Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026

Read the legislation

Government bill (Labor), introduced in the House

Portfolio: Finance

Read the law (PDF) ›

Act No. 49 of 2025 as passed, Federal Register of Legislation

Read the bill (PDF) ›

Bill as passed by both Houses, aph.gov.au

Explanatory memorandum (PDF) ›

The government's explanation of the bill, aph.gov.au

What was debated in Parliament

Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.

This bill approves $195.1 million to run the parliament's own departments for the rest of 2025-26, mostly for the Department of Parliamentary Services. It was debated together with the main budget spending bills, so almost all speeches were about the federal budget in general rather than this bill. The Coalition said it would not oppose the bills but criticised the government's economic management.

Arguments made in support

Government members said the budget bills fund cost-of-living help, including tax cuts, energy bill relief, cheaper medicines and a 20 per cent cut to student debt.

Labor speakers pointed to more Medicare urgent care clinics, bulk-billing and housing support as reasons to back the bills.

Government members said they had delivered budget surpluses, lower inflation and low unemployment.

Independent Helen Haines welcomed funding for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program in the bills.

Arguments made against, or for changes

The Coalition did not oppose the bills but said government spending and debt are too high and living standards have fallen.

Coalition speakers called for fiscal rules to limit spending, and criticised energy costs and the renewables rollout.

Coalition members said regional roads, water and infrastructure were not getting enough funding.

Helen Haines said some election commitments were funded as budget line items without an open grants process, which she called poor practice.

34 speeches by 26 members in the House and Senate over 7 sitting days.

Hansard: House of Representatives, 30 July 2025 ›

The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia

Hansard: House of Representatives, 1 Sept 2025 ›