September 16, 2026
The wage justice and Knox class action bills advance, the private health rebate fight enters its third day, and the veterans' allied health cap prompts two private senators' bills.
The Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education bill cleared the Senate without amendment yesterday and is now off to the Governor-General for assent. A few hours later, the House gave the Knox Class Action (Facilitation) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) a swift, bipartisan third reading, exempting the $475 million robodebt settlement from tax, income testing and debt-recovery rules so the roughly 400,000 people affected get their compensation in full; it now heads to the Senate for concurrence. And last night the House paused to remember the Hon. Mary Gaudron KC, the first woman appointed to the High Court, who co-wrote the Mabo (No. 2) judgment with Justice Deane.
The fight over private health insurance is now in its third straight day, and the veterans' allied health cap is still drawing blood on both sides of the chamber. Here's where to watch.
The Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) is first on the notice paper again, and today the House will vote on the amendment moved by Ryan (Independent) to carve age pensioners out of the rebate cut. The numbers underneath the bill are still contested: Treasury expects around 44,000 people to drop cover at an average cost of $250 each, but Finity Consulting's modelling for the industry puts the hit to insurer claims at $2.3 billion, and Members Health has warned of premium increases of 9 to 12 per cent. NSW, Queensland and Tasmania have all publicly warned Canberra the change will shift costs onto public hospitals.
A Coalition bid to suspend standing orders and force on debate of the Statute Update Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) — really a vehicle to relitigate the veterans' allied health cap — was defeated 49–87 last night. The National Student Ombudsman Levy Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and its companion, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (National Student Ombudsman Levy) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), did clear the Federation Chamber without amendment and get their formal third reading today.
The House is also due to reach:
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), resuming second reading Carbon Credits and Other Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Transparency) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), also resuming second reading Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Illicit Tobacco Enforcement Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), which needs a message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation before it can pass.
Also on the agenda, but less likely to be reached:
The Health Legislation Amendment (Improving Choice and Transparency for Private Health Consumers) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) passed last night, but with amendments: on the Coalition's push, insurers now need only pay cost-recovery fees for the new ministerial approval process on premium and product changes, and the Health department must publish an annual report tracking movements in the cost-finder data by service type and geography. The House now needs to deal with those amendments, likely in the next sitting or two. The Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) both resume second-reading debate today.
The veterans' allied health cap keeps generating its own legislative response. Two private senators' bills introduced yesterday take direct aim at it: the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Veterans' Allied Health Care) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Veterans' Healthcare Without Caps) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au). Two government bills responding to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide are also up for second reading today: the Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au).
Separately, the Senate referred a new inquiry into mortgage offset accounts to the Economics References Committee yesterday, reporting by 7 June 2027; link to come.
Just one public hearing today: the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security takes evidence on its review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au).
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Until tomorrow!
— Mia
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