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.

 2Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission’s Yearly Report to Parliament—STATEMENT ON A SIGNIFICANT MATTER—Reference to Federation Chamber

Ms Plibersek (Minister for Social Services), pursuant to notice, made a statement in relation to the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission’s yearly report to Parliament, and presented the following document:

 350th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act—STATEMENT ON A SIGNIFICANT MATTER—Reference to Federation Chamber

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, made a statement in relation to the 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act.

 4Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025

Mr Hill (Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Hill presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 5Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 7 London Circuit, Canberra City—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 Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 7 London Circuit, Canberra City.

 6Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Federation Chamber, a Governor-General’s message recommending an appropriation had been reported, and the bill had been agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill.

 7Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 2) 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.

 8Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) 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 Mr Ted O’Brien, 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 notes that:

(1)the Opposition strongly supports the principle of Payday Super;

(2)superannuation is part of an employee’s wage and must be paid on time;

(3)around $5 billion of superannuation goes unpaid every year;

(4)the Government has ignored Treasury advice which suggests Digital Service Providers require 18 months from legislating the changes before implementation;

(5)the Government is putting small business at risk by rushing the bill’s implementation;

(6)the Opposition is calling on the Government to delay the start date for small businesses with fewer than 20 employees for 18 months to provide them adequate time to adapt; and

(7)the Opposition is calling on the Government to legislate protections for small businesses who have made good faith efforts to comply”—

Debate resumed.

 9NOTICE CALLED ON

Ordered—That notice No. 5, government business, be called on immediately.

 10Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to the environment, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Burke presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 11National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to establish the National Environmental Protection Agency, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Burke presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 12Environment Information Australia Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to establish the Head of Environment Information Australia, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Burke presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 13Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water) presented a Bill for an Act to impose charges relating to restoration of the environment, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Burke presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 14Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water) presented a Bill for an Act to impose charges that are neither duties of customs nor duties of excise in relation to matters connected with the administration of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Burke presented an explanatory memorandum to this bill, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025.

Bill read a first time.

 15Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water) presented a Bill for an Act to impose charges that are duties of customs in relation to matters connected with the administration of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

 16Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water) presented a Bill for an Act to impose charges that are duties of excise in relation to matters connected with the administration of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

 17Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) 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 Mr Ted O’Brien (see item No. 8, page XX)—

Debate resumed.

 18Superannuation Guarantee Charge 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—

 19Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation 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—

Debate resumed.

 20MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

 21QUESTIONS

 22Department of the House of Representatives Annual Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Department of the House of Representatives—Report for 2024-25.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

 23DOCUMENTS 

The following documents were presented: 

*Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency—Report for 2024-25.

*ASC Pty Ltd—Report for 2024-25.

*Australia Post—Report for 2024-25.

*Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission—Report for 2024-25.

*Australian Film, Television and Radio School—Report for 2024-25.

*Australian Institute of Criminology—Report for 2024-25.

*Australian Security Intelligence Organisation—Report for 2024-25.

*Australian Submarine Agency—Report for 2024-25.

*Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre—Report for 2024-25.

*Cotton Research and Development Corporation—Report for 2024-25.

*Department of Defence—Report for 2024-25.

*Department of Employment and Workplace Relations—Report for 2024-25.

*Department of Home Affairs—Report for 2024-25.

*Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation—Report for 2024-25.

*National Australia Day Council—Report for 2024-25.

*National Emergency Management Agency—Report for 2024-25.

National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004—Non-disclosure and witness exclusion certificates, special court orders and special advocates—Report for 2024-25.

*Northern Land Council—Report for 2024-25.

*Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care—Report for 2024-25.

*Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General—Report for 2024-25.

Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000—Fifth independent review of the Act—Prepared by the University of Technology Sydney for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Report, 2025.

*Public Lending Right Committee—Report for 2024-25.

Statutory Declarations Act 1959—Commonwealth statutory declaration digital service—Services Australia—Report for 2024-25.

Treaties—Text, together with associated documents—

Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility (Honiara, 10 September 2025).

Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (Magglingen, 18 September 2014).

*The documents were made Parliamentary Papers.

Personal explanation, Mr Taylor.

 24DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE—Government spending

The House was informed that Mr Ted O’Brien (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “How the Government’s spending spree is being paid for by everyday Australians in their tax returns, electricity bills, mortgage statements and their difficulty finding a job”.

 25MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL—ASSENT TO BILLS

A message from Her Excellency the Governor-General was announced informing the House that Her Excellency, in the name of His Majesty, had assented to the following bills:

 26Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—MEMBERSHIP

The House was informed that Mr Wallace had resigned his position on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

 27MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Messages from the Senate, 30 October 2025, were reported returning the following bills without amendment:

No. 43—Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2025.

No. 44—Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025.

 28Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the second reading—

 29ADJOURNMENT

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 30 October 2025 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk): 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013—Public Interest Disclosure Standards Determination 2025 [F2025L01307]. 

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986—Veterans’ Entitlements (Family Law Affected Income Streams) Principles Amendment Instrument 2025 [F2025L01309]. 

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Albanese, *Ms Fernando, Mr Joyce, Mr Katter, Ms M M H King, Mr L O’Brien and *Ms Payne.

* On leave