians living or working in regional Australia;

(4) does not account for the fact that many handset devices in the Australian market will not be compatible with the technology required to access universal outdoor mobile connectivity;

(5) does not include express obligations in relation to universal access to triple zero emergency voice calls and SMS messages which is crucial for the health and safety of all Australians; and

(6) should be referred to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry, given the degree of uncertainty and cost implications for consumers, so that public submissions which will inform potential amendments to the bill can be properly considered”—

Debate resumed.

Ms Clutterham addressing the House—

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43, Ms Clutterham was granted leave to continue her speech when the debate is resumed, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Mr Albanese (Prime Minister) informed the House that, during the absence overseas of Mr Marles (Deputy Prime Minister), Mr Conroy (Minister for Defence Industry) would answer questions on his behalf.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice being asked—

Member directed to leave

At 2.10 pm the Member for Chifley ( Mr Husic ) 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 2.34 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 continued.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

*Australian Competition and Consumer Commission—Telstra’s structural separation undertaking—Report for 2024-25.

Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009— Bi-annual report of the CFMEU Administrator—Third report, February 2026.

Foreign Arrangements Scheme—Report for 2025.

Net Zero Economy Authority Act 2024— Towards a positive transition: Statutory review of the Energy Industry Jobs Plan 2025—Report by Emeritus Professor Roy Green AM.

Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021— 2025 Statutory review of the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar—Report by McGrathNicol, December 2025.

Social Policy and Legal Affairs—Standing Committee—Recognising, valuing and supporting unpaid carers: Inquiry into the recognition of unpaid carers—Government response, March 2026.

*The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Fuel

The House was informed that Mr Tehan (Manager of Opposition Business) had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The Government’s failure on fuel prices and fuel distribution”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Mr Tehan addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) 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 Mrs McIntosh (see item No. 9, page 558) —

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned (Ms Kearney—Assistant Minister for Social Services), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

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.

Mr Venning addressing the House—

ADJOURNMENT

It being 7.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

The House continuing to sit until 8 pm—The Speaker adjourned the House until 9 am tomorrow.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 11 March 2026 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992— Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (MRL Standard for Residues of Chemical Products) Amendment Instrument (No. 1) 2026 [F2026L00213].

Air Navigation Act 1920— Air Navigation Regulations 2026 [F2026L00223].

Airports Act 1996 and Civil Aviation Act 1988— Airports (Protection of Airspace) Legislation (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00229].

Australian Jobs Act 2013— Australian Jobs (Australian Industry Participation) Rules 2026 [F2026L00222].

Corporations Act 2001— ASIC Corporations (Strata Title Co-Insurance) Instrument 2026/156 [F2026L00211].

Defence Act 1903— Defence Determination, Conditions of service Amendment Determination (No. 2) 2026 [F2026L00217].

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997—

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Attorney‑General’s Portfolio Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00209].

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Defence Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00208].

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Education Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00207].

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health, Disability and Ageing Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00206].

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Home Affairs Measures No. 3) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00205].

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00204].

Fisheries Management Act 1991— Fisheries Management (Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery) (Closures) Direction 2025 [F2025L00834]—Replacement explanatory statement.

Infrastructure Australia Act 2008— 2026 Infrastructure priority list.

Migration Act 1958— Migration Amendment (Training Visas—Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00221].

National Health Act 1953— National Health Legislation (Closing the Gap—PBS Co-payment Program) (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Instrument 2026—PB 28 of 2026 [F2026L00220].

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013—

Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024—

Report under paragraph 4.11—1 October to 31 December 2025.

Report under paragraph 4.12—2025.

Notice under section 72—Corporate Commonwealth entity acquired shares in Quasar Satellite Technologies Pty Ltd—27 February 2026.

Sydney Airport Curfew Act 1995— Dispensation report—04/26.

Telecommunications Act 1997— SMS Sender ID Register (Application, Access and Administration) Determination 2025 [F2025L01304]—Supplementary explanatory statement.

Therapeutic Goods Act 1989— Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices—Foreign Countries) Determination 2026 [F2026L00225].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Batt, *Mr Burns, Dr Haines, Mr Marles and *Ms Payne.

* On leave

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

The Federation Chamber met at 9.30 am.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements being made—

Suspension of meeting

At 9.40 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 9.58 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Members’ constituency statements continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 10.06 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 10.18 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Members’ constituency statements continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 10.40 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 10.54 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Members’ constituency statements continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 11.05 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 11.19 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Members’ constituency statements continued.

Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment Bill 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.

Question—put and passed—bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General

Message No. 55, 1 March 2026, from Her Excellency the Governor-General was announced recommending an appropriation for the purposes of the bill.

Consideration in detail

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

Ms Watson-Brown moved an amendment.

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—put and not being resolved—bill to be returned to the House with an unresolved question.

International Women’s Day—STATEMENTS

Statements being made—

Suspension of meeting

At 1.30 pm, the Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of meeting

At 3.59 pm, the Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.

Statements continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 4.19 pm, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 4.32 pm, the proceedings were resumed.

Statements continued.

ADJOURNMENT

On the motion of Mr Holzberger, the Federation Chamber adjourned at 4.50 pm, until 9.30 am tomorrow.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber