This bill became law on Mar 13th, 2026.
Government & democracy
The bill lets the statutory reviews of three parliamentary workplace and resources laws be run together as part of one broader review of Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.
The bill was introduced because three connected parliamentary workplace laws had separate statutory reviewA review that a law itself requires the government or a minister to arrange. dates, which would have made it hard to examine the whole system at once. The government wanted a single review of the frameworks covering parliamentarians' staff, workplace support, conduct systems and parliamentary resources, starting from 23 March 2026, to reduce duplicated consultation and avoid inconsistent review outcomes.
The bill sits inside a wider rebuild of Commonwealth parliamentary workplace systems after expenses reforms, the Set the Standard review, and newer laws on staff employment and workplace support. Those reforms left several statutory reviews due in the 48th Parliament but on different dates. This bill brought the dates together so the government could run one integrated review of the parliamentary workplace and resources framework.
No speaker in the collected debate opposed the bill's core purpose of aligning the statutory reviews. The main concern raised was broader: the Coalition argued the government should also act on earlier parliamentary-resourcing recommendations and restore bipartisan support for scrutiny, rather than treating a future review as enough by itself.
Patrick Gorman MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 13 Mar 2026
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
9 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The bill lets the statutory reviews of three parliamentary workplace and resources laws be run together as part of one broader review of Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.
The once-off review of the Members of Parliament (Staff) ActThe law that sets the framework for parliamentarians and office holders to employ staff on behalf of the Commonwealth. can start from 23 March 2026, rather than waiting until after 17 October 2026.
The next independent review of the Parliamentary Business Resources ActThe law that sets the framework for public resources used by parliamentarians for parliamentary business. is brought forward to as soon as practicable after 22 March 2026, instead of after 2 August 2027.
The first review of the Parliamentary Workplace Support ServiceThe body that provides centralised human resources and employment-related support for parliamentarians and their staff. Act is set for as soon as practicable after 22 March 2026, instead of being tied to the start of each new Parliament.
Future reviews of the Parliamentary Workplace Support ServiceThe body that provides centralised human resources and employment-related support for parliamentarians and their staff. Act and the Parliamentary Business Resources ActThe law that sets the framework for public resources used by parliamentarians for parliamentary business. are aligned on five-year cycles from 23 March 2031, so they can be combined or run separately.
The Bill would enable the statutory reviews of the PWSS Act, PBR Act and MoP(S) Act to be conducted concurrently and as part of a holistic review of the systems and frameworks that govern Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum
The effect of item 1 would be to amend the timeframe for the conduct of the statutory review of the MoP(S) Act, requiring it to be conducted as soon as practicable after 22 March 2026 – that is, permitting the statutory review to be commenced from 23 March 2026 (refer table item 6, s 36(1), Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (AIA)).Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum
Currently, s 56(1) requires the Minister to cause an independent review of the operation of the PBR Act, and of whether the Act should be amended, to be conducted as soon as practicable after each fifth anniversary of 2 August 2022.Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum
Item 4 repeals subsection 68(1) of the PWSS Act and substitutes: The Minister must cause a review of the operation of this Act and the PWSS rules to be conducted as soon as practicable after: (a) 22 March 2026.Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum
Paragraph 56(1)(b), as amended by item 2, would require the third statutory review of the PBR Act to be conducted as soon as practicable from 23 March 2031. This would align with the amended timeframe for the second statutory review of the PWSS Act.Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum
Context
The bill sits inside a wider rebuild of Commonwealth parliamentary workplace systems after expenses reforms, the Set the Standard review, and newer laws on staff employment and workplace support. Those reforms left several statutory reviews due in the 48th Parliament but on different dates. This bill brought the dates together so the government could run one integrated review of the parliamentary workplace and resources framework.
Parliamentary expenses framework is reshaped
The explanatory memorandum says the parliamentary ecosystem changed significantly from 2016/17, including the Parliamentary Business Resources ActThe law that sets the framework for public resources used by parliamentarians for parliamentary business. scheme for parliamentary work expenses and the establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.
Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum ↗Set the Standard review drives workplace reforms
Speeches on the bill described the Australian Human Rights Commission's Set the Standard report as a central driver of later reforms to parliamentary workplace culture, conduct systems and support services.
House of Representatives Hansard, 10 March 2026 ↗New workplace laws create review obligations
The Parliamentary Workplace Support ServiceThe body that provides centralised human resources and employment-related support for parliamentarians and their staff. Act established the Parliamentary Workplace Support ServiceThe body that provides centralised human resources and employment-related support for parliamentarians and their staff. and the Independent Parliamentary Standards CommissionA body established to independently investigate alleged breaches of parliamentary behaviour codes., while changes to the Members of Parliament (Staff) ActThe law that sets the framework for parliamentarians and office holders to employ staff on behalf of the Commonwealth. modernised staff employment arrangements and included a once-off review requirement.
Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum ↗Review dates are spread across several years
Before this bill, the Parliamentary Workplace Support ServiceThe body that provides centralised human resources and employment-related support for parliamentarians and their staff. Act review had to start by 22 July 2026, the Members of Parliament (Staff) ActThe law that sets the framework for parliamentarians and office holders to employ staff on behalf of the Commonwealth. review could not start before 17 October 2026 and had to finish by 17 October 2028, and the next Parliamentary Business Resources ActThe law that sets the framework for public resources used by parliamentarians for parliamentary business. review was due after 2 August 2027.
Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) explanatory memorandum ↗Bill introduced to allow one combined review
Patrick Gorman introduced the bill in the House of Representatives to let the three statutory reviews be conducted together as part of a holistic review that could start from 23 March 2026.
Parliamentary timeline ↗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 chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
No speaker in the collected debate opposed the bill's core purpose of aligning the statutory reviews. The main concern raised was broader: the Coalition argued the government should also act on earlier parliamentary-resourcing recommendations and restore bipartisan support for scrutiny, rather than treating a future review as enough by itself.
The Coalition supported the bill while using the debate to criticise the government's handling of related parliamentary resourcing and scrutiny issues.
Unfinished resourcing and scrutiny issues
Tim Wilson said the Coalition supported bringing the reviews forward, but argued the government had not fully implemented previous resourcing-review recommendations and had reduced opposition and crossbench capacity to scrutinise the government.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Gorman supports the bill, arguing that combining the statutory reviews of the three parliamentary workplace acts into a single holistic review will avoid contradictory outcomes and reduce review fatigue.
Read in Hansard ↗Tim Wilson says the Coalition supports the bill to bring forward statutory reviews of parliamentary workplace and resources frameworks, but criticises the government for failing to implement previous review recommendations and for undermining opposition scrutiny.
Read in Hansard ↗Clutterham supports the bill, arguing that aligning the statutory reviews of three parliamentary workplace acts will enable a holistic, efficient examination to ensure the frameworks are fit for purpose and deliver value for public money.
Read in Hansard ↗Campbell supports the bill, arguing it will combine multiple statutory reviews into a single holistic review to ensure parliamentary workplace frameworks remain fit for purpose and meet community expectations, building on the government's reforms after the Set the standard report.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
5 speakers · 6 contributions · 5 support
“I rise today to speak in support of the Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) Bill 2026. This bill, at its heart, is about efficiency and how governments can employ efficiency when it comes to spending public money.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill will combine multiple legislatively required reviews. This will enable the government to undertake a comprehensive and integrated review of the frameworks that govern the parliament and the frameworks that govern Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill may deal with statutory reviews, legislative alignment and timelines. It is technical legislation. But, beneath those technical provisions, we are ensuring that the thousands of Australians who work in this building are supported by systems that are coherent, effective and fair. It continues the work begun through the Jenkins review and reinforces this parliament's commitment to building a safer, more respectful workplace for everyone who serves our democracy. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Patrick Gorman on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Gorman supports the bill, arguing that combining the statutory reviews of the three parliamentary workplace acts into a single holistic review will avoid contradictory outcomes and reduce review fatigue.
“In summary, this bill will enable the statutory reviews of the PWSS Act, PBR Act and MOP(S) Act to be conducted as part of the broader review of the systems and frameworks that govern Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces, which will consequently be able to commence from 23 March 2026. The bill will also align the timing of the future periodic reviews of the PWSS Act and the PBR Act to allow them to be conducted concurrently, combined or separately. I commend the bill to the House.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Gorman supports the bill, arguing it will allow a holistic review of parliamentary workplace frameworks to improve culture and ensure they remain fit for purpose.
“In conclusion, the Parliamentary Frameworks Legislation Amendment (Reviews) Bill 2026 would amend the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023, the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 and the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 to allow the statutory reviews of these acts to be combined as part of a holistic review of systems and frameworks that govern Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces. Combining the three statutory reviews within a broader review of the systems and frameworks that govern Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces will provide an opportunity to examine these acts in a holistic way and ensure the frameworks continue to be fit for purpose. It will also ensure the frequency of future periodic reviews of the PWSS Act and the PBR Act to allow them to be combined or conducted separately. I commend the bill.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“In summary, this Bill will enable the statutory reviews of the PWSS Act, PBR Act and MoP(S) Act to be conducted as part of the broader review of the systems and frameworks that govern Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces, which will consequently be able to commence from 23 March 2026. The Bill will also align the timing of the future periodic reviews of the PWSS Act and the PBR Act to allow them to be conducted concurrently or be combined.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“We understand the government has a view to simplify the current frameworks and systems that govern how MPs and senators work, and this is something the coalition is supportive of. It makes sense to bring forward these three statutory reviews so they can be considered as part of the government's review of the parliamentary ecosystem.”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 agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
