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.

BILL DECLARED REFERRED TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) declared that, unless otherwise ordered, the High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026 stands referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.

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 the whole debate time limit on the motion to take note of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement progress report—Ministerial statement being removed.

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

Suspension of standing and sessional orders—Consideration of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026

Mr Burke (Leader of the House), pursuant to notice, moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026:

(1) debate on the bill continuing after the second reading speech of the Minister;

(2) immediately following the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance and the presentation of a delegation report by the Member for Corangamite, if the bill has not passed, debate to resume immediately;

(3) at no later than 5.30 pm, any questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of the bill being put, with any message from the Governor-General under standing order 147 being announced, and any detail amendments circulated being treated as if they had been moved [together] by the Member proposing them; and

(4) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.

Debate ensued.

Question—put and passed.

Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026

Dr Chalmers (Treasurer) presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to taxation, and for related purposes.

Document

Dr Chalmers presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

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

In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier this sitting, debate ensuing—

Mr T Wilson moved, as an amendment—That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“the House notes that:

(1) the reduction in fuel excise and corresponding reduction in the heavy vehicle road user charge reflects a policy first proposed by the Opposition;

(2) the Government initially denied there was a fuel supply problem in Australia and, by delaying taking action to ensure distribution of fuel to where it was needed, exacerbated price pressures and supply shortages;

(3) the Government delayed acting on cost of living relief despite mounting pressure on Australian households, small businesses and transporters;

(4) the Government has failed to provide any budget offsets or outline how this measure will be funded, increasing the risk of additional inflationary pressure where the only fuel guaranteed is for inflation, not for farmers or families;

(5) within 24 hours of the announcement, the Government’s proposed GST arrangements have already fallen into disarray, raising further concerns about fiscal credibility and coordination;

(6) uncertainty remains regarding fuel supply security and the risk of heavy-handed market interventions; and

(7) Australians deserve timely leadership and responsible economic management during this fuel crisis”.

Debate ensued.

Ms Payne addressing the House—

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43, Ms Payne 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.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice were asked.

Auditor-General’s Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 27 of 2025-26—Performance audit—Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs—Joint Standing Committee—Inquiry into economic self‑determination and opportunities for First Nations Australians—Government response, March 2026.

Charter of the United Nations—Article 51—Letter from His Excellency Mr James Larsen, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, to His Excellency Mr Michael G. Waltz, President of the Security Council, in relation to measures in the Middle East, 30 March 2026.

Corporations and Financial Services—Parliamentary Joint Committee—Wholesale investor and wholesale client tests—Government response, April 2026.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade—Joint Standing Committee—

‘Are we there yet?’ From recovery to resilience—Opportunities and challenges for Australia’s tourism sector—Final report for the inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors—Government response.

Inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors: ‘Quality and Integrity—the Quest for Sustainable Growth’—Interim report into international education—Government response, March 2026.

Infrastructure Australia—

Annual budget statement for 2026.

Annual performance statement for 2026.

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—Advisory report on the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026—Government response, 12 March 2026.

Migration Act 1958— Section 486O—Assessment of detention arrangements—Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report—No. 11 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Gas exports

The House was informed that Dr Scamps had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The urgent need for a tax on gas exports to ensure all Australians receive a fair share of the benefits from the sale of our natural resources”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Dr Scamps addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION —REPORT

Ms Coker presented the following document:

Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Barbados, 5 to 12 October 2025—Report, March 2026.

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Messages from the Senate, 30 March 2026, were reported returning the following bills without amendment:

No. 93— Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026 .

No. 95— Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 .

No. 97— Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 .

Order of the day returned to the House

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) declared the High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026 returned to the House for further consideration.

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

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE— Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Bill 2025

Message No. 94, 30 March 2026, from the Senate was reported returning the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Bill 2025 with an amendment.

Ordered—That the amendment be considered immediately.

On the motion of Mr Keogh (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs), the amendment was agreed to, after debate.

High Seas Biodiversity 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.

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

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

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE— National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026

Message No. 98, 31 March 2026, from the Senate was reported transmitting for the concurrence of the House a Bill for an Act to amend the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 , and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

Document

Ms White (Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care) presented a revised explanatory memorandum to the bill.

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

Debate, by leave, ensuing—

Mrs McIntosh moved, as an amendment—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 that:

(1) the Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) have been unable to clearly quantify the scale of fraud within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS);

(2) the NDIA Fraud Fusion Taskforce estimates that up to 10 per cent of NDIS claims are inappropriate, mischievous or outright criminal;

(3) the Government must do more to prevent the fraud and rorting that is rife within the NDIS;

(4) the changes in the bill will do little to remove bad actors from defrauding participants and taxpayers;

(5) the changes in the bill provide no direct regulation or fraud controls for the 94 per cent of NDIS providers who are not registered; and

(6) robust integrity systems are critical to not only protect taxpayer funds but also to protect NDIS participants from exploitation by unscrupulous providers”.

Debate ensued.

Mr Pike 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 31 March 2026 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024— Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Transitional Rules 2026 [F2026L00393].

Civil Aviation Act 1988— Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998—

Part 141 operators using a sole instructor—Exemption Instrument 2026—CASA EX29/26 [F2026L00395].*

Turbine Engine Continuing Airworthiness Requirements—AD/ENG/5 Amdt 10 [F2026L00328].

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984— Electoral and Referendum Regulations 2026 [F2026L00295]—Replacement explanatory statement.

Corporations Act 2001— ASIC Corporations (Employee Entitlement Schemes) Instrument 2026/199 [F2026L00391].

Defence Act 1903— Woomera Prohibited Area Rule 2014—Woomera Prohibited Area (Exclusion Periods for Amber Zone 1 and Amber Zone 2 for 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026) Determination 2026 [F2026L00386].

Higher Education Support Act 2003— Higher Education Support (VET) Guidelines 2026 [F2026L00388].

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988— Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) (Rate of Interest—Permanent Impairment Compensation) Instrument 2026 [F2026L00377].

Social Security Act 1991— Social Security (Fares Allowance for Private Transport) Determination 2026 [F2026L00358].

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999— Social Security (Administration) (Queensland Commission—Family Responsibilities Commission) Instrument 2026 [F2026L00376].

Telecommunications Act 1997— Telecommunications (Customer Communications for Outages) Industry Standard Variation 2026 (No. 1) [F2026L00382].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except *Mr Burns, Dr Haines, Mr Katter, Mrs Phillips, Ms Price, Mr Thistlethwaite, Mr Thompson, Ms Thwaites, Mr J Wilson, Mr Wood and Mr Young.

* On leave

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

The Federation Chamber met at 12.32 pm.

GRIEVANCE DEBATE

Pursuant to the provisions of standing order 192 b , 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.

Suspension of meeting

At 1.28 pm, the Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of meeting

At 4 pm, the Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements were made.

High Seas Biodiversity 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.

Suspension of meeting

At 5.30 pm, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 5.56 pm, the proceedings were resumed.

Better and Fairer Schools Agreement progress report—Ministerial Statement —MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF DOCUMENT

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the motion of Mr Clare (Minister for Education)—That the House take note of the document ( presented on 25 March 2026 ), viz.—

Better and Fairer Schools Agreement progress report—Statement by the Minister for Education, Jason Clare MP, 25 March 2026—

Debate resumed.

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

Rhoda Roberts AO—STATEMENTS

Statements were made.

Bangarra Dance Theatre—Venice Biennale Golden Lion—STATEMENTS

Statements were made.

ADJOURNMENT

On the motion of Ms Teesdale, the Federation Chamber adjourned at 6.35 pm, until 9.30 am tomorrow.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber