Back in the building, and the backlog is...consequential

Order, order!

Parliament resumes today after five weeks in the electorates and the committee rooms, and if you haven't yet seen the winter recess edition of Krafted., it comes back into a Newspoll showing Labor's primary vote at its lowest since June 2013. Here's where to watch today with later starts by all the chambers.

Today, in the House

Two bills we flagged in my summary of the winter recess are first in line. The Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and its companion transitional bill are up as a matter of urgency, given the ACCC's undertaking over Armaguard's cash-in-transit monopoly expires next month.

The gambling bills are also listed. The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) return to debate ahead of the same Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry's report, due when the House returns for its second sitting week on 17 August.

That inquiry heard evidence worth knowing about before the report drops, if you missed the media reporting on it: former NRL player Luke Bateman told the committee gambling companies unofficially offered him illicit drugs while courting him as a "VIP" punter; and gambling reform advocate Tim Costello said TAB and Sportsbet had provided accommodation, escorts and drugs to a high roller now facing charges. Both companies deny it. The Anglican Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant, used his evidence to press the government on all 31 recommendations of the Murphy report, including a full phased advertising ban, while SBS told the committee it can't have age-verification technology ready by January 2027 and wants 18 months to implement whatever passes. Independents Senator David Pocock and Spender's pressure in particular on this issue is now having effect.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and its companion are also back on the list, which lands awkwardly next to the Cash Distribution report's recommendation that the government sort out whether it means the Criminal Intelligence Commission or the Criminal Commission, because right now the legislation can't decide.

Everything else carried over from July resumes in order rather than urgency: the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), still with the Senate inquiry running to 3 September; the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au); the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), which passed the House in July but ran out of Senate time; the Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), whose Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee report landed 7 August; and the Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), still carrying opposition and crossbench amendments from the winter sitting.

Today, in the Senate

For debate today: the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), the Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill (No. 1) 2026 (aph.gov.au) and the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au). The Select Committee on Productivity in Australia (aph.gov.au) tables an interim report today, and its chair, Senator Bragg (Liberal), is separately seeking an extension of time to deliver the final version, worth watching given my recess summary flagged this inquiry as having had the least attention of the crop.

The Community Affairs Legislation Committee's report on the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) also lands today. The same committee's report on the NDIS bill (aph.gov.au) is still due Friday, the one issue more likely than any other to dominate the fortnight once it lands. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security also tables its advisory report on the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026 today, through Senator Ciccone (Labor).

The Senate will formally record the deaths of three former senators: Kay Denman (Labor, Tasmania), Michael Tate (Labor, Tasmania) and Derryn Hinch, the broadcaster known as the Human Headline who once sat as an independent for Victoria. And Liberal senator Wendy Askew has resigned her Tasmanian seat, with Chris Gatenby to replace her, the second Tasmanian Liberal departure this year alongside Senator Duniam's retirement.

Both Houses sit today to Thursday, then 17 to 20 August.

With the second half of the parliamentary year now underway, let your colleagues know about Krafted. so they can sign up too. Forward this on, or send them the link: (statekraft.au).

Until tomorrow!

— Mia