What to look out for this Parliamentary Sitting Week

Parliament returns for the House of Representatives on Tuesday 30 May this week following the Monday public holiday in the ACT.

The focus of this week will be the Constitutional Alteration discussions surrounding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, set to be discussed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday and Wednesday

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Also up for debate in the House of Representatives is the Creative Australia Bills, Australian Organ and Tissue Donation, and the excise and customs tariff amendments.

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House of Representatives?

TUESDAY, 30 MAY

Tuesday will begin with Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 2) Bill 2023 which loos to provide annual reporting requirements for the Repatriation Medical Authority as well as amend incorrect references throughout the Bill.

The debate will continue with a discussion of the Migration Amendment (Giving Documents and Other Measures) Bill 2023, amending the Migration act of 1958 to remove some of the barriers facing non-Australians from lodging valid applications for protection visas.

From here, the House will discuss the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Amendment (Animal Welfare) Bill 2023 building upon the existing regulatory oversight to strengthen animal welfare and increase accountability and transparency for animal welfare in livestock exports.

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The Creative Australia Bill 2023 and the ???????Creative Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 look to put in place legislation to provide for Creative Australia as a modern entity with expanded functions, responsibilities and new governance structure.

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Lastly, on Tuesday, the House will start its discussions around the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023, proposing the alteration to the Constitution on order to recognise First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY

Wednesday will commence with further discussions about the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 before moving onto the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Subsidy) Bill 2023 which looks to amend family assistance legislation to confirm responsibility for certain Child Care Subsidy (CCS) debts.

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Following this, the House will discuss the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Bill 2023 which amends several Acts that provide for social security or equivalent payments, to implement income support measures being provided for in the 2023-24 Budget.

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The Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme) Bill 2023 seeks to implement priority changes arising from recommendations of the independent Review of Medicare Integrity and Compliance.

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The day will conclude with discussions surrounding the Ministers of State Amendment Bill 2022 which amends the Ministers of State Act of 1952 to require the Official Secretary to the Governor-General to publish a notifiable instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation to advise that the Governor-General has chosen.

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THURSDAY, 1 JUNE

Thursday will commence with debate over the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (Disclosure of Information) Bill 2023, aiming to amend the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Act 2008 (the Act) to broaden disclosure of information provisions.

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The discussion will then shift to the Trade Support Loans Amendment Bill 2023 which looks to amend the Trade Supports Loans Act 2014 to see the TSL Priority List to lapse, as well as amending he Act to empower the Minister to, by legislative instrument, determine, having had regard to any relevant advice given to the Minister by Jobs and Skills Australia, a new Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

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The Excise Tariff Amendment (Product Stewardship for Oil) Bill 2023 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Product Stewardship for Oil) Bill 2023 look to amend the Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000. These bills together will have a positive impact on the Australian Government budget. There will be a net $139 million gain to consolidated revenue over the four years from 2023-2024 to 2026-2027. This includes approximately $161 million in revenue less $22 million in payments, including the associated increase in the benefit rate for oil recyclers as the PSO Category 8 benefit is tied to the excise rate.

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The House will also look to discuss the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 and the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 which seeks to provide a framework for a voluntary national market that delivers improved biodiversity outcomes.

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To close the week, if time allows, the House will then continue the discussion surrounding the ?Ministers of State Amendment Bill 2022.

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?A full list of legislation scheduled in the House of Representatives can be found here.