This bill became law on Jun 15th, 2023.
Immigration, border & security
Australia ends the Russian government's lease over the YarralumlaA suburb in Canberra where the leased site sits next to Parliament House. site beside Parliament House, along with any connected rights or interests over that land.
The Russian government's lease over land next to Parliament House created a national security problem for Australia. The bill cancels that lease and related rights straight away, overrides other laws that could block it, and allows compensation if property is acquired unfairly.
Australia already had a Russian government lease over a YarralumlaA suburb in Canberra where the leased site sits next to Parliament House. site next to Parliament House, but in 2023 the government was sharpening its security focus as the geopolitical outlook worsened and foreign interference risks stayed high. After ministers told Parliament that legal action had made immediate intervention necessary, the bill was rushed through both houses and received Royal AssentThe final formal step that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act of Parliament. on 15 June 2023, ending the lease and related rights over the land at commencement.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with debate focused on carrying out the lease cancellation quickly and lawfully for national security reasons. The available parliamentary speeches were supportive across government and coalition speakers, and no party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
Clare O'Neil MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 15 June 2023
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
Same day
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Australia ends the Russian government's lease over the YarralumlaA suburb in Canberra where the leased site sits next to Parliament House. site beside Parliament House, along with any connected rights or interests over that land.
Australia terminates the Russian government's lease and related rights over the land next to Parliament House for national security reasons.
People affected can get compensation from the CommonwealthThe federal Australian Government, which is the body that would pay compensation under this law. if ending the lease would otherwise take property without fair payment.
This law overrides other federal, state and territory laws and legal protections that might otherwise block or complicate the lease cancellation.
The site keeps its National LandA special category of land in Canberra managed for national purposes rather than ordinary local planning. status in Canberra, so the law does not change its place in the national capital planning rules.
Home Affairs Bill 2023 will establish an act for the termination of the lease held by the government of the Russian Federation on a parcel of land adjacent to Parliament House located at block 26, section 44 of the division of Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory. The bill will terminate any lease, any equitable or legal right, interest, trust, restriction, obligation, mortgage, encumbrance, contract, licence or charge granted or arising under or pursuant to a relevant lease or independence on a relevant lease in respect to the specified land. This action is absolutely necessary to protect Australia's national security interests, something that this parliament and our government will never shy away from.Minister's second reading speech
The object of the Bill is to protect Australia’s national security interests with regard to land within the area adjacent to Parliament House.Home Affairs explanatory memorandum
The Bill provides that, if the operation of the Act would result in the acquisition of property (within the meaning of paragraph 51 (xxxi) of the Constitution) from a person other than on just terms (within the meaning of that paragraph), the Commonwealth is liable to pay a reasonable amount of compensation to the person.Home Affairs explanatory memorandum
The Bill provides that the Act would have effect despite any other law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory, and would apply despite any rights, duties, obligations, powers, limitations, offences, privileges or immunities (however described, and whether actual, contingent or prospective) which would otherwise apply under any other law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory.Home Affairs explanatory memorandum
The relevant land is declared National Land and has been designated by the responsible Minister, as required for the special purposes of Canberra as the National Capital for the purposes of s 6(1)(g) of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (PALM Act). It is a Designated Area for the purposes of s 10 of the PALM Act and this Act is not intended to alter this position.Home Affairs explanatory memorandum
Context
Australia already had a Russian government lease over a YarralumlaA suburb in Canberra where the leased site sits next to Parliament House. site next to Parliament House, but in 2023 the government was sharpening its security focus as the geopolitical outlook worsened and foreign interference risks stayed high. After ministers told Parliament that legal action had made immediate intervention necessary, the bill was rushed through both houses and received Royal AssentThe final formal step that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act of Parliament. on 15 June 2023, ending the lease and related rights over the land at commencement.
Home Affairs shifts focus to worsening security threats
Clare O'Neil said Home Affairs would be restructured to respond to a deteriorating geopolitical outlook, foreign interference and cybercrime threats.
Australian Financial Review ↗Bill introduced to end the Russian government's YarralumlaA suburb in Canberra where the leased site sits next to Parliament House. lease
The minister introduced the bill saying the Russian Federation's lease over land adjacent to Parliament House had to be terminated to protect Australia's national security interests.
Hansard ↗Opposition says legal action made cancelling the lease necessary
During the bill debate, the opposition said the government's move had become necessary because of legal action and backed swift passage on national security grounds.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form on the day it was introduced, clearing the way for the lease and associated rights to be extinguished.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final formal step that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act of Parliament. ends the lease at commencement
Royal AssentThe final formal step that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act of Parliament. on 15 June 2023 turned the bill into law, and the explanatory memorandum says the Act terminates the lease and dependent interests on commencement.
Australian Parliament House ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal step that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with debate focused on carrying out the lease cancellation quickly and lawfully for national security reasons. The available parliamentary speeches were supportive across government and coalition speakers, and no party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
Main reservations, if any, were about lawful implementation rather than the policy goal itself.
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
O'Neil supports the bill, saying it is necessary to protect Australia's national security and Parliament House precinctThe area around Parliament House that the bill says needs extra protection for security reasons..
Read in Hansard ↗Andrew Hastie supports the bill and says the lease should be terminated because security advice shows a real risk to Australia’s national interest.
Read in Hansard ↗Watt supports the bill, saying it is needed to protect Australia's national security by terminating the Russian Federation's lease near Parliament House.
Read in Hansard ↗Paterson says the coalition supports the bill and wants it passed quickly in the national interest.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
2 speakers · 2 support
“This action is necessary to protect Australia's national security interests. There are not currently diplomatic or consular premises on the land.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Home Affairs Bill 2023 will establish an act for the termination of the lease held by the government of the Russian Federation on a parcel of land adjacent to Parliament House located at block 26, section 44 of the division of Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory. The bill will terminate any lease, any equitable or legal right, interest, trust, restriction, obligation, mortgage, encumbrance, contract, licence or charge granted or arising under or pursuant to a relevant lease or independence on a relevant lease in respect to the specified land. This action is absolutely necessary to protect Australia's national security interests, something that this parliament and our government will never shy away from.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 support
“There is a trust deficit; there is a real risk to our national interest here, and the security advice is that this lease must be terminated. Therefore, we support this bill, and I commend it to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'll be brief, given the sensitivity of the bill today. I just want to put on record the coalition's support for the swift passage of this bill before the parliament. It is important on sensitive national security issues like this that, in the national interest, we come together to resolve these issues. This action the government is taking today is consistent with policies the previous government put in place with a similar intention and has now become necessary as a result of legal action. The coalition is supporting the bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal step that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
