The House met, at 12 noon, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker (the Honourable M. Dick) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

ADDRESS BY THE President of the European Commission

The Speaker extended a welcome to the President of the Senate and Senators as guests.

The President of the European Commission, Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, was announced.

The Speaker welcomed President von der Leyen.

Mr Albanese (Prime Minister) welcomed President von der Leyen.

Mr Taylor (Leader of the Opposition) supported the remarks of the Prime Minister.

The Speaker invited President von der Leyen to address the meeting.

President von der Leyen then addressed the meeting.

The Speaker, on behalf of the House, expressed thanks to President von der Leyen.

President von der Leyen departing the Chamber—

Suspension of sitting

At 12.52 pm, the Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of sitting

At 3.01 pm, the Speaker resumed the Chair.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice being asked—

Member directed to leave

At 3.05 pm the Member for Maranoa ( Mr Littleproud ) 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 3.20 pm the Member for Barker ( Mr Pasin ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for three hours for interjecting and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continued.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Murray-Darling Basin First Nations water report for 2024-25.

Migration Act 1958— Section 486O—Assessment of detention arrangements—Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report—No. 10 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility—Equal Employment Opportunity Annual Program Report—February 2026.

*Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council—Report for 2024-25.

*The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Fuel

The House was informed that Mr T Wilson had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The failure of the Government to secure adequate fuel supply, pushing up the cost of living across the economy”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Mr T Wilson addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE— High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026

Message No. 84, 23 March 2026, from the Senate was reported transmitting for the concurrence of the House a Bill for an Act to give effect to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

Ordered—That the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

Message No. 85, 24 March 2026, from the Senate was reported returning the Commonwealth Entities Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 without amendment.

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.

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

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

On the motion of Mr J Wilson (Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy), the bill was read a third time.

Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 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—

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

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

On the motion of Mr J Wilson (Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy), the bill was read a third time.

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 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—

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

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

On the motion of Mr J Wilson (Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy), the bill was read a third time.

Treasury Laws Amendment (Genetic Testing Protections in Life Insurance 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 Dr M Ryan, 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) genetic testing and genomic research are essential to improving prevention, care and treatment and reducing Australia’s chronic disease burden;

(b) Australia has made remarkable progress on carrier and newborn reproductive genetic testing;

(c) genomic sequencing technology means that conditions can be easily added to a screening panel without significant increases in test costs;

(d) world-leading Australian medical research has demonstrated that such programs have real-world feasibility and demonstrable cost-effectiveness; and

(e) pathology items 73451 and 73452, covering genetic carrier testing for spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis and fragile X syndrome, were welcome inclusions to the Medicare Benefits Schedule in November 2023;

(2) calls upon the Government to heed expert calls to expand the Medicare Benefits Schedule to:

(a) develop, support, and fund population programs for carrier testing and genomic screening; and

(b) identify couples and individuals at high risk of medically actionable conditions before conception or disease onset; and

(3) further notes that the above measures, along with restrictions on the use of genetic testing by the insurance industry contained in this bill, will encourage a greater uptake of genetic testing”—

Debate resumed.

Mr Georganas 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 24 March 2026 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Civil Aviation Act 1988— Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998—Foreign Registered Aircraft in Australian Territory (Radio Altimeters) Direction 2026—CASA 06/26 [F2026L00297]—Initial explanatory statement.

Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000— Education Services for Overseas Students (Notice Requirements—Student Defaults) Instrument 2026 [F2026L00312].

Fisheries Management Act 1991— Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan 2005—Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (Overcatch and Undercatch) Determination 2026 [F2026L00311].

Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003— Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security (Prohibited Items) Determination 2026—LIN 26/041 [F2026L00275].

Migration Act 1958— Notice under section 501C—23 March 2026.

Navigation Act 2012— Marine Orders Miscellaneous Amendment Order 2026 (No. 3)—AMSA MO 2026/3 [F2026L00316].

Social Security Act 1991—

Social Security (AGDRP—Northern Territory—Flooding—February to March) Determination (No. 2) 2026—LIN 26/046 [F2026L00310].

Social Security (AGDRP—Queensland—Rainfall and Flooding—February to March) Determination 2026—LIN 26/044 [F2026L00309].

Taxation Administration Act 1953— Commissioner of Taxation—Goods and Services Tax Rulings—

GSTR 2003/3 (Addendum).

GSTR 2009/4 (Addendum).

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except *Mr Burns, Dr Haines, Mr Katter, Mrs Phillips, Ms Scrymgour and Mr Wood.

* On leave

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

The Federation Chamber met at 5 pm.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements were made.

GRIEVANCE DEBATE

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That grievances be noted—

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

At 7 pm, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the Federation Chamber until 9.30 am tomorrow.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber