The Australian Senate was working up late on Nov. 28 passing over 30 bills.
In a 14-hour whirlwind of activity, Australia’s Parliament worked late into the evening on Nov. 28 to pass a mammoth 30 new laws, many of which have sat dormant for nearly a year amid ongoing debate.
Most of the backlog was cleared via collaboration between the centre-left Labor government and the Greens (who hold balance of power in the Senate), with the opposition Coalition refusing to support several proposals on policy and ideological grounds.
The Greens have also been more amenable to collaborating with the government following a lukewarm performance across several elections this year.
Under 16 Year Old’s Banned From Social Media
The big one that has garnered global headlines is the ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, passed with bipartisan support from Labor and the centre-right Liberal-National Coalition.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 is a “world first” in that it outright bans access to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Reddit, and Facebook (YouTube is exempted).
Countries in Europe have implemented similar measures that are less strict, only requiring parental consent be given.
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The Online Safety Amendment requires Big Tech firms to introduce some form of “age assurance” technology to make sure children do not access their platforms.
This needs to be done by late 2025.
The move is aimed at protecting young Australians amid spiralling cases of cyber-bullying, pornography access, youth crime, and other mental health related issues. The move also comes on the heels of Australian state governments banning smartphones from classrooms.
However, Coalition Senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic opposed the bill and voted with the crossbench, noting concerns with digital privacy. Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck abstained from voting.
Thousands of Non-Citizens Face Deportation Risk
The Migration Amendment Bill 2024 includes a package of measures that will make it easier to remove non-citizens and also bolster security in detention centres.
The new laws allow the Home Affairs minister to ban visa classes for asylum seekers from blacklisted countries, permits the sharing of criminal histories on detainees with other jurisdictions, and allows the government to pay other countries to accept foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
A parliamentary inquiry suggested the visa situation for 80,000 non-citizens would change, but realistically about 5,000 individuals on bridging visas could be impacted with another 1,000 in detention.
The laws were backed by the Coalition and were heavily criticised by refugee groups, and the Greens.
Incentives to Build 80,000 Homes for Rent
The Build-to-Rent Bill 2024 introduces tax incentives for developers to construct 80,000 homes specifically for the rental market—most homes and apartments are packaged for sale.
Developments must consist of 50 or more dwellings, and remain under single ownership for 15 years, with 10 percent allocated for affordable housing.
Renewables to Receive Major Government Backing
The long talked about centrepiece of the Labor government, the Future Made in Australia Bill 2024, was also passed with support from the Greens on the proviso no coal, oil, or gas projects receive funding.
Modelled on the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Australian version will see government-backed entity, Export Finance Australia invest about $22 billion over the next 10 years in renewable and critical mineral projects.
The goal is to grow Australia’s local advanced manufacturing industries independent from China.
The Coalition opposed the bill.
Supermarkets to Face Fines for Breaching Code of Conduct
Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths face fines of up to $10 million for breaching the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.
The previous voluntary Code governed relations between supermarkets and suppliers, and will become mandatory from April 2025.
The Code itself will remain unchanged.
Passage of the law aimed to deal with “shrinkflation,” treatment of suppliers, cracks down on anti-competitive practices, and provides support to farmers amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Aged Care Shake Up
Passed earlier in the week, the Aged Care (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024, introduce significant reforms to the sector.
It also provides a $4.3 billion Support at Home program covers clinical care, such as nursing, and assistance with daily tasks like cleaning with no limit (cap) on cleaning or gardening services.
The initiative will reduce home care wait times, add 300,000 places over a decade, and offer services like home modifications and assistive technology.
Minister Can Manage Sydney Airport Directly
This comes amid the collapse of regional airlines, Rex, and complaints that new carriers cannot compete with Qantas and Virgin for timeslots at the country’s busiest airport.
The Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024 allows the minister to temporarily increase flight limits at Sydney Airport during operational disruptions.
It shifts responsibility for managing the Slot Management Scheme from the manager to the minister, while introducing stricter penalties for misuse.
The Coalition called for a special inquiry, arguing that the bill requires further consultation.
Reserve Bank Overhaul
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Reserve Bank Reforms) Bill 2023 creates a separate Monetary Policy Board, and Governance Board for the Reserve Bank.
The Coalition opposed the bill, concerned that it would allow the government to appoint its own representatives to the board, potentially influencing the central bank’s independence.
Minimum Tax Rate for Corporations Now Law
The Treasury Laws Amendment (2024 Measures No. 3) Bill 2024 enforces new multinational tax transparency requirements, and mandates large corporations to publicly disclose their tax situation in each country.
Purpose of Superannuation Tweaked
The new changes mean superannuation funds must aim to “preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way.”
The government says any future changes to super legislation must be judged against this objective—making policymakers more accountable when considering changes that affect Australians’ retirement savings.
The Coalition opposed the bill, accusing Labor of politicising superannuation.
Yet two Liberal Party senators broke ranks to support it, citing the Senate Committee’s favourable assessment.
PM Defends Legislative Marathon
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the government’s decision to push through over 30 bills on the final sitting day of the year, pointing to the lengthy delays.
“Some of the legislation passed last night had 2023 attached to it—that’s the hint for how long it has been around,” he told ABC the day after.
The prime minister pointed to a bill updating references to Queen Elizabeth in Australian laws to King Charles III.
“I would have thought that should have passed the Senate in a minute after it was introduced, but ‘no,’” he said.
“It’s beyond my comprehension why that was still around and not just followed through.”
Senators Critical of Process
Earlier in the day, senators criticised the process saying it undermined transparency given the limited time left to debate the new laws.
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie accused the government of rushing complex bills without sufficient debate.
Simon Birmingham, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, said it was “unprecedented” and “extraordinary.”
“To ram 41 bills through in a single day is extraordinary and shameful,” Birmingham said, citing his 18 years of Senate experience.
