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.

 2International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination—STATEMENT ON A SIGNIFICANT MATTER—Reference to Federation Chamber

Dr Aly (Minister for Multicultural Affairs), pursuant to notice, made a statement in relation to the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

 3Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme—STATEMENT ON A SIGNIFICANT MATTER—Reference to Federation Chamber

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, made a statement in relation to the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, and presented the following document:

Robodebt Scheme—Royal Commission—Report—Referrals.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

 4Export Control Amendment (Clarifying Obligations Relating to Registered Establishments) Bill 2026

Ms Collins (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Export Control Act 2020, and for related purposes.

Document

Ms Collins presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 5Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026

Mr Thistlethwaite (Assistant Minister for Immigration), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Thistlethwaite presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 6Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—REPORTS—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Mr Laxale presented the following documents:

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—

Review of the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Criminal Code—Report, March 2026.

Advisory report on the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026—Report, incorporating a dissenting report, March 2026.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the reports were made Parliamentary Papers.

 7Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Black Mountain greenhouse redevelopment—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Black Mountain greenhouse redevelopment.

 8Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness—Stage 1 part life refit—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness—Stage 1 part life refit.

 9Australian Taxation Office—Proposed fit-out of leased premises, levels 5 to 10, 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Australian Taxation Office—Proposed fit-out of leased premises, levels 5 to 10, 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane.

 10Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of leased premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, NSW—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of leased premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, New South Wales.

 11Attorney-General’s Department—Proposed fit-out of existing leased premises at 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, ACT—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Attorney-General’s Department—Proposed fit-out of existing leased premises at 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, Australian Capital Territory.

 12Department of Home Affairs—Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Hawk Compound redevelopment—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Department of Home Affairs—Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Hawk Compound redevelopment.

 13Public Accounts and Audit—Joint Committee—REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Sitou presented the following document:

Public Accounts and Audit—Joint Committee—Report 515: Inquiry into the effectiveness of Australia’s National Anti-Doping Scheme—Report, March 2026.

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

 14SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS MOVED

Mr Gee moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring immediately:

(1)the Stopping Wind Farms in State Forests Bill 2025 being called on;

(2)debate on the second reading of the bill proceeding immediately for a period of no longer than one hour; and

(3)any questions required to complete passage of the bill then being put without delay.

 15Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026

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—

 16MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

Mr Albanese notified the House of ministerial arrangements.

Mr Albanese (Prime Minister), by indulgence, made a statement on the loss of lives near Kilkivan, related to natural disasters.

 17QUESTIONS

 18Auditor-General’s Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 24 of 2025-26—Performance audit—Community Batteries for Household Solar program: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

 19DOCUMENTS

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) presented the following documents:

Crimes Act 1914—Australian Federal Police—Controlled operations—Report for 2024-25.

 20DOCUMENTS 

The following documents were presented: 

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade—Joint Standing Committee—The pursuit of equality: Inquiry into the rights of women and children—Government response, September 2025.

International Labour Organization—Submission report on ILO instruments—Biological Hazards in the Working Environment Convention, 2025 (No. 192) and Biological Hazards in the Working Environment Recommendation, 2025 (No. 209).

Migration Act 1958—Section 486O—Assessment of detention arrangements—Commonwealth and Immigration Ombudsman’s reports—

No. 4 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

No. 5 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

No. 6 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

No. 7 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

No. 8 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

No. 9 of 2026—

Report.

Government response.

Regional Forest Agreements—Tasmania—Independent review of the Tasmanian RFA 2017-22—Report by Jerry Vanclay, Professor of Sustainable Forestry.

Telecommunications Act 1997 and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979—Commonwealth Ombudsman—Ombudsman oversight of covert electronic surveillance—Report for 2024-25.

 21DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE—Energy

The House was informed that Dr M Ryan had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “Utilising household energy measures to ease cost of living pressures and support Australia’s energy transition and sovereign capability amid ongoing energy instability and uncertainty”.

 22Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026

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.

 23ADJOURNMENT

It being 4.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

DOCUMENTS 

 The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 12 March 2026 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk): 

Air Navigation Act 1920, Aviation Transport Security Act 2004, Civil Aviation Act 1988 and Migration Act 1958—Air Navigation Legislation (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00224]. 

Airports Act 1996— 

Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00232].  

Airports (Environment Protection) (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00233].  

Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00228].  

Civil Aviation Act 1988—Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998—Canberra Balloon Spectacular 2026 Exemption 2026—CASA EX22/26 [F2026L00239]. 

International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963—International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities—Nauru Trust Fund) Regulations 2026 [F2026L00227]. 

National Measurement Act 1960—National Measurement Guidelines 2026 [F2026L00234]. 

Parliamentary Service Act 1999—Secretary, Department of Parliamentary Services—Remuneration and other conditions of appointment—Determination 1 of 2026.

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Batt, *Mr Burns, Dr Haines, Mr Marles, Ms McBain, *Ms Payne, Ms Scrymgour and Mr Violi.

* On leave