The government moved to restructure the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, including a rule that its deputy chair be any "non-Government member". The Coalition's Dan Tehan moved an amendment to instead require the deputy chair be specifically an opposition member, arguing this preserves a long tradition of a government chair and opposition deputy on this bipartisan, nationally important committee.
Leader of the House Tony Burke opposed the change, noting the current deputy chair is already an opposition senator and the resolution did not force a new election. The amendment was defeated 38 votes to 101.
🗳 A public mood-check, not a scientific poll. Vote to reveal how the chamber voted.
For · CoalitionDan Tehan argued the committee has a long tradition of a government chair and an opposition deputy, and that this bipartisan arrangement should be locked in to protect the committee's important national-interest work. Cameron Caldwell backed him, saying the distinct roles of government and opposition should not be watered down.
Against · Government (Labor)Tony Burke said the change was unnecessary because the committee's deputy chair is already an opposition senator, Dean Smith, and the resolution did not require a fresh election for the position.
Motion · SenatePassed 36–29
Parliament · Senate sitting hours and business schedule
The government moved to suspend the normal rules and fix the Senate's sitting hours and order of business for the coming days. The schedule sets specific times to debate and vote on a set of bills — including the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill and related tax and appropriation bills — and caps how long each can be debated before a vote is forced. The government shut down debate at several points to bring the timetable to a vote. It passed five separate divisions, each 36 votes to 29 with 4 pairs. The Coalition attacked the arrangement as a deal with the Greens to rush through tax changes.
🗳 A public mood-check, not a scientific poll. Vote to reveal how the chamber voted.
For · Government (Labor)Moved to lock in set sitting hours and a fixed order of business so the Senate could get through the tax reform bills and appropriation bills within the sitting period, using time limits to bring each to a vote.
Against · Coalition (Michaelia Cash)Called it a "dirty deal" between Labor and the Greens to rush through regressive tax changes to negative gearing and capital gains that break the Prime Minister's pre-election promises, and pledged a future Coalition government would repeal them.
The government asked the Senate to fast-track its Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026 by skipping the usual waiting rules so it could be debated this sitting period.
The Coalition's Sarah Henderson moved to instead refer the bill to a Senate committee for inquiry, reporting by 25 August 2026. The Greens' Sarah Hanson-Young added that any bill changing the Interactive Gambling Act introduced on 1 or 2 July also be sent to that committee, reporting by 17 August. All three questions passed 32 votes to 20, so the bill and the gambling matter go to committee scrutiny.
🗳 A public mood-check, not a scientific poll. Vote to reveal how the chamber voted.
For · Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens)Moved to add any new gambling-law bill to the committee inquiry, expanding the scrutiny to cover changes to the Interactive Gambling Act alongside the social media bill.
For · CoalitionSarah Henderson argued the social media enforcement bill should go to a Senate committee for inquiry and report by 25 August 2026 rather than being rushed straight to debate.
Against · Government (Labor)Jess Walsh, for Senator Watt, sought to set aside the normal waiting rules so the bill could be considered during this sitting period without a referral.
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