The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private Members' business
1. The Committee met in private session on Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
2. The Committee deliberated on items of committee and delegation business that had been notified, private Members' business items listed on the Notice Paper and notices lodged on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 2 March 2026, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MS PENFOLD: To present a Bill for an Act to protect prime agricultural land, and for related purposes. ( Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026 )
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
2 DR SCAMPS: To present a Bill for an Act to establish a framework for transparent and quality public appointments, and to establish Independent Selection Panels and the Office of the Public Appointments Commissioner, and for related purposes. ( Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2026 )
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
3 DR M RYAN: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Centre for Disease Control Act 2025 , and for related purposes. (Australian Centre for Disease Control Amendment (Gambling as a Public Health Issue) Bill 2026 )
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
Orders of the day
1 ENERGY AFFORDABILITY: Resumption of debate ( from 3 November 2025 ) on the motion of Mr Tehan—That this House:
(1) condemns the Government for its failures regarding energy affordability and policy transparency; and
(2) notes that:
(a) Australians were promised a $275 cut to their power bills but under the Government households are instead paying on average $1,300 more;
(b) energy bills have already surged close to 40 per cent under the Government;
(c) the Government has broken its most basic promise to the Australian people; and
(d) the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water advised the Minister for Climate Change and Energy within the Incoming Government Brief of 'a further significant increase in retail electricity prices next financial year'.
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices — continued
4 MS CAMPBELL: To move:
That this House notes that:
(1) twelve months into the landmark $792.9 million women's health package, the Government is continuing to deliver on its promise of more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls; and
(2) since the announcement, more than 660,000 women have accessed more than 2 million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Ms Campbell — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MS LE: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) Australians are still battling a cost of living crisis, with many low and middle income families already unable to absorb surging mortgages, rent, energy bills and everyday essentials as annual inflation sits at about 3.8 per cent, above the Reserve Bank's two to three per cent target band;
(b) the higher than expected inflation outcome has increased the likelihood of a further cash rate rise next month, which would push already stretched households to the brink, forcing many to choose between meeting their mortgage, paying the rent or covering basic necessities; and
(c) high mortgage stress electorates such as the electoral division of Fowler, where many families are on low and modest incomes and have little to no financial buffer, are among the hardest hit by the combination of higher prices, higher interest rates and shrinking household budgets; and
(2) calls on the Government to ensure that any policies it introduces tackle the roots of cost of living, does not further exacerbate inflation rates and that it works with, and not against, the Reserve Bank's efforts to bring inflation back to target.
(Notice given 9 February 2026.)
Time allotted — 25 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Le — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 5 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
2 MR ABDO: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) on 1 October 2025, the Government expanded the five per cent deposit scheme to all Australian first home buyers, three months ahead of schedule; and
(b) more than 220,000 Australians have now bought their first home with a small deposit of five per cent or less thanks to the expanded five per cent deposit scheme;
(2) acknowledges that this housing challenge has been 40 years in the making, thanks in part to underinvestment and under-delivery of previous Governments; and
(3) commends the Government's $45 billion housing agenda, which is focused on building more homes, making it easier to buy, and making it better to rent.
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Abdo — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
3 MR CHESTER: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges:
(a) the Australian War Memorial (AWM) was built to recognise the service and sacrifice of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel following the Great War;
(b) the role of the AWM has grown to encompass all ADF service including major conflicts, peacekeeping missions, humanitarian aid and disaster relief;
(c) the AWM combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive; and
(d) its mission is leading remembrance and understanding of Australia's wartime experience;
(2) notes that:
(a) the former Government committed to a major redevelopment of the AWM with early construction work commencing in 2020 and scheduled for completion in 2028; and
(b) the key reason for the former Government funding the redevelopment of the AWM was to provide additional exhibition space to tell the stories of contemporary service in the ADF in a timely and appropriate manner; and
(3) urges the Government to ensure the independent AWM Council remains true to its mission without political interference.
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Chester — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
4 MR LAXALE: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the Government's Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP) is delivering real outcomes, with over 11,400 housing apprentice commencements in the first six months;
(2) commends the Government for prioritising apprentices to build more houses through providing $10,000 incentive payments for apprentices in housing construction trades in instalments across the apprenticeship to support commencements and completions;
(3) recognises the Government's other measures to support apprentices, including increasing the allowance for apprentices living away from home for the first time in more than 20 years, while also doubling support for employers hiring apprentices with a disability;
(4) supports these measures as vital steps towards building a skilled workforce and addressing the worst skills shortage in 50 years which was left unaddressed by the previous Government; and
(5) further recognises that the National Centre for Vocational Education Research data shows there were 22 per cent more apprentices in training within the construction sector at 30 June 2025 compared to 30 June 2019.
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Laxale — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
5 MR T WILSON: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that small and family businesses are being harmed by a rise in e-shoplifting, or chargeback theft, where goods are delivered, but the big banks are illegitimately processing refunds;
(2) calls:
(a) on the Government and the big banks to urgently examine chargeback theft and its impact on small businesses;
(b) for the establishment of an urgent parliamentary inquiry into e-shoplifting through chargebacks; and
(c) on the Minister for Small Business to demonstrate action the Government has taken to support small and family businesses; and
(3) recognises the need for banks, card schemes and payment platforms to introduce fair, evidence-based chargeback processes that protect small businesses from chargeback theft.
(Notice given 3 February 2026.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr T Wilson — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 5 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices — continued
6 MR GOSLING: To move:
That this House:
(1) affirms the significance on the recent signing of the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, also known as the Jakarta Treaty 2026;
(2) notes this treaty reflects:
(a) the close friendship, partnership and deep trust between Australia and Indonesia and our leaders under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; and
(b) a major extension of the cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, for the benefit of our shared security and that of the region; and
(3) acknowledges Indonesia's strong economic growth represents an enormous opportunity for Australian businesses and investors, which the Government is working to realise including through Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 .
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Time allotted — 35 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Gosling — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Orders of the day
1 SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESSES: Resumption of debate ( from 24 November 2025 ) on the motion of Mr T Wilson—That this House:
(1) notes that small and family business insolvencies have exploded since the election of the Government, as its policies crush confidence and drive businesses to close;
(2) recognises that:
(a) the Government's industrial relations changes have replaced flexibility and fairness with confusion and compliance;
(b) the Government's energy policies have driven up power bills for shops, cafes, workshops and family enterprises; and
(c) small and family business are being forced to work longer hours for less return, while competing against government-subsidised sectors and ever increasing compliance costs;
(3) further notes that the voices of small and family businesses have been drowned out by union and big-corporate interests within the Government's decision making;
(4) condemns the Government for abandoning small and family businesses by:
(a) ignoring calls for tax relief and simpler regulation;
(b) pursuing workplace laws that punish entrepreneurship and flexibility; and
(c) failing to provide a clear pathway for small businesses to grow and employ more Australians; and
(1) affirms that the Opposition stands with small and family businesses who back themselves, create jobs and keep communities strong.
Time allotted — 45 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices — continued
7 MR M SMITH: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the significant role of air travel and air freight in keeping regional communities connected;
(2) commends the commitment of the Government to support air travel through regional Australia through:
(a) supporting the conclusion and purchase of Rex Airlines through a commercial loan of $60 million and the restructuring of $108 million in existing debt to keep regional air routes running during the voluntary administration process;
(b) an additional $50 million over three years in the 2024-25 budget to extend the Regional Airstrip Upgrade program;
(c) the extension of the Regional Airports Program for three years with an additional $40 million for competitive grant funding in the 2024-25 budget; and
(d) the establishment of the $5 million Regional and Remote Airport Support Program for local government and regional and remote airports impacted by the Rex Airlines voluntary administration; and
(3) recognises the ongoing commitment of the Government to representing regional Australians and investing in the services they deserve.
(Notice given 10 February 2026.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr M Smith — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Orders of the day — continued
2 GOVERNMENT SPENDING: Resumption of debate ( from 9 February 2026 ) on the motion of Mr Ted O'Brien—That this House:
(1) condemns the Treasurer for refusing to take responsibility for the Government's out-of-control spending, which is fuelling inflation and interest rates;
(2) notes the:
(a) Treasurer's own budget papers show he has added $50 billion of new discretionary spending in the current financial year alone; and
(b) average mortgage holder is already paying around $21,000 a year more in interest than under the previous Government and that burden could rise even further; and
(3) calls on the Treasurer to adopt measurable budget rules to bring discipline back to the management of our nation's finances.
Time allotted — 45 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices — continued
8 MR HUSIC: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that the Government is taking strong action to protect Australian consumers and ensure fairer markets by:
(a) banning unfair trading practices economy wide that cost Australians time and money;
(b) ending dodgy subscription traps by ensuring that consumers get clear information upfront, timely reminders before free trials end, and a cancellation process that is just as easy as signing up;
(c) ending drip pricing by requiring businesses to display the full transaction costs upfront ensuring consumers know exactly what they are paying for;
(d) strengthening consumer guarantees so Australians get products that work, repairs that are fair, and refunds they are entitled to;
(e) banning supermarket price gouging from l July 2026 to prohibit very large retailers from charging excessive prices;
(f) cracking down on shrinkflation, so companies cannot disguise price increases by reducing package sizes while charging the same, or more;
(g) making unit pricing clearer and more consistent, backed by penalties for non-compliance, so consumers can spot real value at a glance and are not misled by tricky labels; and
(h) consulting on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's recommendations to boost transparency on prices, promotions and loyalty programs at supermarkets, making it easier for Australians to assess value for money; and
(2) supports this comprehensive consumer protection agenda designed to deliver fairer prices, more competition, and a better deal for Australians.
(Notice given 3 February 2026.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Husic — 5 minutes
Other Members — 5 minutes
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
THE HON D. M. DICK MP
Speaker of the House of Representatives
11 February 2026
Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026
That this bill be now read a second time.
Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026
That the bill be now read a second time.
Commonwealth Entities Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
That this bill be now read a second time.
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (New South Wales Local Court) Bill 2026
That this bill be now read a third time.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025
National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026
National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026
The House divided. [09:49]
(The Deputy Speaker—Ms Claydon)
That this bill be now read a third time.
National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026
The House divided. [10:01]
(The Deputy Speaker—Hon. Sharon Claydon)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025
Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
But these aren't empty paddocks on a spreadsheet …
The Australian Government should establish a new statutory entity with the purpose of providing independent oversight and evidence-based advice in order to drive system reform to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members.
The Government agrees to establish a new statutory entity to oversee system reform across the whole Defence ecosystem as a priority.
The Government will appoint an interim head of the oversight body to work across government and provide advice on the establishment of the permanent oversight entity, including legislation required, to enable its establishment by September 2025.
For what they have done, this we will do.
For what they have done, this we will do.
This has been the case for decades, and it will continue unless the ADF commits to deep, systemic reform.
We are both Christian people … who have a good home, good health and a good family and we're just giving back to these people who have nothing.
… all Aussies deserve a nice home, cheaper living standards and a fantastic family lifestyle, but, please, do not make decisions—
affecting other electorates that you wouldn't want to implement in your own.
How do you recruit and retrain a workforce that is unable to serve in populated areas?
The 1.2 … is achievable. … for the first time, we've seen a Federal Government actually recognise that they've got a leadership role in resolving this problem. Up until the Albanese Government, we have seen Federal Government say, no, it's the problem of the states, it's the problem of local government.
Zoe tell us about it.
At the last election, they got themselves into a position where they were proposing to increase income taxes, run bigger deficits, no real plan to—
The government turning a blind eye to union corruption.
But from those great heights the CFMEU in Victoria collapsed into a squalid mess. It slid from being a union which fought hard for workers to one which started a fight just for the sake of it. It devolved from being a union which honoured the dignity of working Australians to a union which cultivated the company of underworld figures. It deteriorated from being progressive, tolerant and respectful—
into a violent, hateful, greedy rabble. It degenerated from being a union where people were respected for their honesty and decency—
to one where a good person, a decent person who spoke out against corruption, was shouted down and told they were a "dog," or a "rat", or—
The cause of the collapse of the CFMEU was not from within, it came from the top.
… it was shocking to see so much crime, so much corruption, such a perversion of values. The CFMEU was no longer on the right side of civil society, it was proudly on the wrong side. The Union was no longer the champion of the working class—
… looking after gangsters, standover men, bikies, heroin traffickers, and even killers.
By the end of this investigation I have been left with the empty feeling that the … Victorian branch of the CFMEU was no longer a trade union, it was a crime syndicate.
I think there's a scenario where that can happen, but I think events will have to turn in my favour.
I make this commitment: this will never happen under a Wilson government.
Gather round—all who dare—as the Liberal Party indulges in its triennial version of The Hunger Games .
Major infrastructure projects funded by the Albanese and Allan governments hosted drug trafficking, systemic corruption and bribery, bikie gangs and the shocking sexual exploitation of women at an estimated cost to the taxpayers of $15 billion, according to a landmark report into CFMEU corruption.
Watson told the Queensland commission of inquiry he was "absolutely appalled" to see some calling for Irving's resignation today.
"If anything I've said here today would suggest that is an outcome they should think again," Watson said. "They would be mad to get rid of Mark Irving."
He said, "I might have said harsh things—they're my opinion and Irving may have had another.
"I've worked for Irving for two years now, and I've never met a more honest or decent man … I can tell you, everything he did was opposed to corruption and was in favour of fixing the CFMEU."
There's something I'd like to say …
I might have said some harsh things here today, but in my opinion … I've never met a more honest and decent man.
They'd be mad to get rid of Mark Irving.
Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025
Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
(1) Clause 18, page 20 (line 11), omit "2 December 2027", substitute "30 September 2026".
The House divided. [16:40]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
That this bill be now read a third time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House notes the:
(1) Government has cynically cobbled together unrelated measures within this bill in an attempt to play wedge politics, not deliver policy outcomes;
(2) Opposition is supportive of Schedules 3, 4 and 6, which deal with tax incentives for the Rugby World Cup, a tax treaty with Portugal and an increase in the Wine Equalisation Tax producer rebate cap;
(3) Opposition wishes to see the smooth passage of Schedules 3, 4 and 6 and are willing to work with the Government on these uncontroversial aspects; and
(4) Opposition has serious concerns about Schedules 1 and 2 of this bill, which restrict choice in superannuation".
The approach in the Bill strikes a balance between maximising member choice, ensuring workers are presented with options, and knowing that they are in the best performing product for them, while continuing to ensure that the number of Australians with more than one super account continues to reduce.
The government is planning to tighten the rules around managed investment schemes and give corporate watchdog ASIC more power to demand information.
It comes following the collapse of major funds Shield Master Fund and First Guardian.
About 12,000 Australians—
poured $1.1 billion in retirement savings into the two funds, which collapsed in 2024 and 2025 amid what incoming ASIC chair Sarah Court has described as "industrial-scale misconduct".
Investors in First Guardian, many of whom switched from highly regulated super funds into the product, face little prospect of recovery directly from the fund, with liquidators in December saying just $1.6 million of $446 million tipped into it had been recovered—not enough to pay their fees.
In order to recover money for investors, the corporate watchdog has instead launched a series of lawsuits against companies responsible for overseeing the fund.
The scandal has also thrown into the spotlight gaps in the regulation of parts of the financial services industry.
Both First Guardian and Shield were managed investment schemes, a type of fund first established in the late 1990s—
That all words after "whilst" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:
(1) affirms the objective of superannuation is to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way;
(2) notes that:
(a) while advertising of superannuation products has led to poor outcomes in some circumstances, advertising does and should continue to play an important role in fostering competition and driving innovation among superfunds;
(b) while Australians are often disengaged with their superannuation fund, efforts to legislate additional consumer protections in response to this disengagement can unintentionally weaken competition between funds; and
(c) any weakening in the competitive pressures on superfunds to maximise net returns for customers also has a hidden cost to the retirement balances of account holders; and
(3) calls on the Government to acknowledge this policy tension and commit to reviewing this and other legislative measures for the individual and cumulative impact on fund incentives and performance".
In 2024-25, our resources sector made a contribution of $115.2 billion to the Queensland economy—supporting jobs, businesses, infrastructure and services to benefit communities across the state.
I mean the global market for thermal coal has collapsed and at one level, that's a good thing, because what that implies is that the world is acting in relation to climate change.
We had dinner, beautiful Australian beef—not the live export, we made sure it was dead.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Lawrence ) took the chair at 09:30.
I am almost 18 and I would like to own a home. I love Australia, but the sad reality is that for myself and most of my generation owning a home is becoming increasingly impossible.
Gone are the days when houses cost two peanuts and a firm handshake. Today, the price of housing alone paints a grim picture for the future of our young people, and by extension the future of this country.
If the youth can't afford to live here they won't Cost of living and housing is causing immense strain on the middle class. Of the top 15 most unaffordable property markets in the world, 5 Australian capital cities are present, with Sydney being second in the world. This is ridiculous, and it can't go on.
By this point, we are no longer talking about if the Government wants a "better" future for our young people; if it wants a future for them at all, it must make a concerted effort to increase the supply of housing and to reduce the barriers that prevent this increase.
The Government must do more than tinker around the edges; they must address the underlying issues driving house prices. A better future is not one created by shrugging our shoulders; it is … created by decisive action in the best interest of this country's youth.
It is clear in Harry's medical documentation that his disabilities are life limiting. But instead of spending time and making memories with our family, I must waste my time fighting this David and Goliath battle that consumes and controls my life.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025
With the entrenchment of the compulsory questioning powers, regular review, including parliamentary oversight by the committee is more important than ever.
… protection of, and of the people of, the Commonwealth and the several States and Territories from:
(i) espionage;
(ii) sabotage;
(iii) politically motivated violence;
(iv) promotion of communal violence;
(v) attacks on Australia's defence system; or
(vi) acts of foreign interference;
whether directed from, or committed within, Australia or not …
National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:
(1) notes that:
(a) there is inconsistent funding of potentially life-saving vaccines in different state and territories, leading to significant inequity of healthcare outcomes; and
(b) all Australians deserve equal access to life-saving vaccinations such as those for meningococcal and RSV infections; and
(2) calls upon the Government to urgently work constructively with state and territory governments to facilitate access to life-saving immunisation products for vaccine-preventable diseases".
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026