Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025, the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025, the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 and the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings.

I also table statements of reasons justifying the need for the bills to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statements incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement s read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE     IN THE 2025 SPRING SITTINGS

COMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (AUSTRALIAN CONTENT) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the bill is to introduce an Australian screen content requirement on subscription video-on-demand (streaming) services.

Reasons for Urgency

In the National Cultural Policy, Revive, the Australian Government committed to introduce an Australian screen content requirement on streaming services. During the 2025 election campaign, the Minister for the Arts re-committed to implementing a requirement.

Urgent passage is critical to fulfil the Government's commitment to introduce a local content requirement for streaming services, make sure Australian stories are being made and distributed on the platforms where Australians will watch them. It will also give much needed certainty to the Australian screen production industry and streaming services.

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE     IN THE 2025 SPRING SITTINGS

STRENGTHENING OVERSIGHT OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BILL 2025

Purpose of the Bill

This Bill will enhance existing parliamentary and statutory oversight mechanisms to ensure oversight of the National Intelligence Community is holistic, consistent and remains commensurate with their significant powers.

The Bill does this by expanding the jurisdictions of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) to all of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, and the intelligence functions of the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre and the Department of Home Affairs.

The Bill would also make amendments to strengthen the relationship between the PJCIS, IGIS and the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) and ensure the PJCIS and INSLM have a comprehensive mandate to review counter-terrorism and national security legislation.

Reasons for Urgency

Timely passage of this Bill is required to ensure that uniform oversight arrangements for the National Intelligence Community (NIC) can commence as soon as possible, to reflect the increasingly close collaboration, engagement and information-sharing between NIC agencies. This will ensure that the public can continue to have confidence that Australia's security and intelligence agencies act with accountability and integrity. The IGIS and PJCIS have already been funded to support the proposed expansion to their functions. The Bill has also been reviewed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, which reported on 4 November 2025.

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE     IN THE 2025 SPRING SITTING

VET STUDENT LOANS (MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The Bill will retrospectively ensure the access, use, recording and disclosure of students' Tax File Numbers (TFNs) by Vocational Education and Training Student Loans (VSL) approved providers and government officials from 2017 is lawful under the VET Student Loans Act 2016 (the VSL Act).

Reason for urgency

Since the VSL program commenced on 1 January 2017, the program has required approved course providers to handle student TFNs. The Government has identified the need for legislation to ensure handling of TFNs is consistent with current taxation and privacy law requirements. The Bill provides the relevant authority for VSL providers to handle students' TFNs from 2017 to 30 September 2025 when program system updates were implemented which remove the need for providers to handle student TFNs.

Should the Bill not be passed in the 2025 Spring sittings, the Commonwealth along with multiple stakeholders would not be assured that their past handling of students' TFNs was authorised under privacy and taxation laws.

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE2025 SPRING SITTINGS

VETERANS' AFFAIRS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES No. 1) BILL 2025

Purpose of Bill

This Bill will legislate for a range of matters in the Veterans' Affairs portfolio, primarily related to the effective transition from the current tri-Act arrangements for veteran compensation and rehabilitation to a single Act when most of the provisions of the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (VETS Act) commence on 1 July 2026. The Bill will also provide for some adjustment in the VETS Act to confirm the intended policy settings.

Reasons for Urgency

The rapid passage of this legislation is required so that legislative instrument making powers in the amended Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 can be exercised prior to the newly constituted Repatriation Commission coming into existence on 1 July 2026.

This will allow for sufficient time to arrange for legislative instruments to be made in preparation of the commencement of most of the provisions of the VETS Act on 1 July 2026.This is to ensure that there is no interruption to any benefits or payments that are made to veterans and their families under an instrument.