Bonded-doctor detail gap
Coalition speakers argued that Schedule 4 did not explain clearly enough how waivers and changed penalties would affect regional doctor supply.
Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1)
Current status
This bill became law on Nov 4th, 2025.
Policy area
Health, care & disability
What does this bill do?
Lets Medicare provider numbers be allocated by approved computer programs for straightforward applications, while keeping refusals with a human decision-maker.
Why was it introduced?
Provider-number delays, private health insurance rebate system limits, bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. assignment transition issues and concerns about bonded-doctor penalties had all created practical administration problems in health law. The Act updates those systems so eligible practitioners can start sooner, rebate and assignment processes fit current systems, and Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. consequences can be applied more flexibly.
Broader context
The Kruk review and earlier Medicare assignment reforms had already pointed to two health-system problems: slow onboarding for health practitioners and outdated paper-based billing processes. This Act combined those implementation fixes with private health insurance rebate validation and Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. changes, then passed quickly in late October 2025 with one Senate division on whether to keep the bonded-doctor provisions.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that the Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. changes lacked enough detail and could weaken incentives for doctors to serve regional and remote communities. The coalition still accepted several technical parts of the bill, while the Greens used the debate to press for Medicare support for dental and oral prosthetics for cancer survivors.
Who supported it?
The Labor government introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 04 Sept 2025
Passed House 07 Oct 2025
Passed Senate 30 Oct 2025
Became law 04 Nov 2025
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 04 Nov 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
61 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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Lets Medicare provider numbers be allocated by approved computer programs for straightforward applications, while keeping refusals with a human decision-maker.
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Validates earlier Medicare provider numbers issued by computer program and supports faster onboarding of overseas and other eligible health practitioners.
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Updates the private health insurance rebate scheme so registrations and insurer reimbursement claims fit the systems Services Australia uses, with recovery of overpayments if defects occur.
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Delays the 2024 assignment-of-Medicare-benefits changes until 1 July 2026 and makes further changes for bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. and simplified billing agreements.
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Changes the Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. so some penalties are less harsh and past work can be counted toward doctors' return-of-service obligations where program rules allow.
Show source excerpts
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Amendments made by the Bill will enable the Chief Executive Medicare to approve the use of a computer program to make appropriate, non-discretionary decisions to allocate MPNs. The Bill will also validate MPNs previously issued by a computer program; and amend the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (PHI Act) to ensure the Private Health Insurance Rebate Premiums Reduction Scheme registration and claims processes are administered consistently with the requirements of the PHI Act (Schedule 2). The Bill will also include an information gathering provision relating to insurer claims for reimbursement and ensure recovery of overpayments if there are any unintended system or process defects. The Bill will enable the Chief Executive Medicare to approve the use of a computer program to make appropriate, non-discretionary decisions relating to the registration and claims process. The Bill will
Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum -
The Bill will support the continuation and expansion of automation of the allocation of MPNs to eligible health professionals, significantly reducing the time it takes for certain cohorts of health practitioners, including internationally qualified health practitioners, to receive their MPNs. Amendments associated with effecting automation include: validating MPNs that were previously issued by a computer program; validating previous decisions whether or not to issue an MPN where appropriate but legislatively irrelevant criteria were considered; and afford for the remaking of erroneous decisions regarding the allocation of MPNs without giving notice to the applicant, but only where the applicant has not yet been advised of the original decision. Schedule 2 – Private Health Insurance Rebate Premiums Reduction Scheme The Australian Government reimburses private health insurers (insurers)
Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum -
Amendments made by the Bill will ensure the validity of registrations and claims for payment under Parts 2-2 and 6-4 of the PHI Act respectively by: Better aligning the registration process with Service Australia’s electronic system requirements. Providing for self-assessment by participating insurers of the amount of rebate required to be reimbursed according to the requirements of the PHI Act. Requiring an insurer to provide information or documents to support their claim. Ensuring over-payments can be recovered despite any unintended system or process defects. Allowing for computer assisted decision-making and the approval of forms and systems by the Chief Executive Medicare (Services Australia). The amendments will support the existing registration and claims processes for the Premiums Reduction Scheme in such a way that there will be minimal impacts on consumers and private health
Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum -
The Bill amends the AoB Act, before its amendments to the HI Act take effect, to ensure the new assignment arrangements will not commence until 1 July 2026. The Bill also amends the HI Act, immediately after the commencement of the amendments to be made by the AoB Act, to: enable any eligible person who is covered under a complying health insurance policy (CHIP) issued by a private health insurer to assign their Medicare benefits; amend mandatory notification requirements for simplified billing to reduce administrative burden on providers; enable regulations for enduring assignment agreements for bulk billing to specify the circumstances in which these agreements may be entered into or terminated, and the kind of professional services they apply to; and enable the Minister to determine, by legislative instrument, categories of professional services. These categories are intended to be
Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum -
The Bill amends Part VD of the HI Act to ensure these penalties are applied appropriately, given broader workforce shortages, and more consistently to participants. CONSULTATION The development of this Bill has been informed by engagement with stakeholders about how to modernise and simplify the assignment of Medicare benefits process. Since September 2024, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has provided more than 40 external stakeholder consultations involving more than 130 stakeholder organisations, including medical industry and consumer representatives, hospitals, private health insurers, state and territory health departments and software vendors. The Bill is further informed by interagency discussions with Services Australia. Stakeholders have supported modern and simplified assignment of Medicare benefit processes and seek timely education and communication of
Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
The Kruk review and earlier Medicare assignment reforms had already pointed to two health-system problems: slow onboarding for health practitioners and outdated paper-based billing processes. This Act combined those implementation fixes with private health insurance rebate validation and Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. changes, then passed quickly in late October 2025 with one Senate division on whether to keep the bonded-doctor provisions.
- 01 Jan 2020
Statutory Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. begins
The program replaced two legacy schemes and required bonded participants to complete return-of-service work in eligible areas.
Explanatory memorandum ↗ - 01 Aug 2023
Kruk review backs faster provider numbers
The review identified provider-number processing delays as a barrier to internationally qualified health practitioners starting work quickly.
Explanatory memorandum ↗ - 01 Jan 2024
Parliament modernises Medicare benefit assignment
The 2024 assignment Act set up digital and simplified assignment changes that later needed more time and supporting rules.
Explanatory memorandum ↗ - 04 Sept 2025
Health administration bill introduced
The government introduced a four-schedule bill covering provider numbers, private health insurance rebates, Medicare benefit assignment and the Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas..
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 30 Oct 2025
Senate keeps bonded-doctor provisions
A Senate division carried the question that parts 1 and 3 of Schedule 4 stand as printed.
Hansard division ↗ - 04 Nov 2025
Act receives Royal Assent
Royal Assent turned the bill into Act No. 54 of 2025, with several schedules starting later or by proclamation.
Federal Register of Legislation ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 04 Sept 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 04 Sept 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 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.
Scrutiny of Bills review 29 Oct 2025
The local source bundle records that the scrutiny committee considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2025. No committee extract was available locally in the source bundle, so this page does not summarise any specific scrutiny concern.
Considered in published report
Second reading debate 30 Oct 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed 30 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
Committee of the Whole debate 30 Oct 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate third reading agreed 30 Oct 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 30 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 criticism was that the Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. changes lacked enough detail and could weaken incentives for doctors to serve regional and remote communities. The coalition still accepted several technical parts of the bill, while the Greens used the debate to press for Medicare support for dental and oral prosthetics for cancer survivors.
Criticism was targeted; the bill itself still passed both Houses in October 2025.
Regional workforce risk
The concern was that softening consequences could dilute a scheme designed to get doctors into communities with the greatest need.
Cancer dental care gap
The Greens argued that Medicare still did not cover dental prosthetics and restorative oral health care needed by some head, neck and oral cancer survivors.
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.
Amendments at a glance
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
Senate
Carried Keep Bonded Medical Program changes
Passed 32 to 23. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and One Nation.
Carried
Keep Bonded Medical Program changes
This defeated the attempt to remove key bonded-doctor changes before the bill passed the Senate.
Party Aye / No
Labor 20 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 17
Greens 9 / 0
Nationals 0 / 3
One Nation 0 / 3
Independent 2 / 0
Australia's Voice 1 / 0
Carried Cancer dental-care statement agreed
The Senate agreed on voices to a second-reading amendment calling for work on oral health treatment, including restorative services, for cancer survivors.
Carried
Cancer dental-care statement agreed
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Rebecca White
White says the bill supports a stronger Medicare by speeding up provider-number allocation, fixing private health insurance rebate administration, modernising bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. assignment rules and making Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. consequences fairer.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Jo Briskey
Briskey supports the bill as a practical Medicare-strengthening package, emphasising faster doctor onboarding, simpler private health insurance rebates, modern bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. processes and fairer bonded-doctor rules.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Mike Freelander
Freelander supports the bill, drawing on his medical experience to argue that faster provider numbers and more modern Medicare administration will improve access to care and support bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service..
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Mixed
Sam Birrell
Birrell accepts that several schedules make useful technical changes, but argues Schedule 4 could weaken programs meant to send doctors to regional and remote communities.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
8 speakers · 8 support
Labor
8 speakers · 8 support
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Jo Briskey ★ Briskey supports the bill as a practical Medicare-strengthening package, emphasising faster doctor onboarding, simpler private health insurance rebates, modern bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. processes and fairer bonded-doctor rules.
“What this bill shows is Labor in action, delivering reforms that build our promise to strengthen Medicare: faster onboarding of doctors; stronger support for private health insurance and rebates; modern, digital, simplified bulk-billing processes; and fairer rules for bonded medical graduates. For a decade, those opposite were focused more on the culture wars than on keeping our healthcare system running. When it comes to Medicare, they don't see green and gold; they see stars and stripes. They see Medicare American style: no bulk-billing, harsh penalties for healthcare workers and Australians paying more for the treatment they need. We are determined to fix their mistakes and keep our promise to strengthen Medicare for all Australians.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Mike Freelander ★ Freelander supports the bill, drawing on his medical experience to argue that faster provider numbers and more modern Medicare administration will improve access to care and support bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service..
“Over many years there have been refinements to the scheme, but this bill is long overdue and is an important way of increasing people's access to medical care and increasing bulk-billing in ensuring the availability of doctors. In my electorate, which is outer south-western metropolitan Sydney, there are still huge difficulties in attracting doctors to work in our communities, both at a general practice and a specialist level. Improving access to Medicare provider numbers will help with that a lot.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Carol Brown Brown supports the bill as a targeted Medicare-strengthening package covering provider numbers, private health insurance rebates, digital bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. assignment and the Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas..
“This bill makes targeted amendments to four main areas, automating the allocation of Medicare provider numbers, strengthening the private health insurance rebate system, supporting the transition to modern, digital bulk-billing and simplified billing, and updating the Bonded Medical Program to better reflect today's workforce realities. Each of these changes contributes to a stronger, more efficient and fairer healthcare system.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Carina Garland Garland supports the bill as part of the government's Medicare agenda, highlighting faster provider numbers, rebate integrity, delayed digital assignment changes and fairer Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. rules.
“Our government is squarely focused on strengthening Medicare and on ensuring that we have a strong health workforce. That means that Australians, no matter where they live, are able to access high-quality medical care when they need it. This is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen Medicare, to fight for Medicare and to ensure that bulk-billing is accessible and equitable. I'm really pleased to support this bill in the House today.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Julie-Ann Campbell Campbell supports the bill as administrative maintenance of Medicare, focusing on provider-number automation, private health insurance rebate fixes and a delayed transition to digital assignment of Medicare benefitsThe process where a patient signs over their Medicare benefit so Medicare can pay the provider or billing agent directly..
“I'm incredibly proud to be part of a Labor government that believes in universal health care and continues to strengthen Medicare to ensure the scheme is both robust and sustainable. At times, that means fine-tuning of Medicare's administrative systems, and that is what the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 does. It will ensure better administration and delivery of the system that we all rely on.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Rebecca White ★ White says the bill supports a stronger Medicare by speeding up provider-number allocation, fixing private health insurance rebate administration, modernising bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. assignment rules and making Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. consequences fairer.
“The Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No.1) Bill 2025 makes important changes to legislation within the health portfolio to support our government's delivery of a stronger Medicare including more bulk-billing and thousands more doctors.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Dorinda Cox Cox supports the bill, saying it strengthens Medicare for patients, doctors and communities, especially in regional and remote Western Australia.
“I rise today in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 because this bill strengthens Medicare and modernises our health system and makes it fairer for patients, doctors and communities right across Australia.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jenny McAllister McAllister supports the bill and defends Schedule 4, saying the bonded-doctor changes are meant to make consequences fair while still balancing community needs.
“I do, however, want to make a number of remarks in relation to schedule 4, given the amendment that has been circulated by the opposition. Schedule 4 to the bill amends part VD of the Health Insurance Act 1973 to enhance elements of the Bonded Medical Program. The intention of this bill is to ensure that the consequences for participants who withdraw from the program or fail to complete their return-of-service obligations are fair, and the changes balance the personal circumstances of the bonded participant with the broader interests of the community. I need to address a number of issues which have been incorrectly asserted in the contribution made by the opposition earlier in the debate in relation to the Bonded Medical Program—in particular, the impact of this bill on that program. Senator Sharma made the contribution on behalf of the minister yesterday. I note that Senator Sharma is in the chair as we speak, but he said this:”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 mixed
Coalition
2 speakers · 2 mixed
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Sam Birrell ★ Birrell accepts that several schedules make useful technical changes, but argues Schedule 4 could weaken programs meant to send doctors to regional and remote communities.
“Every government comes in and has a look at how things have worked. I think things worked well under the previous coalition government, but there's always room for improvement. If a new government comes in and finds ways to streamline because of new technology or new ideas then that's a good thing. I'm very supportive of that. But, once again, we are presented with a bill that has many reasonable elements but where we are concerned about one aspect. We need further explanation, further information and a Senate inquiry to interrogate those changes and make sure we don't end up with unintended consequences that leave regional and remote Australians even worse off than they are currently in relation to a trained, efficient and available medical workforce.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Angus Taylor Taylor says the coalition will not stand in the way of the bill in the House, but wants further Senate scrutiny of the Bonded Medical ProgramA program where medical students receive a Commonwealth-supported place in return for later work in eligible areas. and bulk-billingA Medicare billing arrangement where the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as payment and the patient pays no upfront fee for that service. assignment changes.
“I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025. The coalition acknowledges the intent of this bill, which contains a number of technical amendments to improve the efficiency of several important elements of our health system, including the allocation of Medicare provider numbers, the assignment of Medicare benefits processes and improvements to the private health insurance premiums reduction scheme. It also makes amendments to the Bonded Medical Program, with the aim of ensuring that penalties for noncompliance are fair and proportionate, particularly in light of the serious workforce shortages facing our healthcare system. The measures in this bill are intended to tidy up existing legislation, streamline administration and make sure the rules governing Medicare payments and bonded medical placements are clear and consistent. These are sensible objectives, and on that basis the coalition will not stand in the way of this bill in the House.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Greens
1 speaker · 1 mixed
Greens
1 speaker · 1 mixed
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Jordon Steele-John Steele-John focuses on a Greens second-reading amendment, arguing that cancer survivors who need dental and oral prosthetics should not face large private costs.
“Today I call on the government to implement those recommendations so that survivors of head and neck cancer can access prosthetics and post-treatment care that they need without going broke trying to afford it. I moved the second reading amendment in my name last night during the debate, and I would ask the government to consider supporting that amendment and to action those recommendations. Somebody who has won the battle with cancer of the head, neck or mouth should never have to then think about where they will find the money for the postcancer treatments or the prosthetics that they may need. I am so sick and tired of hearing that yet another member of my WA community has survived cancer and that, after a battle that has claimed a large section of their face or a large part of their mouth and has taken their ability to produce spit in their mouths—can anybody actually imagine what it is like to live with that as a reality day in, day out? And that's their life. The one thing that can collectively be done is to make sure that, when they are in need of medical treatment and prosthetics, they can get it through Medicare.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Act 2025
- Act number
- Act No. 54, 2025
- Became law
- 04 Nov 2025
- Takes effect
-
- Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table 04 Nov 2025
- Schedule 1 A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if the provisions do not commence within 12 months beginning on Royal Assent, they commence the day after that period.
- Schedule 2 A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if the provisions do not commence within 6 months beginning on Royal Assent, they commence the day after that period.
- Schedule 3, Part 1 05 Nov 2025
- Schedule 3, Part 2 Immediately after Schedule 1 to the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Act 2024 commences; the Act text lists 01 Jul 2026 as the date/detail.
- Schedule 4 05 Nov 2025
- Registered
- 05 Nov 2025
- Administered by
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH bill page and Federal Register of Legislation material in the local source bundle.
- Commencement rows were checked manually against the local final Act text.
- Status
- Assent -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- Introduction to passage
- 56 calendar days -- Introduced on 04 Sep 2025 and passed both Houses on 30 Oct 2025.
- Introduction to assent
- 61 calendar days -- Royal assent followed on 04 Nov 2025.
- Recorded divisions found
- 1 -- A Senate division was collected for the Schedule 4 committee question.
- Second-reading speech summaries captured
- House of Representatives, Senate
- 04 Sept 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.
- 04 Sept 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.
- 30 Oct 2025
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 30 Oct 2025
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.
- 30 Oct 2025
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 30 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.
- 30 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.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered in published report
The local source bundle records that the scrutiny committee considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2025. No committee extract was available locally in the source bundle, so this page does not summarise any specific scrutiny concern.
Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2025; considered by scrutiny committee according to the APH bill page note.
Official bill page note