Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham

The Morrison Government has passed important legislation through the Parliament this sitting fortnight that will support Australians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, create more jobs, keep Australians safe, back our farmers, improve our superannuation system and reduce red tape.

As part of our ongoing economic support for Australians, arrangements around the COVID-19 disaster payment passed to ensure those impacted by lockdowns that last more than seven days have access to financial support.

We also passed the first stage of our aged-care reforms developed in response to the Royal Commission to help ensure senior Australians receive the high-quality and safe aged-care services they deserve.

New telecommunications and transport security laws will now give our law enforcement agencies more powers and help them in their fight to dismantle criminal gangs and make our communities safer.

The eSafety Commissioner will also now have stronger powers to improve online safety and crack down on the cyberbullying of children and toxic online abuse.

New superannuation reforms are set to save Australians $17.9 billion over ten years and will ensure the system works in the best financial interests of all Australians by providing more flexibility, removing unnecessary waste and increasing accountability and transparency.

Farmers experiencing financial hardship will also be given a further helping hand with the waiving of the majority of Farm Household Allowance debts when income is incorrectly estimated. 

With the Murray-Darling Basin contributing $24 billion in agricultural earnings and $8 billion in tourism dollars every year, the creation of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance will improve trust, strengthen compliance and increase transparency across the entire Basin.

Parliament also passed the Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill, providing a $2.4 billion boost to the economy by enabling licensed workers to operate across jurisdictions, without having to apply, pay for and wait for a further licence to perform the same type of work in another state. 

After a 40-year search, a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility is also one-step closer to becoming a reality with supporting legislation passing and a $20 million fund to be created to support long-term infrastructure and development priorities for the local community around the selected site. 

In this sitting fortnight, we passed a total of 35 bills through the Parliament as we continue to implement our economic recovery plan, keep Australians safe and support them through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legislation passing the Parliament this sitting fortnight

• Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 1) Bill 2021
• Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022
• Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022
• Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022
• Biosecurity Amendment (Strengthening Penalties) Bill 2021
• Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill 2021
• Competition and Consumer Amendment (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme) Bill 2021
• COVID-19 Disaster Payment (Funding Arrangements) Bill 2021
• Education Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Bill 2021
• Farm Household Support Amendment (Debt Waiver) Bill 2021
• Financial Regulator Assessment Authority Bill 2021 and Financial Regulator Assessment Authority (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2021
• Fuel Security Bill 2021
• Fuel Security (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2021
• Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Amendment Bill 2021
• Higher Education Support Amendment (Extending the Student Loan Fee Exemption) Bill 2021
• Medical and Midwife Indemnity Legislation Amendment Bill 2021
• Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021
• Narcotic Drugs Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2021
• National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Selection,
• Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020
• Online Safety Bill 2021
• Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021
• Private Health Insurance Amendment (Income Thresholds) Bill 2021
• Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Age of Dependants) Bill 2021
• Social Services Legislation Amendment (Portability Extensions) Bill 2021
• Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment Bill 2021
• Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (International Production Orders) Bill 2020
• Transport Security Amendment (Serious Crime) Bill 2020
• Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 3) Bill 2021
• Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 4) Bill 2021
• Treasury Laws Amendment (COVID-19 Economic Response) Bill 2021
• Treasury Laws Amendment (More Flexible Superannuation) Bill 2020
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Self-Managed Superannuation Funds) Bill 2020
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Future, Your Super) Bill 2021
• Water Legislation Amendment (Inspector-General of Water Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021