The House met, at 9 am, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker (the Honourable M. Dick) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026

Mr Butler (Minister for Health and Ageing), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 , and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Butler presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Butler moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Hamilton), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill (No. 1) 2026

Mr Hill (Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs) presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 , and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Hill presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Hill moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Hamilton), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) Bill 2026 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Federation Chamber and agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill.

Bill agreed to.

On the motion of Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time— And on the amendment moved thereto by Mrs McIntosh, viz.— That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House notes that:

(1) in 2023, the Government announced a target growth rate for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) of 8 per cent and was unable to achieve it;

(2) in January 2026, the Prime Minister announced a new target growth rate for the NDIS of 5 to 6 per cent, which the Government again failed to meet;

(3) in April 2026, the Health Minister announced yet another new annual target growth rate for the NDIS of 2 per cent over the next four years, despite the Government’s ongoing inability to meet any of their previously announced target growth rates;

(4) the Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) have also been unable to clearly quantify or comprehensively address the scale of fraud within the NDIS;

(5) the NDIA Fraud Fusion Taskforce estimates that up to 10 per cent of NDIS claims are inappropriate, mischievous or outright criminal;

(6) the Government must do more to prevent the fraud and rorting that is rife within the NDIS;

(7) the changes in the bill will do little to remove bad actors from defrauding participants and taxpayers; and

(8) robust integrity systems are critical to not only protect taxpayer funds but also to protect NDIS participants from exploitation by unscrupulous providers”—

And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Le, viz. — That all words after “House” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“(1) notes that:

(a) culturally and linguistically diverse communities experience additional barriers in accessing and engaging with the NDIS; and

(b) a lack of consultation with culturally and linguistically diverse participants and service providers may result in further barriers and inequity; and

(2) calls on the Government to ensure the implementation of the reforms does not inadvertently impose additional burdens on, or further disadvantage, culturally and linguistically diverse NDIS participants”—

And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Chaney, viz. — That all words after “notes that” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“(a) the bill enables the use of automated decision-making in determining a wide range of matters affecting NDIS participants;

(b) it is reported that neither human decision-makers nor the Administrative Review Tribunal will be authorised to modify or override the automated decisions made about the support needs of NDIS participants;

(c) when used well, automated decision-making can deliver faster, more consistent and more efficient government services, and that agencies like the NDIA need digital tools to operate at the scale required;

(d) the Government has failed to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, handed down in July 2023, which called for the introduction of a consistent legal framework and oversight for automated decision-making in government services; and

(e) the consequences of poorly implemented automation for high-risk decisions are already being seen in widespread concern around automated aged care assessments and the unlawful cancellation of income supports for Australians under the Targeted Compliance Framework; and

(2) calls on the Government to bring forward a legislative and mandatory framework for automated decision-making in government services, incorporating transparency requirements, decision-level safeguards, human accountability and oversight for high-risk decisions, meaningful review rights, and independent oversight, in order to prevent a repeat of the failures of the Robodebt scheme”—

Debate resumed.

Dr M Ryan moved, as an amendment to the amendment proposed by Ms Chaney—That all words after “the bill” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“is being examined by the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, with a submission closing date of 29 May 2026, giving just two weeks for contributions;

(b) action 25.2 of the NDIS Independent Review called on the Department to undertake ‘deep public consultation on proposed legislative reforms’ including with people with disability, families, carers, Disability Representative Organisations, providers and workers;

(c) the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability found that ‘people with disability are not sufficiently involved in government decision-making processes and developing laws and policies that may impact their human rights’;

(d) Article 4(3) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires the Government to ‘closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, through their representative organisations’ when developing legislation that affects them;

(e) guidance from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet states that consultation on legislation ‘should not generally be less than a month’, and that where substantial feedback is expected, consultation should be even longer; and

(f) short timeframes are inherently inaccessible and people with disability may require additional time to participate meaningfully in consultation processes; and

(2) calls on the Government to extend the submission deadline for the Senate inquiry so that participants, families, carers, and disability representative organisations have at least four weeks to respond”.

Debate ensued.

Mr Birrell addressing the House—

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43, Mr Birrell was granted leave to continue his speech when the debate is resumed, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice being asked—

Member directed to leave

At 2.30 pm the Member for Spence ( Mr Burnell ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for disorderly behaviour and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continuing—

Member directed to leave

At 2.31 pm the Member for Goldstein ( Mr T Wilson ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for continuing to interject after a warning had been given by the Chair and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continued.

Auditor-General’s Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 34 of 2025-26—Cyber security readiness for the 2026 Census: Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Tax Changes

The House was informed that Mr Hogan had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The impact of the Government’s rushed and damaging tax changes on small businesses, farmers, and all Australians who save, invest, and take risks”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Mr Hogan addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time— And on the amendment moved by Dr M Ryan to the amendment proposed by Ms Chaney to the amendment proposed by Ms Le to the amendment proposed by Mrs McIntosh (see item No. 5, page 712) —

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned (Mr Burke—Leader of the House), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

NOTICE CALLED ON

Ordered—That notice No. 2, government business, be called on immediately.

Suspension of standing and sessional orders—Time and order of business for this sitting

Mr Burke (Leader of the House), pursuant to notice, moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring on Wednesday, 27 May 2026:

(1) standing order 33 (limit on business after normal time of adjournment) being suspended for the sitting;

(2) at 8 pm, notwithstanding standing order 31, the adjournment debate being interrupted and government business having priority until:

(a) business concludes, if earlier than 10 pm; or

(b) 10 pm; or

(c) a later time specified by a Minister prior to 10 pm;

at which point, the debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until 9 am on Thursday, 28 May; and

(3) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.

Question—put and passed.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time— And on the amendment moved by Dr M Ryan to the amendment proposed by Ms Chaney to the amendment proposed by Ms Le to the amendment proposed by Mrs McIntosh (see item No. 5, page 712) —

Debate resumed.

Mr T Wilson addressing the House—

ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

It being 7.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time— And on the amendment moved by Dr M Ryan to the amendment proposed by Ms Chaney to the amendment proposed by Ms Le to the amendment proposed by Mrs McIntosh (see item No. 5, page 712) —

Debate resumed.

Question—That the amendment moved by Dr M Ryan to the amendment proposed by Ms Chaney be agreed to—put.

A division having been called for, in accordance with standing order 133 the division was deferred until the first opportunity the next sitting day.

ADJOURNMENT

At 8.48 pm, the Speaker adjourned the House until 9 am tomorrow, in accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier this sitting.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 27 May 2026 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Fisheries Management Act 1991— Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery Management Plan 2002—

Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (Fishing Season) Determination 2026 [F2026L00620].

Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (Total Allowable Catch) Determination 2026 [F2026L00621].

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936— Income Tax Assessment (Requirement for Parents Liable for or Entitled to Child Support to Lodge a Return for the 2026 Year) Instrument 2026 [F2026L00619].

Infrastructure Australia Act 2008— Summary of proposals evaluated or endorsed by Infrastructure Australia—27 May 2026.

Migration Act 1958— Notice under section 501C—26 May 2026.

National Health Act 1953— National Health (Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services Program) Amendment Special Arrangement 2026 (No. 1)—PB 67 of 2026 [F2026L00626].

Taxation Administration Act 1953— Commissioner of Taxation—Taxation Ruling—TR 2026/1.

Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999— Telecommunications Amendment (Participating Person Exemption—Public Safety) Determination 2026 [F2026L00624].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Ms T Cook, Mr Marles and *Mr Young.

* On leave

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

The Federation Chamber met at 9.30 am.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements were made.

Women’s budget statement—STATEMENTS

Statements being made—

Ms Roberts presented a copy of her speech for incorporation in Hansard, in accordance with the resolution agreed to on 6 November 2025.

Statements continued.

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time— And on the amendment moved thereto by Ms Watson-Brown, viz.— That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House calls on the Government to implement a 25 per cent gas export tax”—

Debate resumed.

Suspension of meeting

At 1.30 pm, the Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of meeting

At 4 pm, the Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.

Debate continued.

Debate adjourned (Mr French), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

On the motion of Mr French, the Federation Chamber adjourned at 7.33 pm, until 9.30 am tomorrow.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber