Surveillance safeguards
The Greens argued the bill expanded surveillance powers without adequate safeguards or accountability and should wait for consultation, regulatory impact analysis and review of the INSLM report.
Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment
Current status
This bill became law on Nov 4th, 2025.
Policy area
Transport & communications
What does this bill do?
The bill amended the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 and the Crimes Act 1914 so surveillance, law enforcement and criminal justice provisions would operate as intended.
Why was it introduced?
The explanatory memorandum says the bill was introduced to correct operational issues in telecommunications interception, network activity warrantA surveillance warrant used by specified agencies for intelligence-gathering activity against relevant networks. This bill clarified limited use and disclosure of information from those warrants for court disclosure and fair-trial purposes., international production orderAn order under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act framework used to obtain electronic data from communications providers under designated international agreements. and controlled-operation laws, while supporting law enforcement, national security and criminal justice processes.
Key criticism
The main recorded criticism came from the Greens, who argued the bill expanded surveillance powers without adequate safeguards, accountability, public consultation or alignment with broader electronic surveillance reform.
Who supported it?
The government introduced this bill. In the recorded Senate second-reading vote, support came from Labor, One Nation, Liberal Party, Australia's Voice, some crossbench members; opposition came from Greens.
Introduced in House 27 Aug 2025
Passed House 07 Oct 2025
Passed Senate 29 Oct 2025
Became law 04 Nov 2025
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 04 Nov 2025
Final passage
No counted final vote
1 recorded vote on the bill was found earlier in passage, but the final chamber agreement was not a counted division.
Passage speed
69 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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The bill amended the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 and the Crimes Act 1914 so surveillance, law enforcement and criminal justice provisions would operate as intended.
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It allowed network activity warrantA surveillance warrant used by specified agencies for intelligence-gathering activity against relevant networks. This bill clarified limited use and disclosure of information from those warrants for court disclosure and fair-trial purposes. information to be used for disclosure obligations and admitted where needed for a fair trial, while preserving the intelligence-only purpose of those warrants.
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It moved the Communications Access Coordinator function to the Home Affairs portfolio and allowed limited stored-communications access for developing and testing interception capabilities.
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It fixed international production orderAn order under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act framework used to obtain electronic data from communications providers under designated international agreements. rules affecting US-based communications providers and clarified controlled-operation authorisation and liability protections.
Show source excerpts
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amends the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (TIA Act), Surveillance Devices Act 2004 and Crimes Act 1914 to ensure key provisions operate as intended
Explanatory memorandum -
It also allows the information to be admitted in evidence where necessary to ensure the defendant is afforded a fair trial
Explanatory memorandum -
Schedule 3 permits limited access to stored communications to allow agencies to undertake development and testing activities.
Explanatory memorandum -
Schedule 5 amends Part IAB of the Crimes Act to clarify the threshold for authorising and varying controlled operations
Explanatory memorandum
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 27 Aug 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 27 Aug 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Intelligence and Security review 01 Sept 2025
The bill was referred to Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Committee report (07/10/2025).
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesHuman Rights review 02 Oct 2025
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights considered the bill in Report 5 of 2025.
Considered by scrutiny committee
APH bill page notesSecond reading debate 07 Oct 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed 07 Oct 2025
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
House third reading agreed 07 Oct 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 27 Oct 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 27 Oct 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 29 Oct 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed Aye 30 No 10 29 Oct 2025
Recorded vote: 30 to 10.
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
Committee of the Whole debate 29 Oct 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate third reading agreed 29 Oct 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 29 Oct 2025
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 04 Nov 2025
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The main recorded criticism came from the Greens, who argued the bill expanded surveillance powers without adequate safeguards, accountability, public consultation or alignment with broader electronic surveillance reform.
The government and opposition described the bill as technical and supported its passage; the Greens opposed it and moved both recorded amendments.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
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
House passed the bill
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 Senate passed the bill
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
Senate passed the bill
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.
Carried Senate cleared second reading
Passed 30 to 10. Support came from Labor, One Nation, Liberal Party, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Greens.
Carried
Senate cleared second reading
Party Aye / No
Labor 21 / 0
Greens 0 / 10
One Nation 3 / 0
Independent 2 / 0
Liberal Party 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Nationals 1 / 0
Amendments at a glance
Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Senate
Defeated Delay bill for consultation and surveillance review
Moved by David Shoebridge (Australian Greens). Defeated 15 to 24. Support came from Greens, One Nation, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Liberal Party.
Defeated
Delay bill for consultation and surveillance review
Defeated 15-24; the Senate did not add the Greens delay condition before deciding whether to read the bill a second time.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 21
Greens 10 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 3
One Nation 3 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Independent 1 / 0
Carried Keep international production order changes
Moved by David Shoebridge (Australian Greens). Passed 30 to 12. Support came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, and Nationals. Opposition came from Greens and Australia's Voice. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Carried
Keep international production order changes
Carried 30-12; Schedule 4 stayed in the bill and the Senate reported the bill without amendment.
Party Aye / No
Labor 22 / 0
Greens 0 / 10
Liberal Party 3 / 0
One Nation 3 / 0
Independent 1 / 1
Australia's Voice 0 / 1
Nationals 1 / 0
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Tony Burke
Tony Burke introduced the bill as technical but important updates to electronic surveillance and law enforcement frameworks, covering disclosure rules, testing powers, international production orders and controlled operations.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead opposing voice Opposes
David Shoebridge
David Shoebridge said the Greens opposed the bill because they considered it an expansion of surveillance powers without adequate safeguards or accountability, and he moved to delay it for consultation and review.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
Jonathon Duniam
Jonathon Duniam said the Coalition supported the bill without amendment because it gave intelligence and law enforcement agencies practical tools to pursue criminals in a changing technology environment.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Anthony Chisholm
Anthony Chisholm closed the Senate debate by saying the bill remedied defects that prevented agencies from exercising powers as Parliament intended, and commended it to the Senate.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
2 speakers · 2 support
Labor
2 speakers · 2 support
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Tony Burke ★ Tony Burke introduced the bill as technical but important updates to electronic surveillance and law enforcement frameworks, covering disclosure rules, testing powers, international production orders and controlled operations.
“The changes in the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 are technical, but provide essential clarifications to ensure that the agencies that keep our nation safe, can continue do so in an era of rapid technological development.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Anthony Chisholm ★ Anthony Chisholm closed the Senate debate by saying the bill remedied defects that prevented agencies from exercising powers as Parliament intended, and commended it to the Senate.
“In conclusion the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 will address defects preventing agencies from exercising powers consistent with parliament's intent”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
1 speaker · 1 support
Coalition
1 speaker · 1 support
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Jonathon Duniam ★ Jonathon Duniam said the Coalition supported the bill without amendment because it gave intelligence and law enforcement agencies practical tools to pursue criminals in a changing technology environment.
“The opposition will be supporting this legislation without amendment.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Greens
1 speaker · 1 oppose
Greens
1 speaker · 1 oppose
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David Shoebridge ★ David Shoebridge said the Greens opposed the bill because they considered it an expansion of surveillance powers without adequate safeguards or accountability, and he moved to delay it for consultation and review.
“I rise on behalf of the Greens to indicate our opposition to the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025
- Act number
- Act No. 53, 2025
- Became law
- 04 Nov 2025
- Takes effect
- The whole of this Act 05 Nov 2025
- Registered
- 05 Nov 2025
- Administered by
- Department of Home Affairs
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Assent -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 27 Aug 2025
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.
- 27 Aug 2025
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.
- 07 Oct 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 07 Oct 2025
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.
- 07 Oct 2025
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 27 Oct 2025
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.
- 27 Oct 2025
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.
- 29 Oct 2025
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 29 Oct 2025
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 30 to 10.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 29 Oct 2025
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 29 Oct 2025
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 29 Oct 2025
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 04 Nov 2025
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Committee report (07/10/2025)
Referred to committee
The bill was referred to Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Committee report (07/10/2025).
Referred to Committee (1 Sept 2025): Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Committee report (7 Oct 2025)
APH bill page notesParliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights
Considered by scrutiny committee
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights considered the bill in Report 5 of 2025.
Considered by scrutiny committee (2 Oct 2025): Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report 5 of 2025
APH bill page notes