This bill became law on Aug 28th, 2025.
Welfare & housing
Defence Housing AustraliaThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. can provide housing and related services to a wider group of people connected with Defence operations, not only ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. members, Defence staff, Defence contractors and their families.
The bill was introduced because Defence Housing AustraliaThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support.'s legal function had not kept pace with Defence's operational housing needs. Official materials say the change responds to an Auditor-GeneralThe independent official whose 2019-20 report recommended aligning DHA's law with housing needs for visiting military personnel and charities assisting the ADF. recommendation and gives DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. a legal basis to support visiting foreign military personnel, foreign officials, contractors, charities assisting the ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. and future classes set by the minister, with AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia. submarine rotations in Western Australia as an early practical driver.
The broader story is a narrow housing law meeting a larger Defence partnership. A 2020 audit said DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. and Defence needed clearer legal authority for visiting military personnel and charities, then AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia. made that gap more urgent by creating a need to house US and UK personnel near HMAS StirlingThe naval base near Perth where AUKUS submarine rotations are expected to bring US and UK personnel and families..
Criticism focused less on whether allied personnel should ever be housed and more on the consequences of expanding DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support.'s role during a housing shortage. Coalition speakers supported the bill but said it lacked funding and delivery planning; Greens speakers opposed it as public housing for foreign troops; Jacqui Lambie's statement pressed for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. priority, cost recovery and transparency.
Matt Keogh introduced this bill. It passed with support from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, UAP, some crossbench members; opposed by Greens, Australia's Voice.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 28 Aug 2025
Final passage
Recorded final vote
1 counted final-passage vote was recorded.
Passage speed
35 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Defence Housing AustraliaThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. can provide housing and related services to a wider group of people connected with Defence operations, not only ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. members, Defence staff, Defence contractors and their families.
The new groups include foreign military members, foreign government officials, contractors for foreign militaries or governments, people helping Defence activities, accredited charity representatives and their families.
The Defence Minister can also add further classes of people by legislative instrumentA formal legal instrument made under an Act. Here it lets the minister add further classes of people whom DHA can house. when that is needed for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. operational needs or Defence requirements.
A key early use is AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia.: DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. is expected to help house United States and United Kingdom military, civilian and contractor personnel near HMAS StirlingThe naval base near Perth where AUKUS submarine rotations are expected to bring US and UK personnel and families. in Western Australia.
The bill responds to an Auditor-GeneralThe independent official whose 2019-20 report recommended aligning DHA's law with housing needs for visiting military personnel and charities assisting the ADF. recommendation that Defence and DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. align the law with housing needs for visiting foreign military personnel and charities assisting ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. members and families.
DHA can currently provide housing to members of the Australian Defence Force and their families, Department of Defence staff and their families, and to Defence contractors and their families.Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
The amendments include the provision of housing and housing-related services to the following additional classes of persons, and their families, to meet the operational needs of the Australian Defence Force and the requirements of the Department of Defence:Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine classes of persons for the purposes of paragraph (1)(j).Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 as introduced
To maintain critical US and UK support for SRF-West, Australia will enable the provision of housing and housing-related services to these personnel through DHA while they reside in Australia.Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
The report recommended that “DHA and Defence align Defence requirements for housing philanthropic organisations assisting the ADF, and foreign exchange and visiting military personnel, with the DHA Act”.Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 explanatory memorandum
Context
The broader story is a narrow housing law meeting a larger Defence partnership. A 2020 audit said DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. and Defence needed clearer legal authority for visiting military personnel and charities, then AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia. made that gap more urgent by creating a need to house US and UK personnel near HMAS StirlingThe naval base near Perth where AUKUS submarine rotations are expected to bring US and UK personnel and families..
Audit finds DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. cannot house key Defence partners
The explanatory memorandum says an Auditor-GeneralThe independent official whose 2019-20 report recommended aligning DHA's law with housing needs for visiting military personnel and charities assisting the ADF. report recommended aligning DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. and Defence requirements for housing philanthropic organisations and visiting foreign military personnel with the DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. Act.
Explanatory memorandum ↗AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia. submarine rotations create new housing demand
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States announced the AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia. optimal pathway, including a rotational submarine presence at HMAS StirlingThe naval base near Perth where AUKUS submarine rotations are expected to bring US and UK personnel and families. that would bring US and UK personnel and families to Western Australia.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Government asks Parliament to widen DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. housing powers
The government introduced the bill to let Defence Housing AustraliaThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. provide housing and related services to more Defence-connected people, including foreign military personnel, foreign officials, contractors and charity representatives.
APH bill page ↗Senate adds priority and cost-recovery message
The Senate agreed to Jacqui Lambie's second-reading statement calling for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. and Defence families to get priority access, foreign entities to meet full costs, and DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. to publish allocation and waiting-time data.
Senate Hansard ↗Expanded DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. housing powers take effect
After Royal Assent on 28 August 2025, the Act commenced the next day and the expanded DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. function took effect.
Final law metadata ↗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 bill reached this recorded parliamentary step. For this bill, the Federation Chamber reported back later the same day and the House then completed its remaining formal steps that day.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step. The official House record shows the referral out and return both happened on the same day, before the House moved to its final formal votes.
Reported from Federation Chamber
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 considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Second reading debate :
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 bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Recorded vote: 29 to 11.
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 Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
Criticism focused less on whether allied personnel should ever be housed and more on the consequences of expanding DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support.'s role during a housing shortage. Coalition speakers supported the bill but said it lacked funding and delivery planning; Greens speakers opposed it as public housing for foreign troops; Jacqui Lambie's statement pressed for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. priority, cost recovery and transparency.
The Coalition supported passage while criticising implementation. The Greens opposed the bill. The Senate carried Jacqui Lambie's second-reading statement on priority, cost recovery and transparency.
No funding or supply plan
Coalition speakers argued that the bill expanded DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. responsibilities without new funding, new housing supply or a clear delivery plan for AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia.-related demand.
ADF families should come first
Jacqui Lambie's second-reading statement called for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. members, Defence employees, Defence contractors and their families to receive priority access over foreign personnel.
Foreign entities should pay full costs
The Lambie statement also called for the full cost of housing foreign governments, military organisations and contractors to be recovered rather than subsidised by Australian taxpayers.
Public housing for foreign troops
Greens speakers opposed the bill on the basis that it prioritised housing for US and UK personnel under AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia. while Australians faced public-housing waitlists, rental stress and homelessness.
Further sources
Votes
The chamber-passage votes come first. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
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.
Passed 29 to 11. Support came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, UAP, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Greens and Australia's Voice.
Amendments grouped by chamber. Expand any amendment to see the party breakdown or, where it passed on the voices, how that works.
House
Defeated 39 to 93. Support came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, and Centre Alliance. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Senate
Defeated 25 to 35. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, UAP, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents.
Defeated 16 to 28. Support came from Greens, One Nation, Australia's Voice, UAP, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Liberal Party. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 38 to 23. Support came from Liberal Party, Greens, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor.
Passed 30 to 10. Support came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Greens and Australia's Voice.
Defeated 11 to 31. Support came from Greens and Australia's Voice. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, and minor parties and independents.
Jacqui Lambie's second-reading statement called for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. and Defence families to get priority, foreign entities to cover full housing costs, and DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. to publish allocation, wait-time and financial-impact data.
Jacqui Lambie's second-reading statement called for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. and Defence families to get priority, foreign entities to cover full housing costs, and DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. to publish allocation, wait-time and financial-impact data.
Passed on the voices
The chamber agreed to this amendment without a counted vote — the presiding officer judged the ayes louder than the noes, and no member called for a division.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Matt Keogh supported the bill as a way to update DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. law for modern Defence needs, including visiting foreign military personnel, charities assisting ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. families and AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia.-related housing near HMAS StirlingThe naval base near Perth where AUKUS submarine rotations are expected to bring US and UK personnel and families..
Read in Hansard ↗David Shoebridge opposed the bill, arguing it used public housing capacity for US troops under AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia. instead of Australians facing rent stress, homelessness and insecure housing.
Read in Hansard ↗Jacqui Lambie moved a second-reading statement calling for ADFAustralia's military forces. Existing DHA housing mainly served ADF members and their families before this Act widened the function. and Defence families to get priority access, foreign entities to cover full costs, and DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. to publish allocation and waiting-time data.
Read in Hansard ↗Angus Taylor said the Coalition would support the bill for AUKUSThe Australia, United Kingdom and United States security partnership. On this page it mainly matters because US and UK submarine personnel need housing in Western Australia., but moved a second-reading statement arguing that the government was expanding DHAThe Commonwealth body that provides housing and housing-related services for Defence needs. This Act expands the groups it can support. responsibilities without funding, planning or capacity.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
5 speakers · 5 support
“I am pleased to present the Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025, which makes various amendments to the Defence Housing Australia Act 1987 to expand the main function of Defence Housing Australia (DHA). The changes will enable housing and housing-related services to be provided by DHA to those making important contributions to the defence of Australia.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Each of these brings to Australia more rotational personnel and their families, who will need housing. This bill updates Defence Housing Australia's functions to reflect that reality. It allows DHA to provide housing and housing related services to foreign defence personnel, contractors and civilian staff and charities supporting defence work. It enables the minister to direct DHA to provide housing and housing related services to other categories of persons as required, to meet operational needs. This reform was recommended by the Auditor-General in 2020, who urged DHA and Defence to align this legislation with operational needs and align the provision of housing to defence philanthropic policy. It means that our partners will be able to access defence housing without putting pressure on already stretched housing markets.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill addresses the recommendation from a 2020 ANAO report on the management of DHA. The report recommended expanding DHA's functions to also provide housing for foreign exchange and visiting military personnel, and philanthropic organisations that provide counselling and other support services to ADF members and their families.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“These amendments that are before us are especially timely as we prepare for the establishment of the Submarine Rotational Force - West from as early as 2027, which will see nuclear powered submarines from the US and the UK operating on a rotational basis out of HMAS Stirling, in Western Australia. The US and UK personnel will also be working alongside our ADF men and women, so it is imperative that we support them properly. Utilising DHA will also ensure that the housing meets Defence standards, housing solutions are cost effective and overseas personnel aren't competing with the local housing market, which is an important point that I want to make here today. If these changes aren't adopted, then we risk delays in supporting AUKUS personnel, and that could affect the delivery times of this trilateral partnership.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“As was observed by the minister in the other place, the Albanese government is committed to AUKUS. We're committed to supporting our AUKUS partners appropriately and we are conscious that this should not be to the detriment of local communities. The government is also seeking to ensure that overseas personnel are integrated into local communities in order to provide them and their families the best possible experience of Australia. Using DHA to do this ensures that Australia secures housing that aligns with Defence Force standards while limiting any negative impacts that may be had on our local housing market.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
7 speakers · 6 mixed · 1 unclear
“The coalition supports this legislation and will facilitate its passage to support the implementation of AUKUS, but I rise also to issue a warning. This bill must not be a substitute for delivery. It cannot be another example of the Albanese government legislating without funding, promising without planning and expanding responsibility without expanding capacity.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill underpins AUKUS. This bill operationalises AUKUS. This bill strengthens AUKUS. That's why the coalition endorses this bill. With their long-range strike, deterrence and stealth capabilities, nuclear powered submarines are among the most valued assets in the arsenals of our key allies. In the years ahead, they will be one of Australia's most valued assets too.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill, whilst small in scope, touches on a much larger question: are we serious about defending our country? That's where the government's record falls short. Yes, the bill enables Defence Housing Australia to support our allies. Yes, it expands eligibility for housing. And, yes, the coalition supports these changes because, quite frankly, they are necessary for the success of AUKUS. But let us not pretend this is some comprehensive plan, because it is not. There is no new funding in this bill, no increase in housing supply, no structural reform to meet the rise in demand and no funded pipeline to build the homes we need to support this commitment. The bill simply expands Defence Housing's remit but not its resources. This is a serious problem because defence policy is no longer about long-term hypotheticals; it is about immediate readiness and about being able to act, not just talk.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition will be supporting the Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 because we support AUKUS and, of course, we support our defence forces, who do an incredible job for our country. But this issue of defence housing is, of course, linked to the broader issue of housing, because the people who are serving in our defence forces and in our kindred spirits' defence forces also require houses to live in when they are serving our nation. This bill doesn't make any provision for the additional resources which are required for housing the defence forces, and that is no surprise to me, because this is a pattern that we see across the board with Labor's housing commitments. A very good way of describing it is 'all feathers and no meat'.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Unfortunately, though, with this bill there is no allocation of funding, as Senator Shoebridge was saying. That's going to put significant pressure upon the housing market that exists right now. Homes are already scarce in Western Australia. My brother and sister-in-law listed their home for sale only a few days ago, and, literally within two days, the home sold well above their expectations in terms of pricing. It sold very, very quickly. Homes are extremely rare and hard to get a hold of. There is no allocation of resources in this bill for the development of new homes, and that is the central point that I want to make in my contribution here today—that the government is not doing what it needs to do to step up to the plate to provide for the homes and the housing that will go along with this legislation.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“However, quite frankly, this is too little too late. It is just reflective of the failure of this Labor government and the state Labor government in Western Australia to seize the urgency of the requirements of AUKUS and make the concrete building blocks necessary to see this come to fruition. I had the current status of Henderson and AUKUS in Western Australia described to me, by someone who knows this very, very intimately, as a debacle under this Labor government, a debacle under the state Labor government in Western Australia, because—for one reason, at least—the building blocks have not been started. Yes, this bill is a positive step, and we will support it; however, the requirement for the US presence at Stirling is for thousands of accommodation units to be available, starting in 2027-28. Passing legislation to start a process to build houses just two years before you're going to need those houses to be finished shows how unserious this Labor government actually is in this space.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The original question was this bill now be read a second time. To this the honourable member for Hume has moved as an amendment that all words after 'That' be omitted with a view to substituting other words. The immediate question is that the amendment be agreed to.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
4 speakers · 4 oppose
“I rise on behalf of the Greens to oppose the Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill, which is—at least it was honestly referenced by the government—directly intended to spend the Australian public's money to build public houses for US troops under AUKUS. It is utterly astounding that this is the first public housing bill that's been brought forward by the Albanese government in now—what is it?—three and a bit years of government. The only express public housing bill that they've brought forward in three and a bit years is to build public housing for US troops under AUKUS. You could not make this stuff up.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Instead this scheme builds public housing for foreign troops and foreign contractors, under the deeply flawed AUKUS pact. That's right—this government has deemed US troops and US contractors more worthy of public housing than people in Australia who desperately need a roof over their heads. Over 170,000 Australian households are on public housing waitlists. Homelessness in this country is the worst in living memory, according to the many advocacy groups who knock on the door of all of us in this place. What is the government doing? Rushing through a bill that would allow for hundreds of new homes to be built without delay but built for US troops and US defence contractors. The fact that this is the government's priority beggars belief. So much for 'no-one left behind'. So much for 'tackling the housing crisis from every angle', as we've heard the Minister for Housing say in recent days.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Today I urge the Australian public and the members of this parliament to pay attention to the hypocrisy of this government. Today in the Senate we are debating the Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025, a bill that has been passed through the lower house without deep scrutiny or consultation from the Australian community. This bill seeks to provide public housing to US troops to support AUKUS military operations from 2027. These military operations centre around a permanent nuclear-powered submarine force, which will require US military personnel to be stationed in Australia, including off the coast of Fremantle on Noongar lands in my state.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to briefly speak on the Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025. While there is obvious contention about this particular Australian Defence Force housing issue, as outlined by my colleague Senator Shoebridge, it's not the only controversial project that this particular government department has been enacting over the last number of years.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 mixed
“The Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 is an admission of failure on two fronts: the housing crisis and our ability to defend ourselves. Defence Housing Australia is the agency tasked with putting a roof over the heads of our Australian Defence Force personnel, the fine people who serve all Australians. This bill will extend that mission significantly to include housing foreign military personnel. This bill is a flow-on consequence of the housing crisis, a catastrophe.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 mixed
“At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate calls on the Government to: (a) guarantee that members of the Australian Defence Force and their families, officers and employees of the Department of Defence and their families, and persons contracted to provide goods or services to the Australian Defence Force or the Department and their families are given priority access to Defence Housing over foreign personnel; and (b) ensure that the full costs of providing Defence Housing and housing-related services to foreign governments, military organisations and their contractors are fully recovered from those entities, and not subsidised by Australian taxpayers; and (c) improve transparency by requiring Defence Housing Australia to publish data on housing allocations, waiting times for Australian Defence Force members, and the net financial impact of housing foreign personnel".”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 · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
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 · Amendments considered
Amendment packages agreed
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
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 · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the WholeA Senate stage where senators can debate and vote on detailed amendments to the bill text. debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 29 to 11.
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 Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
