This bill became law on Dec 10th, 2024.
Budget, tax & economy
Australia can update product safety and information rules more easily by using Australian and overseas standards as they change, which should cut repeat testing and help businesses sell compliant products sooner.
Outdated product safety rules, weak grocery-code penalties, and a $1 billion cap on Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page.’s special accountA government money pool with its own spending rules, used here to hold funds for housing programs. left enforcement and housing funding short. The bill lets standards update more easily, requires businesses to provide compliance information, raises grocery penalties, and expands Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page.’s funding capacity.
Before this bill, product safety and information standards were harder to update, large grocery businesses faced weaker code penalties, and Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page.’s special accountA government money pool with its own spending rules, used here to hold funds for housing programs. was capped at $1 billion, limiting enforcement and funding flexibility. In late 2024 the government responded with an omnibus bill to modernise safety compliance, let regulators compel proof that goods and services meet standards, sharply raise grocery-code penalties and lift Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page.’s cap to $4 billion, with Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. on 10 December 2024 completing those changes.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and publicly available sources does not show a developed argument that its main measures would cause clear harm. The public record provided points to support and procedural scrutiny, but no party represented in the debate is shown here as opposing the bill or pressing substantial reservations.
Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP introduced this bill. In the House final vote, support came from Labor, Greens, some crossbench members; opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, Centre Alliance, some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 10 Dec 2024
Final passage
Recorded final vote
2 counted final-passage votes were recorded.
Passage speed
13 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Australia can update product safety and information rules more easily by using Australian and overseas standards as they change, which should cut repeat testing and help businesses sell compliant products sooner.
Businesses can be ordered to hand over documents or information showing whether their goods or services meet safety or information rules, and missing the deadline can bring a civil penaltyA financial penalty for breaking a rule that is imposed through a court process rather than as a criminal conviction..
Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page. can keep up to $4 billion in its special accountA government money pool with its own spending rules, used here to hold funds for housing programs. instead of $1 billion, giving it more room to fund social and affordable housing programs.
Supermarkets and other large grocery businesses can face much heavier penalties under grocery industry codes, including up to $10 million, three times the benefit gained, or 10 per cent of turnover.
Donations to Skip Foundation Ltd can now be tax deductible for gifts made from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029, which should help it attract more public support.
The amendments provide the framework for safety standards and information standards to incorporate matters in instruments and writings as they exist from time to time and make provision for matters dealt with in such instruments. Safety standards and information standards themselves need to be amended (or made) to implement this. An expedited and detailed review of safety standards and information standards will be undertaken by the ACCC to facilitate this. It is expected that safety standards and information standards which adopt time to time updates will set out guidance to assist entities to understand how the transition to complying with newer versions of an incorporated instrument will work in practice. Suitable transition periods are anticipated to be informed through consultation processes.Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
A civil penalty provision applies if a person does not give the regulator the requested information and documents within the time period specified in the request. The maximum pecuniary penalty that a court may order for breach of this civil penalty provision is $50,000 for a body corporate and $10,000 for a person that is not a body corporate. The Court has discretion to consider the seriousness of the contravention and impose a penalty that is appropriate in the circumstances. The maximum penalties align with other minor civil penalties under the ACL.Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
The Housing Australia Act is amended to increase the cap on the balance of the Housing Australia Special Account to $4 billion.[Schedule 3, item 1, subsection 47D(1) of the Housing Australia Act]Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
The bill provides that the maximum penalty that can be prescribed in the code will be the greater of $10 million, three times the value of the benefit gained from the contravening conduct, or 10 per cent turnover in the preceding 12 months.Minister's second reading speech
Taxpayers may claim an income tax deduction for gifts made to Skip Foundation Ltd (ABN 44 673 342 455) provided the gift complies with the existing requirements of the income tax law. The gift must be made after 1 July 2024 and on or before 30 June 2029. This amendment ensures that Skip Foundation Ltd receives public financial support for its activities.Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
Context
Before this bill, product safety and information standards were harder to update, large grocery businesses faced weaker code penalties, and Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page.’s special accountA government money pool with its own spending rules, used here to hold funds for housing programs. was capped at $1 billion, limiting enforcement and funding flexibility. In late 2024 the government responded with an omnibus bill to modernise safety compliance, let regulators compel proof that goods and services meet standards, sharply raise grocery-code penalties and lift Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page.’s cap to $4 billion, with Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. on 10 December 2024 completing those changes.
Explanatory memorandumThe official document that explains what the bill does, why it was introduced and how its changes work. sets out gaps in safety, grocery and housing settings
The bill material said outdated standards rules, weak grocery-code penalties and Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page.’s $1 billion cap were leaving enforcement and housing funding short.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Government introduces the bill as a fairness measure for families and farmers
Andrew Leigh’s second reading speech framed the bill as a package to modernise product safety rules, strengthen grocery-sector penalties and expand housing funding capacity.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the new compliance powers, higher grocery penalties and larger Housing AustraliaThe government housing body whose special account cap is lifted from $1 billion to $4 billion on this page. special accountA government money pool with its own spending rules, used here to hold funds for housing programs..
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the bill into law
Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. completed the package so the amendments could take legal effect under the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) Act 2024.
Parliamentary timeline ↗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.
Recorded vote: 78 to 53.
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
Recorded vote: 77 to 58.
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 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
Referred to Committee (28/11/2024): Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Committee report (31/01/2025)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and publicly available sources does not show a developed argument that its main measures would cause clear harm. The public record provided points to support and procedural scrutiny, but no party represented in the debate is shown here as opposing the bill or pressing substantial reservations.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far.
Votes
The chamber-passage votes come first. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
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.
Passed 77 to 58. Support came from Labor and Greens. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 77 to 53. Support came from Labor and Greens. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Earlier bill-stage votes
Passed 78 to 53. Support came from Labor, Greens, and Centre Alliance. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Other recorded votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
House
Passed 74 to 54. Support came from Labor and Greens. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
This ended debate and forced the House to vote immediately on whether the bill should proceed at second reading.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Andrew Leigh supports the bill and says it delivers fairer rules for families, farmers and consumers by making the food and grocery codeThe industry code that sets rules for large supermarkets and grocery businesses and is the source of the higher penalties in this bill. mandatory, strengthening penalties, and backing related measures on product safety, housing finance and tax administration.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“I commend the bill to the House.”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
Recorded vote: 78 to 53.
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
Recorded vote: 77 to 58.
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 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 step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Committee report (31/01/2025)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (28 Nov 2024): Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Committee report (31 Jan 2025)
APH bill page notes
