House of Reps Summary for 26/11/2025

• The proceedings on November 26, 2025, featured discussions led by Speaker Hon. Milton Dick, on topics relevant to the Australian Public Service (APS), consumer protection, healthcare legislation, education reforms, and veterans’ support.

Key Outcomes and Bills Discussed

• 2024-25 State of the Service Report: Introduced by Patrick Gorman, MP for Perth, the report noted the APS workforce’s growth to 198,529 employees, progress in service delivery, integrity, inclusiveness, reduced gender pay gaps, and increased representation of First Nations leadership. (Pages 1-2)
• Concerns on APS Direction: Pat Conaghan, MP for Cowper, criticized the government for potential funding cuts to the APS and highlighted the need for transparency regarding budget deficits. (Pages 2-3)
• Consumer Protection Reforms: Andrew Leigh emphasized ongoing reforms to enhance consumer rights, targeting exploitation within major companies and advocating for protections in the digital marketplace. Significant penalties for misleading practices were mentioned. (Pages 3-7)
• Health Legislation: The “Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025,” presented by Mark Butler, aims to allow registered nurses to prescribe medications, particularly benefiting healthcare access in rural areas. (Pages 10-11)
• Coal Mining Long Service Leave: Amanda Rishworth discussed amendments to ensure fairness in long service leave entitlements for coal workers, focusing on clarity and historical debts. (Pages 11-12)
• Higher Education Reform: Jason Clare introduced the “Universities Accord Bill 2025,” which aims to improve access to tertiary education for disadvantaged students by enhancing coordination between educational sectors. (Pages 12-17)
• Translating Services Bill: Anne Aly’s bill aimed to establish a clear framework for translation services to better assist non-English speakers. (Pages 18-19)
• Genetic Testing Protections: Daniel Mulino’s bill prohibits life insurance companies from using genetic test results, promoting trust in genetic testing. (Pages 19-20)
• Digital Assets Regulation: The “Corporations Amendment Bill 2025,” also by Mulino, seeks to regulate the growing digital assets sector ensuring comparable obligations with financial services. (Pages 20-22)
• Superannuation Choice Reforms: The “Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2025” will help Australians better understand superannuation options during onboarding. (Pages 22-24)
• Veterans’ Affairs: Emma Comer presented reforms for veterans, focusing on systemic improvements in support systems with the “Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.” (Pages 31-33)
• Gambling Advertising: Andrew Wilkie urged for a reform motion targeting gambling advertisements, echoing concerns from the Murphy report regarding youth exposure. (Pages 28-30)

Community and Education Focus

• Significant discussions highlighted the financial difficulties faced by medical students during placements, with MPs like Matt Gregg and Sophie Scamps advocating for governmental support to alleviate “prac-placement poverty”. (Pages 70-73)
• Concerns over education equity and support during practical placements were echoed by multiple MPs, emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic inequities in education. (Page 73)

Health and Safety Discussions

• MP Tanya Plibersek proposed amendments to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment Bill to simplify debt management for vulnerable communities. (Pages 78-81)
• The report also acknowledged ongoing government commitments towards mental health resources, with investments in new mental health centers and expanded services. (Pages 124, 133)

Other Notable Discussions

• National Security: Angus Taylor raised concerns over cyberattacks, advocating for a strengthened national defense strategy amid global issues. (Page 102)
• Agricultural Land Protection: There were discussions regarding preserving prime agricultural land, reflecting on the future livelihoods of farmers. (Pages 48-59)
• Veterans’ Support: The importance of community support for veterans was reiterated, with funding announcements for facilities mentioned alongside discussions of veterans’ welfare reforms. (Pages 42-45)

The proceedings encapsulated a range of legislative efforts focused on enhancing community welfare, healthcare access, consumer protection, and educational equity, reflecting the commitment of various members to address pressing societal issues through lawmaking initiatives.