This bill became law on Mar 27th, 2025.
Budget, tax & economy
The Act releases $10.919 billion from federal revenue so the government can keep paying for non-annual spending such as assets, loans and other liabilities in 2025-26.
The gap was that the government needed money at the start of 2025-26 for non-ordinary annual services before the full-year appropriation bill passed. This bill releases interim funding from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main federal money pool the Parliament draws from when it authorises government spending., lets urgent shortfalls be topped up within limits, and supports payments including some to states and territories.
Australia’s regular budget process still required a separate supply package so government entities could keep operating from 1 July 2025 before the full-year appropriation bills were enacted, with this bill covering non-annual spending such as assets, loans and other liabilities. The bill responded by releasing interim funding, allowing limited urgent top-ups by the Finance Minister and supporting some payments to states and territories, then became law in late March 2025 so those arrangements were in place ahead of the new financial year.
The main recorded criticism was that the broader budget behind this supply bill was being rushed and should cut spending back to match revenue instead of proceeding as proposed. That case appeared narrowly through a defeated second-reading amendment from Pauline Hanson's One Nation, while no party represented in the debate is recorded as opposing the bill itself.
Stephen Jones MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 27 Mar 2025
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
1 recorded amendment or procedural vote was found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
2 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The Act releases $10.919 billion from federal revenue so the government can keep paying for non-annual spending such as assets, loans and other liabilities in 2025-26.
The Act lets the federal government send some of this money to states, territories and local councils for budget outcomes covered in the schedule, including areas like education, infrastructure and regional development.
The Finance Minister can add funding during the year if an urgent need comes up that this Act did not cover properly.
The Act caps those extra urgent funding decisions under this Act and Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2025-2026The separate spending law that this bill is paired with for part of the 2025-26 budget process. at a combined $600 million.
The Act sets temporary borrowing limits of $5 billion and $37 billion for federal payments to states and territories, with the GSTThe tax the page refers to when explaining a borrowing limit that can change if GST receipts are higher than expected.-related limit able to rise if the GSTThe tax the page refers to when explaining a borrowing limit that can change if GST receipts are higher than expected. amount is higher.
The total of the items specified in Schedule 2 is $10,919,452,000.Supply Act (No. 2) 2025-2026 final Act text
(1) The amount specified in a State, ACT, NT and local government item for an outcome for a non‑corporate entity may be applied for the purpose of making payments to or for the States, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and local government authorities for the purpose of contributing to achieving that outcome.Supply Act (No. 2) 2025-2026 final Act text
(1) This section applies if the Finance Minister is satisfied that there is an urgent need for expenditure, in the current year, that is not provided for, or is insufficiently provided for, in Schedule 2:Supply Act (No. 2) 2025-2026 final Act text
(3) The total of the amounts determined under subsection (2) of this section and subsection 12(2) of the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2025‑2026 cannot be more than $600 million.Supply Act (No. 2) 2025-2026 final Act text
(2) The debit limit for the current year for the purposes of section 16 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 is $37,000,000,000.Supply Act (No. 2) 2025-2026 final Act text
Context
Australia’s regular budget process still required a separate supply package so government entities could keep operating from 1 July 2025 before the full-year appropriation bills were enacted, with this bill covering non-annual spending such as assets, loans and other liabilities. The bill responded by releasing interim funding, allowing limited urgent top-ups by the Finance Minister and supporting some payments to states and territories, then became law in late March 2025 so those arrangements were in place ahead of the new financial year.
Government says a supply package is needed for the start of 2025-26
In the second reading speech, the government said the bill would provide about five-twelfths of 2025-26 estimates so programs and obligations could continue from 1 July 2025 before full appropriations passed.
Hansard ↗House passes the bill
The House completed all stages of the bill on the day it was introduced, advancing the interim funding measure without delay.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
After moving through the Senate, the bill passed both houses in the same form, completing its parliamentary passage.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe formal step that turns the passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the bill into law
Royal AssentThe formal step that turns the passed bill into an Act of Parliament. on 27 March 2025 made the supply arrangements law well before the 2025-26 financial year began.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Interim funding period is set to begin
From 1 July 2025, the Act was intended to let the Commonwealth keep meeting non-annual spending commitments and some payments to states and territories at the start of the financial year.
Hansard ↗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 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 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 formal step that turns the passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main recorded criticism was that the broader budget behind this supply bill was being rushed and should cut spending back to match revenue instead of proceeding as proposed. That case appeared narrowly through a defeated second-reading amendment from Pauline Hanson's One Nation, while no party represented in the debate is recorded as opposing the bill itself.
Recorded criticism was limited and aimed more at the budget’s fiscal settings than this bill’s mechanics.
Budget rushed and spending too high
A second-reading amendment argued the budget package linked to this supply bill was rushed and should be withdrawn and redrawn so spending was reduced to match revenue. The criticism went to the government's overall fiscal approach rather than a specific defect in the bill's appropriation machinery.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not 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.
Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Senate
Defeated 3 to 42. Support came from One Nation. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Liberal Party, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The amendment failed 3-42, so the Senate did not add that criticism to the second-reading motion before agreeing to the bill.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Stephen Jones supports the bill, saying it is needed as part of the supply package to keep government programs and obligations funded from 1 July 2025 until the main 2025-26 budget bills pass.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“This bill is part of the supply bills package proposing appropriations to facilitate the ongoing business of government from 1 July 2025.”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 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 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 formal step that turns the passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
