October 15, 2026
The Senate discharges the private health rebate bill and the government brings it back as No. 2, while the Digital Duty of Care bill is introduced and a trust tax inquiry is refused.
Yesterday the Senate did something unusual with a contentious bill: it dropped it off the Notice Paper altogether, and the government's answer is to bring the same title back this morning with "[No. 2]" on the end. Which one, you may wonder, as several are contentious at the moment! Spoiler: the private health insurance bill.
The government's Digital Duty of Care bill, being introduced to Parliament today, was also a key topic of discussion in the Senate yesterday - Senator Henderson (Liberal) had motion moved to send the bill's exposure draft (and therefore the bill itself) to committee on introduction. The motion was defeated, though the bill will draw much more discussion over the coming days - it has as much offshore attention in policy circles as it does at home.
Elsewhere, the House turned down a committee inquiry into the discretionary trust tax and the aged care commissioner bill is still waiting at the Senate's door. Here's where to watch today.
On the details, the big one is the Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026. The Senate discharged it yesterday by taking a vote led by Senator Lambie (Jacqui Lambie Network) and Senator Ruston (Liberal), succeeding 38 to 23. Senator Gallagher (Labor) said the bill would have reinvested $3 billion in aged care beds and called the result the "no-alition" at work. Today, Minister Butler introduces the Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026 [No. 2].
Then there's the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026 being introduced by Minister Wells. The introduced bill will show us what's changed from the exposure draft that had Senator Henderson's attention yesterday; she said the draft removes the mandatory industry codes and standards requiring platforms to detect and remove unlawful material. The Senator has an order for production of the department's exposure draft submissions on today's Notice Paper, due 21 October.
Two bills return to debate today. The Child Support and Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Ending Financial Abuse in the Child Support Scheme No. 1) Bill 2026 resumes second reading debate along with an amendment from McIntosh (Liberal). The Carbon Credits and Other Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Transparency) Bill 2026 also resumes with an amendment from Tehan (Liberal) criticising the government's net zero agenda and a further amendment from Joyce (One Nation) on repealing the transitional capital gains tax discounts for foreign investors in large renewable assets.
On the Treasurer's trust tax package introduction yesterday, Wilson (Liberal) moved to refer both to the House Standing Committee on Economics for an advisory report by 1 July 2027. The motion failed 46 to 87. An urgency motion in the Senate (McGrath, LNP) will see another attempt to get it referred to committee.
The Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2026 passed after an amendment from McIntosh (Liberal) failed 44 to 89, and the Sport Legislation Amendment (World Anti-Doping Code Implementation) Bill 2026 also passed; both now off to the Senate.
The Attorney-General will also make statements marking the eighth anniversary of the national apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, and on the passing of the Honourable William Gummow AC.
The Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026 is listed for an instruction to committee today. Also for today, all for second reading:
Private senators' business is also on with Canavan (Nationals) having a motion to introduce a Murray-Darling Basin water buybacks bill and Hume (Liberal) to introduce a credit card payments bill; second reading debates are on for the Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting the Strip Searching of Children) Bill 2026 and Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting Shackling During Childbirth) Bill 2026. Yesterday saw five private senators' bills introduced and now waiting for second reading:
The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee is holding the only public hearing today, in Canberra, for its inquiry into Department of Veterans' Affairs funded health treatment. Reports due to be tabled today:
In the Federation Chamber, the House Standing Committee on Economics report on payments, digital wallets and innovation and the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability report on the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs will be noted. The Senate will consider a request for extension of time from the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee to report on its inquiry into the Commonwealth Land (Affordable Housing) Bill 2026, from 23 November 2026 to 26 February 2027.
Tomorrow is a busy one for public hearings, all in Canberra:
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Until tomorrow, with the week's wrap!
— Mia
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