Sitting week beginning Monday, 10 February 2025

Sitting week beginning Monday, 10 February 2025 — 2nd 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 Monday, 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 Monday (10.30am to 1.30pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm), Tuesday (from 4pm to 7.30pm), Wednesday (from 9.30am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm) and on Thursday (from 9.30am to approximately 1.00pm).

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.

On Monday in the House at 10.10am the following private Members’ bills are expected to be introduced:

• Whistleblower Protection Authority Bill 2025 — Mr Wilkie (Ind, Clark, Tas)
• National Land Transport Act Amendment (Better Value for Taxpayers) Bill 2025 — Ms Spender (Ind, Wentworth, NSW)
• Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill 2025 — Dr Scamps (Ind, Mackellar, NSW)
• Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) Bill 2025 — Ms Sharkie (Ind, Mayo, SA)

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):

Monday

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) Bill 2024
• Customs Amendment (Expedited Seizure and Disposal of Engineered Stone) Bill 2024

Tuesday

• Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
• Social Security Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes) Bill 2025
• Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2024-2025
• Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2024-2025
• Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2024-2025
• Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025

Wednesday

• Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day 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

Thursday

• 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.

• See also: Infosheet 7 – Making Laws

Committee and delegation reports and statements and private Members’ motions

On Monday at approximately 10.10am the following delegation report is expected to be presented and a statement made:

• Joint Standing Committee on Migration Delegation to New Zealand and Vanuatu, 26 to 31 August 2024 — Ms Vamvakinou (ALP, Calwell, Vic).

At approximately 10.15 am the following private Members’ motions will be debated in the House:

• Child care — Ms Bell (LNP, Moncrieff, Qld)
• Medicare — Dr Reid (ALP, Robertson, NSW)
• Taxing billionaires and big corporations — Ms Watson-Brown (Greens, Ryan, Qld)

At 11am on Monday the following private Member’s motions will be debated in the Federation Chamber.

• Road safety — Mr Pasin (Lib, Barker, SA)
• Jobs and investment in Western Australia — Ms Mascarenhas (ALP, Swan, WA)
• Rural doctor shortage — Mr Gee (Ind, Calare, NSW)
• Prioritising trade apprentices — Mr Repacholi (ALP, Hunter, NSW)
• Australia Day 2025 award recipients — Mr Hogan (Nats, Page, NSW)

At 4.45pm on Monday the following private Members’ motions will be debated in the Federation Chamber.

• Child care — Ms Bell (LNP, Moncrieff, Qld)
• Agriculture sector — Mr Repacholi (ALP, Hunter, NSW)
• Grampians National Park bushfires — Dr Webster (Nats, Mallee, Vic)
• Education sector — Ms J Ryan (ALP, Lalor, Vic)
• Classroom disruption — Mr Birrell (Nats, Nicholls, Vic)
• Taxing billionaires and big corporations — Ms Watson-Brown (Greens, Ryan, Qld)

• See also: Infosheet 7 – Making Laws

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

Grievance debate

In accordance with standing orders Grievance Debate is held on sitting Tuesdays in the Federation Chamber. At no later than 6.30 pm debate is resumed on the question ‘That grievances be noted’ and debate ensues for one hour. Debate on the question is practically unlimited in scope, giving Members the opportunity, in 10 minute speeches, to raise matters in which they have a particular interest or to discuss complaints of constituents.

• Order of business diagrams

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)