What was debated: Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026
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 about $9.2 billion of extra government spending for 2025-26, covering decisions made since the budget. The minister said it includes money for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, the NDIS, Medicare, Defence and Home Affairs. The transcript only contains the minister's opening speech and the final vote, with no debate.
Arguments made in support
The Government said the bill funds measures announced since the budget and covers changes in the cost of demand-driven programs.
The Government highlighted funding for home batteries, disability and health programs, defence plans and the response to the Bondi terrorist attack.
2 speeches by 2 members in the House over 2 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 5 Feb 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 24 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
What was debated: Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026
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 about $3.5 billion in extra government spending for the 2025-26 financial year. The minister said it includes over $2 billion for Defence, $411 million mainly for water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin, and over $325 million in loans for social and affordable housing. The transcript only covers the minister's speech and the final vote, with no debate recorded.
Arguments made in support
The minister said the Defence money would help deliver priorities set out in the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
The minister said the funding would support water recovery targets and social and affordable housing projects.
2 speeches by 2 members in the House over 2 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 5 Feb 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 24 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
What was debated: Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026
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 provides an extra $9.2 million for the Department of the House of Representatives and the Department of Parliamentary Services for the rest of 2025-26. It was debated together with two larger spending bills, worth about $12.7 billion in total. Most speeches were about the government's overall spending, inflation and local projects, rather than the parliamentary departments themselves.
Arguments made in support
Government members said the bills fund decisions already made, including cheaper home batteries, Medicare, the NDIS, defence and social housing.
Labor speakers pointed to more bulk-billing, $25 medicine scripts, urgent care clinics, tax cuts and student debt cuts as cost-of-living help.
A Labor member said funding parliament properly helps members represent constituents and lets committees do their work.
The Coalition said it would not block or delay the bills, as giving the government money to run is normal practice.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Coalition speakers said government spending is too high and is adding to inflation and interest rate rises, and pointed to debt nearing $1 trillion.
Regional Coalition and Nationals members said their areas were missing out on roads, urgent care clinics, mobile towers and other funding.
Crossbench members suggested changes such as gas tax reform, fuel tax credit reform and more focus on prevention spending.
One Nation moved to delay the bills until all net zero funding was removed. Senator Payman raised concerns about waste on contractors and advisory bodies.
126 speeches by 78 members in the House and Senate over 10 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 5 Feb 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 12 Feb 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 3 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 4 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 10 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 11 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 12 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 24 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 25 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 26 Mar 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Australia's Voice
1 Yes
0 No
The last column counts members who did not vote. Party counts are for current members.
2 votes were cast by people who have since left Parliament.
Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.