Week beginning 20 March 2023

This page provides an overview of the key events of the last sitting week in the House of Representatives. It includes all bills presented and debated, and selected statements, debates and committee business. For the official record of proceedings, see the Votes and Proceedings. For a detailed procedural account of events, see the Procedural Digest and House Review.

Key events

• Statements, by indulgence, relating to the death of John Sattler (21 March)
• Statement on a significant matter—Recognition of ten years since the National Apology for Forced Adoptions (22 March)

Legislation

12 bills were presented, and 9 bills were passed by the House

Ministerial statement

AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence (22 March)

Matters of Public Importance

• Energy bills (21 March)
• Health workforce shortage (22 March)
• Prime Minister (23 March)

Committee and delegation business

Committee reports presented    

Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity

• Examination of the annual report of the Integrity Commissioner 2021-22 (23 March)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

• Human rights scrutiny report: Report 3 of 2023—Quality of Care Amendment (Restrictive Practices) Principles 2022 (20 March)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

• Advisory report on the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022 (20 March)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement

• Examination of the Australian Federal Police annual report 2020-21 and 2021-22 (23 March)
• Examination of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission annual report 2020-21 and 2021-22 (23 March)

Standing Committee on Petitions

• Report 7: Petitions and ministerial responses (20 March)

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works

• Eighty sixth annual report (21 March)

Selection Committee

• Report No. 11 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members’ business on Monday, 27 March 2023 (22 March) 

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

• Report 207: Australia-Iceland double taxation; Underwater cultural heritage (20 March) 

Delegation report presented

Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the European Union and France, 5 to 9 December 2022 (20 March)

Private Members' business

The following private member's bill was introduced on Monday, 20 March

• Fair Work Amendment (Right to Disconnect) 2023—Mr Bandt (Melbourne, Vic)

The following private members' motions were moved and debated on Monday, 20 March

• Aged care—Mrs Marino (Forrest, WA)
• Agriculture sector—Dr Haines (Indi, Vic)
• Climate action—Ms Stanley (Werriwa, NSW)
• Digital identity—Mr Wolahan (Menzies, Vic)
• Endometriosis Awareness Month—Ms Chesters (Bendigo, Vic)
• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—Mrs Andrews (McPherson, Qld)
• Kids Helpline—Mr van Manen (Forde, Qld)
• Murray-Darling Basin Plan—Mr Birrell (Nicholls, Vic)
• Native forest logging—Dr Scamps (Mackellar, NSW)
• New South Wales infrastructure—Dr Reid (Robertson, NSW)
• Plastic recycling—Mr J Wilson (Fremantle, WA)

Debate resumed on the following private member's motion on Monday, 20 March 

• Teachers—Ms Sitou (Reid, NSW)