What to look out for this Parliamentary Sitting Week (13 – 16 November)

The House of Representatives returns this week following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to China.

There are several significant pieces of legislation before the parliament this week from the Closing the Loopholes Bill to amendments to the Water Act and the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

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House of Representatives

Monday

The House will meet from 10:00am on Monday with debate to resume on the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023. The purpose of the Bill is to reduce gambling harms experienced by Australians by prohibiting the use of credit cards, credit related products and digital currency as payment methods for interactive wagering services.

The Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023 and Disability Services and Inclusion (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 replaces the Disability Services Act 1986 by establishing a framework for the funding and regulation of programs for the benefit of people with disability, and their families and carers.

Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) and Other Measures aims to amend the Fair Work Act 2009 and related legislation to close loopholes to protect Australian workers and strengthen the work health and safety framework.

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Tuesday

A busy day in the House on Tuesday, with debate resuming at noon.

Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme No. 2) aims to strengthen the operation of the Professional Services Review by addressing issues and ambiguities in the Health Insurance Act 1973.

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Transition to Work) Bill 2023 amends the Social Security Act 1991, Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and the family assistance law to encourage and support social security and veterans’ entitlement recipients to engage in paid employment.

The Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Bill 2023 is introduced with the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 and Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill enables the regulations to impose excise levies in relation to products that are produce of a primary industry, goods consumed by, or used in the maintenance or treatment of, animals, plants, fungi or algae and goods connected with nursery products.

Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities and Other Measures) Bill 2023 amends several pieces of legislation relating to tax support for small businesses and charities.

Crown References Amendment Bill 2023 amends 29 Acts to update certain references associated with the Crown to reflect the accession of a new Sovereign.

Debate will continue on Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes).

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Wednesday

Debate will continue on the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) when the House resumes at 9:00am on Wednesday.

The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Bill 2023 establishes the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee to provide advice related to the Commonwealth Government’s policies, programs and responsibilities for enhancing economic inclusion and participation. The Committee will bring together a diverse range of experts to give advice to Government on policy settings, systems and structures that may help to address complex social problems and entrenched disadvantage in new and innovative ways. This will assist in putting forward solutions to deal with the systems and structures that are barriers for those facing disadvantage.

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Thursday

Debate will continue on the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Bill 2023 on Thursday morning.

The Paid Parental Leave Amendment (More Support for Working Families) Bill 2023 will implement the second tranche of changes to the Paid Parental Leave scheme, announced as part of the October 2022–23 Budget, to extend the Paid Parental Leave scheme by increasing the maximum parental leave pay entitlement to 26 weeks from 1 July 2026.

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

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Senate

Monday

The Senate returns from 10:00 am on Monday with the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023. The Bill gives effect to Australia’s obligations arising out of the 2009 and 2013 amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution.

Counter-Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 extends the sunset date for certain police powers in relation to terrorism, imposes certain requirements on the minister and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner in relation to prescribed security zones, and requires a police officer exercising certain powers to inform a person of their right to make a complaint.

Federal Courts Legislation Amendment (Judicial Immunity) Bill 2023 would amend the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 to provide that a judge of Division 2 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) has the same immunity as a judge of Division 1 of the FCFCOA.

Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Australia’s Engagement in the Pacific) Bill 2023 amends four Acts to extend eligibility for certain supports and benefits to Pacific Engagement Visa holders and eligible Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme workers and their families.

Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023 makes a number of changes to legislation pursuant to the provision of financial advice. The Bill also implements five recommendations from the Review of the Tax Practitioners Board.

The Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Amendment (Animal Welfare) Bill 2023 amends the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Act 2019 by expanding the existing office of the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports to provide an enhanced focus on animal welfare.

The?Ministers of State Amendment Bill 2022?will 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, summoned and sworn an Executive Councillor to the Federal Executive Council, appointed an officer to administer a Department of State of the Commonwealth, directed a Minister of State to hold an office, or has revoked any of these positions.

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Tuesday

Government Business is scheduled for midday with the?Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2023, which makes amendments to further refine the SPROM Act to ensure that the legislation better meets its original stated intention.

The?Identity Verification Services Bill 2023?and its?Consequential Amendments?enables 1:1 identity matching using Document Verification, Face Verification, and National Driver's Licence Facial Recognition. It also allows 1:1 matching for safeguarding legally assumed identities, managed by the Attorney-General's Department.

The day will conclude with debate on the?Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023, which responds to recommendations of the independent review of Infrastructure Australia (IA) by amending the Infrastructure Australia Act 2008 to amend the functions and governance structure of IA.

Subject to their introduction to the Senate, debate will begin on the Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023, Disability Services and Inclusion (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme No. 2), Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Transition to Work) Bill 2023.

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Wednesday

The Senate kicks off Wednesday with the consideration of a Private Members Bill from Senator Andrew Bragg. The Digital Assets (Market Regulation) Bill 2023 Implements certain recommendations of the final report of the Senate Select Committee on Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre.

The?Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023?amends the Water Act and the Murray Darling Basin Plan to fully implement the Plan, including recovering 450 gigalitres of additional environmental water. It also implements recommendations from the Water Market Reform: Final Roadmap1 to restore transparency, integrity and confidence in water markets and water management in the Basin.

The?Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Bill 2023 amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to broaden foreign bribery offenses, remove specific requirements, and create a corporate offence. It also maintains the prohibition on deducting bribes to foreign public officials in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.?

The Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Bill 2023 amends the Migration Act of 1958 to improve the rights of non-citizens in the workplace, for example, establishes criminal offences to those who expect their non-citizen workers to breach conditions of their working visas.

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Thursday

The Senate begins at 9:00am on Thursday with the consideration of a private members bill from Independent MP Sophie Scamps. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Expanding the Water Trigger) Bill 2023 amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to expand the circumstances in which certain petroleum mining developments must be assessed and approved by the minister.

Government Business then resumes with the Public Service Amendment Bill 2023, which implements elements of the Government's APS Reform agenda focusing on four priority areas: integrity, customer-centric policy and services, being a model employer, and enhancing capability.??

The?Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2022 amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to establish action initiation reforms, enabling consumer data right (CDR) consumers to direct accredited persons to instruct on actions on their behalf, such as making a payment, opening and closing an account, switching providers and updating personal details, using the CDR framework.

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Friday

Subject to its introduction to the Senate, Friday will begin with the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023.

The Senate sitting week ends with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Multinationals Pay Their Fair Share—Integrity and Transparency) Bill 2023. It will amend the: Corporations Act 2001 to require Australian public companies to disclose information about their subsidiaries in their annual financial reports by way of a ‘consolidated entity disclosure statement’; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to amend the thin capitalisation rules to limit the amount of debt deductions that multinational entities can claim in an income year.

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A full list of legislation scheduled in the Senate can be found here.

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