Sitting week beginning Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Sitting week beginning Tuesday, 25 March 2025 — 3rd House sitting week of the 47th Parliament’s 2025 Autumn sittings.

This page summarises matters expected to be considered by the House of Representatives and its Federation Chamber. It is updated weekly during sittings. For a full report of the business dealt with, including a list of documents presented, go to the Votes and Proceedings. To read the debates, including question time, go to Hansard.

For details about the proposed program of business for each sitting of the House and Federation Chamber and that sitting’s public hearings of House and joint committees go to the House Daily Program (usually available at least 1 hour before the House is scheduled to meet).

This week the House is expected to sit on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in a pattern similar to that described in the Infosheet 'A typical sitting day'.

The Federation Chamber is also expected to meet on Wednesday (from 9.30 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 7.30 pm) and on Thursday (from 9.30 am to approximately 1 pm).

For details about House and Federation Chamber standard hours see the order of business diagram at www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Chamber_documents/HoR/Order_of_Business.

Real time tracking of business done by the House and the Federation Chamber

You can track each item of business as it is being done in the House Chamber and the Federation Chamber by using the 'LiveMinutes' service.

You can see proceedings of the House and the Federation Chamber via the webcasts at www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen.

Legislation

For information on how laws are made go to Making laws, for the text of each bill go to Bills and Legislation after the Bill is introduced.

Government bills are expected to be introduced into the House this week. These bills will be listed on the House Daily Program and the text of each bill will be available on ParlInfo after they are introduced.

Details of bills to be introduced are not available prior to their introduction.

In the House during the week it is planned to resume debate on the following Government bills already introduced (note – these plans may change as the week unfolds, especially if some of the bills listed below are referred to the Federation Chamber by the House):

Tuesday

• Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia’s Transport Sector) Bill 2024
• Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025

Wednesday

• Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025
• Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025

Thursday

• Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025
• Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025
• Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025

In the Federation Chamber debate on Government business matters and committee and delegation reports occurs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Debate may be resumed on matters previously referred or items may be referred during the week.

Auditor-General’s reports

2024-25 reports of the Auditor-General may be presented after question time.

• Audit Reports on Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) website

Matters of Public Importance

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after question time, in accordance with the House's standing orders, it is possible for the House to discuss a matter of public importance (MPI). If an MPI is proposed by a Member, and is in order, the subject of the MPI will be announced shortly after midday on each of these days and published on the House's website. If more than one MPI is proposed the Speaker will decide which MPI is the most urgent and important to be submitted to the House that day.

• See also: Infosheet 2 – A typical sitting day

Petitions

This week Members' may present petitions during the time reserved for Members' Statements in the House and the Federation Chamber, during the time reserved for Members’ constituency statements in the Federation Chamber and during the Adjournment Debates of the House and the Federation Chamber.

For more details about petitioning the House of Representatives see the petitions webpage.

For details about House and Federation Chamber debate times see the order of business diagram.

See also:

• Petitioning the House of Representatives
• Standing Committee on Petitions
• House and Federation Chamber debate times (order of business diagrams)