1The House met, at 9 am, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker (the Honourable M. Dick) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

 2Selection Committee

The Speaker presented the following document:

Report No. 5 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 24 November 2025.

 3Suspension of standing and sessional orders—Time and order of business for this sitting

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 on Wednesday, 5 November 2025:

 (1)standing order 33 (limit on business after normal time of adjournment) being suspended for the sitting;

 (2)at 8 pm, notwithstanding standing order 31, the adjournment debate being interrupted and government business having priority until:

 (a)business concludes, if earlier than 10 pm; or

 (b)10 pm; or

 (c)a later time specified by a Minister prior to 10 pm;

 at which point, the debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until Thursday, 6 November at 9 am;

 (3)in the Federation Chamber, government business being given priority until the Federation Chamber adjourns at approximately 9.30 pm; and

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

 4BILLS DECLARED REFERRED TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) declared that, unless otherwise ordered, the following bills stand referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration at the adjournment of the debate on the motion for the second reading of each bill:

VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025; and 

Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025.

 5Order of the day returned to the House

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) declared the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 returned to the House for further consideration.

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

 6Copyright Amendment Bill 2025

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Copyright Act 1968, and for related purposes.

Document

Ms Rowland presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 7Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Dr Reid presented the following document:

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—Advisory report on the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025—Report, November 2025.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

 8VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025

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.

 9Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025

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.

 10Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025

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—And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Chaney, viz.—That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“the House declines to give the bill a second reading, and calls for an independent review of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, with terms of reference to provide recommendations on how best to:

 (1)encourage greater proactive disclosure of information to the public, and thus reduce the need for formal freedom of information requests;

 (2)maximise accessibility, transparency and efficiency for genuine and lawful freedom of information requests, including through setting an appropriate fee structure;

 (3)improve the timeliness of dealing with freedom of information requests, including review processes;

 (4)ensure that exemptions to disclosure requirements do not go further than is required for good government;

 (5)create a robust system for the resourcing, training, auditing, and oversight of authorised officers responsible for freedom of information decisions;

 (6)manage vexatious and frivolous requests;

 (7)address the potential impact of artificial intelligence, both to improve freedom of information processing and to mitigate the impact of its use in generating vexatious and frivolous requests; and

 (8)provide structural support for public servants to provide frank, honest, timely and evidence-based advice”—

And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Spender, viz.—That all words after “House” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“declines to give the bill a second reading, and:

 (1)notes that:

 (a)freedom of information laws are there to serve the public, not make the lives of Ministers or public servants easier;

 (b)in designing this bill, the Government failed to consult any members of the public, journalists or other stakeholders who use the freedom of information legislation, only government departments;

 (c)the Centre of Public Integrity has ‘fact-checked’ four claims the Government have made relating to this bill they argue are false; and

 (d)the Centre of Public Integrity has recently released its Integrity Report Card that gave the Government a ‘fail’ on five out of six integrity measures, including a fail on ‘Commitment to Transparency’; and

 (2)urges the Government to urgently address the issues raised in the Integrity Report Card and prioritise restoring public trust in Government”—

Debate resumed.

 11BILL DECLARED REFERRED TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Ms J Ryan (Chief Government Whip) declared the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.

 12SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS MOVED

Mr T Wilson moving a suspension of standing and sessional orders—

 13Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025

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—And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Chaney, viz.—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:

(1)acknowledges that we need to achieve better outcomes for business and the environment;

(2)further acknowledges it is in the interest of the Government, Opposition and crossbench to work constructively to pass these reforms; and

(3)calls on the Government to amend this bill to resolve significant flaws, including loopholes in the offsets framework”—

Debate resumed.

 14Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the Federation Chamber had been unable to complete its consideration of the bill and had returned the bill with an unresolved question (see item No. 3, Minutes of Proceedings of the Federation Chamber, page XX), and presented a certified copy of the bill together with a schedule of the unresolved question.

 15BILL DECLARED REFERRED TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) declared the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.

 16Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025

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—And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Chaney (see item No. 13, page XX)—

Debate resumed.

 17MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

 18QUESTIONS

 19Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Annual Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission—Report for 2024-25.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

 20DOCUMENTS 

The following documents were presented: 

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research—Report for 2024-25.

Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission—Reports for 2024-25.

Geoscience Australia—Report for 2024-25.

IP Australia—Report for 2024-25.

National Disability Insurance Agency—Report for 2024-25.

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner—Report for 2024-25—

Volume 1.

Volume 2: Report on information provided by agencies and ministers subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority—Report for 2024-25.

Wine Australia—Report for 2024-25.

The documents were made Parliamentary Papers.

 21DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE—Regional Australia

The House was informed that Mr Hogan had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “This Government’s betrayal of regional Australia hurting family budgets and businesses”.

 22MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE—Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025

Message No. 48, 5 November 2025, from the Senate was reported returning the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 with amendments.

 23MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

Message No. 49, 5 November 2025, from the Senate was reported returning the Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 without amendment.

 24Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Federation Chamber and agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill.

Mrs McIntosh sought leave to move a motion. Leave not granted.

 25SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS MOVED

Mrs McIntosh moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Lindsay moving a motion to refer the following matter to the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, for inquiry and report:

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's draft determination on voice interconnection services, with particular reference to:

 (1)the cost modelling inputs and assumptions used in the ACCC's modelling for declared voice interconnection services;

 (2)the discrepancy between fixed and mobile termination rates and the potential implications for market neutrality;

 (3)the financial and operational impact on fixed-only voice telecommunications providers;

 (4)the potential consequences for businesses and consumers in relation to end user pricing, service availability, and quality, particularly in regional, rural, remote and isolated communities;

 (5)the implications of the proposed determination for regional, rural and remote communities, where fixed voice services remain essential due to limited mobile coverage;

 (6)the resilience and redundancy of national voice infrastructure in ensuring service continuity during mobile outages and emergencies;

 (7)the implementation and transition arrangements required; and

 (8)any other related matters.

 26Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Speaker reported that the Federation Chamber had been unable to complete its consideration of the bill and had returned the bill with an unresolved question (see item No. 4, Minutes of Proceedings of the Federation Chamber, page XX), and presented a certified copy of the bill together with a schedule of the unresolved question.

 27Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025

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—And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Chaney (see item No. 13, page XX)—

Debate resumed.

 28ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

It being 7.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

 29Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025

It being 8 pm—In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier this sitting—

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—And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Chaney (see item No. 13, page XX)—

Debate resumed.