Broader budget burden
Tim Wilson argued the appropriation should not proceed because it was tied to a budget agenda he said would increase taxes, break promises and make life harder for households, small businesses and young Australians.
Appropriation
Current status
This bill became law on Jun 26th, 2026.
Policy area
Budget, tax & economy
What does this bill do?
The Australian Government can spend $1.127824 billion on extra 2025-26 services that are outside ordinary annual government spending.
Why was it introduced?
Extra 2025-26 needs for non-ordinary annual servicesRoutine yearly government spending, which must be put in a separate appropriation bill from the extra or non-routine spending covered here. left some spending outside existing appropriation laws, including Defence investment, Inland Rail funding and state and territory assistance limits. The bill, introduced by Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP, lets the government draw $1.127824 billion from consolidated revenueThe main pool of Commonwealth public money that this Act lets the government draw from for the extra spending. for those purposes.
Broader context
Before this bill, 2025–26 spending was covered by existing appropriation laws and a $37 billion limit for national partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them., while Defence was working to the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Inland Rail remained dependent on Commonwealth support. Heightened uncertainty from the Middle East conflict lifted expected national partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them., and Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP introduced the bill to add $1.127824 billion for non-ordinary services, mainly brought-forward Defence investment and Inland Rail funding, before Parliament passed it and it received Royal AssentThe final formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act..
Key criticism
The clearest criticism was that the bill formed part of a budget package said to rely on broken promises, higher taxes and policies that would leave households, small businesses and young people worse off. This was raised by Tim Wilson in opposition, while the recorded government speeches supported the appropriation and no detailed bill-specific implementation objection is recorded.
Who supported it?
Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 12 May 2026
Passed House 25 May 2026
Passed Senate 25 June 2026
Became law 26 June 2026
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 26 June 2026
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
45 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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The Australian Government can spend $1.127824 billion on extra 2025-26 services that are outside ordinary annual government spending.
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The funding can be used for government outcomes, payments to state, territory and local governments, department costs, and payments to Commonwealth companies and other corporate government bodies.
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Defence gets $900 million brought forward for the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Defence Integrated Investment Program.
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The infrastructure department gets over $204 million for the Australian Rail Track Corporation to keep delivering Inland Rail.
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The annual debit limitA legal cap on how much can be paid out for certain state and territory funding during the financial year. for general purpose financial assistanceCommonwealth funding for states and territories that is not tied to a specific project or program. to states and territories is set at $40 billion, overriding the earlier Supply Act limit.
Show source excerpts
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The total of the items specified in Schedule 1 is $1,127,824,000.
Appropriation Act (No. 6) 2025-2026 final Act text -
(1) The amount specified in a State, ACT, NT and local government item for an outcome for a non‑corporate entity may be applied for the purpose of making payments to or for the States, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and local government authorities for the purpose of contributing to achieving that outcome.
Appropriation Act (No. 6) 2025-2026 final Act text -
The Department of Defence will receive $900 million brought forward to meet revised expenditure requirements under the 2024 National Defence Strategy and the Defence Integrated Investment Program.
Minister's second reading speech -
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts will receive over $204 million for the Australian Rail Track Corporation to continue to deliver the Inland Rail project.
Minister's second reading speech -
(1) The debit limit for the current year for the purposes of section 16 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 is $40,000,000,000.
Appropriation Act (No. 6) 2025-2026 final Act text
Context
Broader context for this bill
Before this bill, 2025–26 spending was covered by existing appropriation laws and a $37 billion limit for national partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them., while Defence was working to the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Inland Rail remained dependent on Commonwealth support. Heightened uncertainty from the Middle East conflict lifted expected national partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them., and Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP introduced the bill to add $1.127824 billion for non-ordinary services, mainly brought-forward Defence investment and Inland Rail funding, before Parliament passed it and it received Royal AssentThe final formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act..
- 2024
Defence investment plan sets the spending backdrop
The 2024 National Defence Strategy and Defence Integrated Investment Program became the basis for the later $900 million brought forward for revised Defence expenditure requirements.
Minister's second reading speech ↗ - 2025-26 Budget update
National partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them. sit below the existing debit limitA legal cap on how much can be paid out for certain state and territory funding during the financial year.
The explanatory memorandum said national partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them. were then estimated at $25.4 billion, with a $37 billion debit limitA legal cap on how much can be paid out for certain state and territory funding during the financial year. set to cover existing state agreements, possible new programs and major unexpected events.
Appropriation explanatory memorandum ↗ - 2026-27 Budget update
Middle East conflict uncertainty raises the payment estimate
The estimated national partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them. for 2025–26 rose to $28.1 billion, leading the bill to propose a higher $40 billion debit limitA legal cap on how much can be paid out for certain state and territory funding during the financial year. once enacted.
Appropriation explanatory memorandum ↗ - 12 May 2026
Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP introduces extra funding bill
The second reading speech said the bill sought $1.1 billion from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main pool of Commonwealth public money that this Act lets the government draw from for the extra spending., including $900 million for Defence and more than $204 million for the Australian Rail Track Corporation to keep delivering Inland Rail.
Minister's second reading speech ↗ - 25 June 2026
Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary approval for the extra 2025–26 appropriations and the higher state payments debit limitA legal cap on how much can be paid out for certain state and territory funding during the financial year..
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 26 June 2026
Royal AssentThe final formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. turns the bill into an Act
Royal AssentThe final formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. made the new appropriation and the $40 billion national partnership paymentsCommonwealth payments to states and territories for agreed projects, services or reforms, with this Act lifting the 2025-26 spending limit for them. debit limitA legal cap on how much can be paid out for certain state and territory funding during the financial year. available as law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 12 May 2026
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 12 May 2026
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 25 May 2026
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed 25 May 2026
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 25 May 2026
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 22 June 2026
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 22 June 2026
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Senate second reading agreed 25 June 2026
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
Senate third reading agreed 25 June 2026
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 25 June 2026
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Scrutiny of Bills review 25 June 2026
Considered by scrutiny committee (25/06/2026): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
APH bill page notesAssent 26 June 2026
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The clearest criticism was that the bill formed part of a budget package said to rely on broken promises, higher taxes and policies that would leave households, small businesses and young people worse off. This was raised by Tim Wilson in opposition, while the recorded government speeches supported the appropriation and no detailed bill-specific implementation objection is recorded.
Criticism was broad budget opposition rather than a detailed objection to the specific appropriations.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for 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.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Daniel Mulino
Mulino supports the bill and urges the House to pass it because it appropriates $1.1 billion for 2025-26, mainly for defence spending and the Inland Rail project.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead opposing voice Opposes
Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson opposes the bill, arguing the budget package is built on broken promises, higher taxes and policies that hurt households, small businesses and young people.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Tim Ayres
Tim Ayres supports the bill, saying it provides $1.1 billion in extra 2025-26 funding, including for Defence and the Inland Rail project.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
Labor
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
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Tim Ayres ★ Tim Ayres supports the bill, saying it provides $1.1 billion in extra 2025-26 funding, including for Defence and the Inland Rail project.
“This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $1.1 billion for the 2025-26 financial year. These appropriations will support the following key items.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Daniel Mulino ★ 2 contributions Mulino supports the appropriation bills and urges the House to pass them.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Daniel Mulino on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Mulino supports the bill and urges the House to pass it because it appropriates $1.1 billion for 2025-26, mainly for defence spending and the Inland Rail project.
“This bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $1.1 billion for the 2025-26 financial year. These appropriations will support the following key items.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
Mulino supports the appropriation bills and urges the House to pass them. He focuses mainly on rebutting the shadow Treasurer's criticism of the budget, arguing that protections for vulnerable people were already made clear.
“For the shadow Treasurer, who asked a question that was clearly based not in fact but in a misunderstanding of what was in the budget, to come in here and, out of his embarrassment, misrepresent what the Prime Minister said is, frankly, quite pathetic. Other than that, I would like to thank all members, and I commend these bills to the House.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Coalition
1 speaker · 1 oppose
Coalition
1 speaker · 1 oppose
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Tim Wilson ★ Tim Wilson opposes the bill, arguing the budget package is built on broken promises, higher taxes and policies that hurt households, small businesses and young people.
“There are so many Australians now who are looking to this parliament and saying, 'We cannot wait for this government to end.' They want a change in direction and they want a renewal of our country, and the start of a renewal of our country is the end of the Albanese government and its higher-taxing agenda that seeks to punish those who work hard to get ahead. Now is the time Australian people need to rise up and stand up against their government and overturn the record of dishonesty, deception and distrust that they have sown within our community. When Australians turn to each other and build a brighter future, we can build a better country. The only thing standing in the way of a better nation is the Albanese government, who are treating Australians like roadkill, but the Australian people should treat them in kind.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Appropriation Act (No. 6) 2025-2026
- Act number
- Act No. 52, 2026
- Became law
- 26 June 2026
- Takes effect
- The whole of this Act 26 June 2026
- Registered
- 26 June 2026
- Administered by
- Department of Finance
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 12 May 2026
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.
- 12 May 2026
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.
- 25 May 2026
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 25 May 2026
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.
- 25 May 2026
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 22 June 2026
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.
- 22 June 2026
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.
- 25 June 2026
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.
- 25 June 2026
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 25 June 2026
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 26 June 2026
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
Considered by scrutiny committee (25 June 2026): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2026
APH bill page notes