More new, in the sprint towards the end of year

Reserve your judgement

Yesterday, two bills made it through all chambers, the tobacco bill left the House for the Senate, and Wilson's (Liberal) motion to introduce a bill restoring credit card payments to the ATO - which has delayed its card ban back from 30 November after small business backlash - was adjourned on a government motion, 88 to 50. Here's where to watch.

Today, in the House

Five new government bills are being introduced, each with debate to be adjourned:

• Minister King is introducing the gas reservation package, following her announcement describing a scheme where exporters reserve 15 to 25 per cent of production for the domestic market, starting in 2027: Domestic Gas Reservation Bill 2026, Domestic Gas Reservation (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2026, and Domestic Gas Reservation Levy Bill 2026
• The Treasurer is introducing two tax bills, in part addressing what's grabbing headlines for months: Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026 and Income Tax Rates Amendment (Minimum Tax on Discretionary Trusts) Bill 2026
  • The trusts bill follows Treasury's 3 September exposure draft, which carved out charitable trusts, primary production income and deceased estates, and offered three years of expanded rollover relief from 1 July 2027. Treasury says fewer than 10 per cent of the 2.7 million active small businesses would be affected in any year

The Carbon Credits and Other Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Transparency) Bill 2026 resumed yesterday but did not finish. It is still at second reading, with Tehan's (Liberal) amendment to decline the bill, and Joyce's (One Nation) amendment to it on capital gains tax discounts for foreign investors, both unresolved. Also continuing today:

• Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2026: returns from the Federation Chamber with an unresolved question on M Ryan's (Independent) amendment to McIntosh's (Liberal) amendment, then second reading, detail and third reading. The Senate committee report is due this Friday.
• Sport Legislation Amendment (World Anti-Doping Code Implementation) Bill 2026: back in the Federation Chamber for second reading, detail and report.
• Child Support and Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Ending Financial Abuse in the Child Support Scheme No. 1) Bill 2026: second reading resumes. The Senate committee holds a hearing on Friday and reports 12 November.

Yesterday, the Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Illicit Tobacco Enforcement Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2026 passed the House after the amendments proposed by M Ryan (Independent) and Joyce (One Nation) failed, and additional amendments moved by Hastie (Liberal) to cut tobacco duties to 20 per cent of current rates were defeated 40 to 97.

The Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 has now passed both Houses. The Senate agreed the House's replacement for amendment 36, which sets what providers must spend on equity activities, after adding Senator Shoebridge's (Greens) amendment reaffirming the Senate's right to amend bills in ways that change where appropriated money goes.

The Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026 also finished, with the House agreeing Senator Ruston's (Liberal) amendment from the Senate, which requires rules on computer-made incentive decisions to name provisions at section level or lower. I have not confirmed assent for either bill.

Today, in the Senate

The Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026 did not reach committee stage yesterday as slated. The Greens' second reading amendment lost 13 to 27 and Senator Roberts's (One Nation) conscientious objection amendment lost 20 to 36, but the debate then stalled on Senator Allman-Payne's (Greens) motion to split Schedule 4, the escalation pathway for assessors, into its own bill. That motion resumes today.

The Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Iran and Syria) Bill 2026 passed the House yesterday by leave and was introduced in the Senate, with second reading debate today. It puts the validity of eight 2012 to 2016 sanctioned-goods instruments, originally published as gazette notices, beyond doubt. Also on the list:

• Defence Amendment (Sexual Assault Prevention, Intervention and Response Commission) Bill 2025: private senators' bill for second reading debate.
• Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2026
• Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2026 and Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025.

The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026, which had its debate adjourned on arrival from the House, is not on today's order of business.

Senator Henderson (Liberal) will move to refer the exposure draft of the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026 to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, reporting by 24 November. The draft would require online services to take reasonably practicable steps to be safe environments. Senator D Smith's (Liberal) motion to send the cost of living to the Economics References Committee by 30 April 2027 also resumes after being interrupted yesterday.

On documents, the Senate agreed 36 to 22 a motion from Senator Payman (Australia's Voice) requiring the government to comply by midday on 19 October with three orders on the Age Assurance Technology Trial. Ministers are also listed to attend and explain on the Age Assurance Technology Trial and on grants under the Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program. Also, Senator Duniam (Liberal) will give a valedictory statement.

Yesterday's urgency motions: Senator McDonald's (Nationals) call to reject Scope 3 emissions in approvals failed 19 to 31, and Senator D Pocock's (Independent) call to fund invasive species management passed 30 to 20.

From the committees

One public hearing is on today: the Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence in Canberra.

Summaries I promised yesterday, from reports tabled in the Senate. The Advisory report on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 recommends the bill be passed, subject to ten recommendations, and also covers the lapsed review of post-sentence orders under Division 105A of the Criminal Code. The committee asks that rehabilitation be made a secondary object of the schemes, that applications for continuing detention or control orders begin within 12 months of a sentence ending, that the government report back within a year on its case management model, that annual reporting on special advocates be expanded, and that a broader humanitarian exemption be considered after passage. On raising the maximum control order for 14 to 17 year olds from three months to 12, the committee was satisfied the court's best-interests test remains an adequate safeguard. Senator Ciccone (Chair, Labor) said the other recommendations might need a further bill.

The Review of Administration and Expenditure No. 24 (2024-25) covers the ten intelligence agencies, with submissions focused on the 2024 independent intelligence review, joint taskforces, conflicts of interest and whistleblowers. Senator Ciccone said the committee noted inconsistencies in what agencies made public and encouraged more unclassified information.

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee's report on the Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting the Strip Searching of Children) Bill 2026 was tabled yesterday after 79 submissions and one hearing. It makes three recommendations: engage with states and territories, improve data collection and ensure regular training. It does not recommend the bill pass. The committee said immediate commencement would leave too little time for policies and training, and that existing Crimes Act safeguards are sufficient.

Three joint committee reports are to be tabled today:

• Report 518: Inquiry into the 2023-24 and 2024-25 major projects report: Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit
• Their courage, our responsibility: Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, on the continuing operation of the National Redress Scheme
• Developing the north is not a catchphrase: Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, interim report on preparing for emerging industries across Northern Australia.

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Until tomorrow!

— Mia