This bill became law on Mar 26th, 2026.
Law, justice & rights
The Act updates appointment, suspension and termination rules for senior statutory office holders in four Commonwealth bodies: the Australian Centre for International Agricultural ResearchThe Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, a Commonwealth body focused on agricultural research partnerships., AustradeThe Australian Trade and Investment Commission, the Commonwealth agency for trade, investment and related promotion work., the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation OfficeThe Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, which supports Australia’s nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation obligations., and the Office of Parliamentary CounselThe Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which drafts Commonwealth legislation and maintains the Federal Register of Legislation..
The government introduced the bill as part of a wider integrity and public-sector accountability agenda. It said existing laws gave limited options when senior statutory office holders engaged in serious misconduct, created unsafe workplaces, performed poorly, or otherwise fell short of modern workplace expectations. The bill was designed to make those accountability powers clearer while preserving special safeguards for roles where independence matters, especially the Director of Safeguards and the Office of Parliamentary CounselThe Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which drafts Commonwealth legislation and maintains the Federal Register of Legislation..
The Act sits within a sequence of public-sector integrity reforms after the 2022 change of government, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, Australian Public Service reforms, the replacement of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and the Australian Government Appointments Framework. The government framed this Act as another step in lifting workplace and accountability standards for senior statutory office holders. The Coalition and One Nation argued that the same changes increased ministerial control, reduced parliamentary visibility over performance standards and directions, and should have received Senate committee scrutiny before passage.
The main criticism was not that senior office holders should be immune from accountability. Opponents argued that the bill gave ministers too much practical leverage over independent statutory offices without enough transparency or committee scrutiny.
Michelle Rowland MP introduced this bill. It passed with support from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, some crossbench members; opposed by Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, UAP, some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 26 Mar 2026
Final passage
Recorded final vote
1 counted final-passage vote was recorded.
Passage speed
43 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The Act updates appointment, suspension and termination rules for senior statutory office holders in four Commonwealth bodies: the Australian Centre for International Agricultural ResearchThe Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, a Commonwealth body focused on agricultural research partnerships., AustradeThe Australian Trade and Investment Commission, the Commonwealth agency for trade, investment and related promotion work., the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation OfficeThe Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, which supports Australia’s nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation obligations., and the Office of Parliamentary CounselThe Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which drafts Commonwealth legislation and maintains the Federal Register of Legislation..
For the heads of ACIARThe Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, a Commonwealth body focused on agricultural research partnerships. and AustradeThe Australian Trade and Investment Commission, the Commonwealth agency for trade, investment and related promotion work., the law lets the responsible minister set written performance standards, suspend an appointment for up to three months, extend a suspension to as much as 12 months in inquiry-related circumstances, and terminate an appointment for serious misconduct or unsatisfactory performance.
For the Director of Safeguards, the law adds suspension and serious-misconduct termination rules, but it does not add unsatisfactory performance as a termination ground. The government said this different treatment was intended to protect the independence of Australia’s safeguards regulator.
For the Office of Parliamentary CounselThe Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which drafts Commonwealth legislation and maintains the Federal Register of Legislation., the law gives the Attorney-General a new power to issue general written directions about how the office performs its functions, while saying those directions must be general only and are not legislative instruments.
The Act also reduces some maximum appointment terms from seven years to five years, including the CEO of ACIARThe Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, a Commonwealth body focused on agricultural research partnerships. and the First and Second Parliamentary Counsel. It passed both houses without textual amendment and received Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. on 26 March 2026.
This Bill’s primary purpose is to update and clarify integrity and accountability settings for certain statutory office holders in the Foreign Affairs and Trade and Attorney-General’s portfolios.Explanatory memorandum
The Minister may, in writing, determine a performance standard for the CEO. ... The period of suspension, as extended, must not exceed ... 12 months ... The Minister may terminate the appointment of the CEO ... if the CEO’s conduct or behaviour amounts to serious misconduct ... if ... the performance of the CEO has been unsatisfactory.Bill text as passed
The bill treats the role of the Director of Safeguards differently because of international standards for the chief regulators of nuclear and chemical nonproliferation.Second reading speech
The Minister may give written directions to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel about the performance of its functions. A direction under subsection (1) must be of a general nature only. ... A direction under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.Bill text as passed
Omit “7 years”, substitute “5 years”. ... Finally passed both Houses ... 24 Mar 2026 ... Assent ... 26 Mar 2026.Bill text as passed
Context
The Act sits within a sequence of public-sector integrity reforms after the 2022 change of government, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, Australian Public Service reforms, the replacement of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and the Australian Government Appointments Framework. The government framed this Act as another step in lifting workplace and accountability standards for senior statutory office holders. The Coalition and One Nation argued that the same changes increased ministerial control, reduced parliamentary visibility over performance standards and directions, and should have received Senate committee scrutiny before passage.
National Anti-Corruption Commission begins operating
Government speakers placed the bill in the context of the NACC, which investigates serious or systemic corrupt conduct across the Commonwealth public sector.
Second reading speech ↗Parliamentary workplace support body is established
The government pointed to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service as part of its wider effort to make Commonwealth workplaces safer and more respectful.
Second reading speech ↗Australian Public Service reforms set conduct expectations
The second reading speech said 2024 APS reforms reinforced expectations that the public service be impartial, accountable, respectful and ethical.
Second reading speech ↗Administrative Review Tribunal replaces the AAT
The government cited the replacement of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal as another reform aimed at trust, appointments and administrative review.
Second reading speech ↗Appointments framework is released
The Australian Government Appointments Framework set principles and guidance for merit-based appointments to Commonwealth public offices.
Second reading speech ↗Bill is introduced to Parliament
The bill proposed updated suspension, termination, performance-standard and direction powers for selected statutory office holders in the Foreign Affairs and Trade and Attorney-General portfolios.
APH bill page ↗Senate passes the bill after opposition criticism
The Senate passed the bill after Coalition and One Nation senators criticised the level of ministerial influence and the lack of committee scrutiny.
Senate debate and division ↗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.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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.
Reported from Federation Chamber
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 bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Recorded vote: 36 to 25.
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: 36 to 25.
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 approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was not that senior office holders should be immune from accountability. Opponents argued that the bill gave ministers too much practical leverage over independent statutory offices without enough transparency or committee scrutiny.
Government speakers rejected that concern, saying the bill preserved regulatory independence, kept procedural fairnessA legal requirement that affected people receive fair process before certain decisions are made, such as a chance to respond to adverse material. requirements, and brought senior statutory roles closer to ordinary modern workplace standards.
Ministerial control over independent roles
Coalition speakers argued that ministers would be able to set performance standards, assess performance, suspend office holders and, in some cases, terminate appointments, shifting power from Parliament toward the executive.
Limited transparency over standards and directions
Critics objected that performance standards and Office of Parliamentary CounselThe Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which drafts Commonwealth legislation and maintains the Federal Register of Legislation. directions were not legislative instruments and were not automatically subject to tabling, disallowance or publication.
No committee inquiry before passage
Michaelia Cash said the Coalition sought a Senate committee referral on 5 March 2026 to test the bill with experts and affected agencies, but that scrutiny did not occur before the final Senate vote.
Parliamentary priority
Allegra Spender said the bill was unobjectionable but questioned whether changing employment settings for a small number of statutory office holders should have occupied parliamentary time ahead of larger policy issues.
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 36 to 25. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, UAP, and minor parties and independents.
Earlier bill-stage votes
Passed 36 to 25. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP.
These are votes on the bill itself rather than amendment votes.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Michelle Rowland introduced the bill as part of the government’s integrity and public-sector accountability agenda.
Read in Hansard ↗Michaelia Cash opposed the bill in the Senate.
Read in Hansard ↗Allegra Spender said the bill was unobjectionable and brought four agency heads into line with other government organisations.
Read in Hansard ↗Julie-Ann Campbell supported the bill as a modern workplace accountability measure for senior public roles.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
4 speakers · 6 contributions · 4 support
“Currently, there are limited provisions for ending an appointment when conduct or performance falls short. That’s why this bill introduces a set of changes designed to make the rules around ending a statutory appointment clearer and more responsive.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is not a watering down of the minister’s powers; it is putting power in the hands of the minister.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Nita Green on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Nita Green moved the second reading in the Senate by incorporating the government’s second reading speech. The speech presented the bill as an integrity and accountability measure that updated appointment safeguards while preserving the independence of the Director of Safeguards and the Office of Parliamentary CounselThe Office of Parliamentary Counsel, which drafts Commonwealth legislation and maintains the Federal Register of Legislation..
“Existing arrangements have limited provisions for accountability where conduct or performance are unacceptable.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Nita Green closed the Senate debate by defending the bill as a way to remove senior statutory office holders for serious misconduct and address unsatisfactory performance. She said the amendments did not fetter independent decision-making but made office holders accountable for workplace conduct and performance.
“The Albanese government remains committed to the principles of regulatory independence, and the bill is sensitive to the independence of decision-making by statutory authorities.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Michelle Rowland on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Michelle Rowland introduced the bill as part of the government’s integrity and public-sector accountability agenda. She said it would update suspension and termination powers for senior statutory office holders while treating the Director of Safeguards differently to protect regulatory independence.
“The bill makes changes to strengthen appointment safeguards, accountability and integrity of statutory office holders in the Australian Centre for International Research (ACIAR), Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC).”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Michelle Rowland closed the House debate by saying the bill would let serious misconduct, discrimination, bullying, harassment, corruption and unsatisfactory performance be addressed for senior statutory office holders. She said the bill was designed to preserve regulatory independence while improving accountability.
“The bill also ensures statutory office holders are held accountable for their performance, with unsatisfactory performance being appropriately addressed.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
3 speakers · 1 oppose · 2 mixed
“We’re not opposing accountability, certainly not. ... But what problem, I do ask, is this bill actually solving? Why are there only four agencies—the ones I mentioned before?”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“That’s why the coalition will not oppose its second reading in the House but will seek Senate committee scrutiny—because sunlight is exactly what this government keeps trying to avoid.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition supports sound governance and appropriate accountability, but accountability must be accompanied by transparency. An increase to executive power must be matched by appropriate oversight.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 oppose
“This means that the minister can hold a threat over Public Service heads, giving them control over department heads, complete control, creating a poor system that destroys accountability and transparency...”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 mixed
“This legislation, I believe, is perfectly unobjectionable. It brings the statutory office holders who lead four Commonwealth agencies into line with our other government organisations...”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 · 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 · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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 debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 36 to 25.
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 Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 36 to 25.
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 approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
