House of Representatives 5 March 2026: Canadian PM Mark Carney addresses Parliament, super reforms pass

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House of Representatives 5 March 2026: Canadian PM Mark Carney addresses Parliament, super reforms pass

The House of Representatives sat on Thursday 5 March 2026 for a historically significant day headlined by an address from the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, to a joint sitting of the Australian Parliament. This was the first address by a Canadian prime minister to the Australian Parliament since 1944. Before and after the address, the House passed substantive legislation: the Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026 and its imposition bill both passed their third readings after consideration in detail and multiple divisions, and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026 also completed its passage through the House. The House condoled the passing of celebrated sports broadcaster Dennis Cometti AM, issued a writ for a by-election in the electorate of Farrer, and conducted Question Time across a broad range of topics including the economy, the Australia-Canada relationship, migration, critical minerals, political advertising, the Middle East, cost of living, housing, gambling advertising, and elder abuse. A matter of public importance on the cost of living was debated by ten members. The adjournment debate featured contributions on cost of living, road infrastructure, the economy, social cohesion, disaster management, and employment in remote electorates.

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Evidence review

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses Parliament

The Rt Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, addressed a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate — a rare honour extended only to the most significant international visitors. The Speaker, Milton Dick, welcomed Mr Carney, noting that 'your address today is a significant occasion in the history of this House'. Prime Minister Albanese, in his formal welcome, drew a thread from history: the first Australian prime minister to address the Canadian parliament was John Curtin in 1944, just days before Australians helped Canadians take Juno Beach on D-Day.

Mr Albanese framed the Australia-Canada relationship as 'a positive choice, not a necessity', noting that the two countries 'do not share a border, a region, a hemisphere or any market smaller than the global one'. He referenced areas of cooperation including support for Ukraine, clean energy economic opportunities, defence industry cooperation — including 'Australia's biggest ever defence export, the world leading over-the-horizon radar technology' — and joint action on climate change. The Prime Minister also noted the historical connection of French Canadians transported to New South Wales in 1839 and Canadian Henry Ross's role at the Eureka Stockade. Angus Taylor responded on behalf of the opposition, acknowledging the importance of the bilateral relationship.

The address came at a time when both nations were navigating strategic competition, disrupted supply chains, and regional instability — themes Mr Albanese said meant Australia and Canada 'must seek and create new ways to stand with and for each other'. Mr Carney, a former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, brought unique expertise on global economic governance to the parliamentary exchange.

The 5 March 2026 sitting occurred in the early autumn parliamentary period. The first sitting weeks of the year are typically when the government sets out its legislative priorities and when new bills are introduced following the summer recess. The Governor-General's speech at the opening of Parliament — if this was a new parliamentary session — would have set out the government's agenda for the coming period.

Evidence review

Superannuation reform bills pass the House after divisions

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026 completed its journey through the House. After a second reading division, the bill moved into consideration in detail. Terry Young and Daniel Mulino engaged in detailed debate, with Allegra Spender also contributing on specific provisions — including exchanges between Spender and Mulino that went to a division. The bill then passed its third reading, moved by Daniel Mulino.

The companion Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026 also passed, with its second reading moved under Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon's chair and a division preceding its third reading. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026 was reported from the Federation Chamber and passed its third reading, also moved by Mulino. All three bills were sent to the Senate for consideration. The divisions on these bills reflected the contested nature of superannuation policy in the 48th Parliament, with the government advancing reforms that the opposition challenged at multiple stages.

Matters of public importance debated on this day would have reflected the political controversies of the period. MPI debates allow non-government members to choose a topic for debate without needing to secure a majority vote, though the topic must be approved by the Speaker as a genuine matter of public importance. These debates can run for up to two hours and involve multiple members from both sides.

Evidence review

Farrer by-election writ issued

Speaker Milton Dick issued a writ for a by-election in the Division of Farrer, following a vacancy in the House. The issuing of a writ is the formal mechanism under the Commonwealth Electoral Act that triggers the by-election process, setting the timetable for nominations and the polling date. Farrer, a regional electorate in southern New South Wales, had been held by the Liberal Party. The by-election would test the political mood in regional Australia at a time when cost-of-living pressures and fuel security were dominating the political agenda.

The Speaker's conduct of the chamber, including rulings on points of order and determinations about the relevance of members' contributions, is recorded in Hansard and forms part of the parliamentary record. Procedural rulings establish precedents that guide the conduct of future sittings. The Speaker is required to apply the standing orders impartially, though contested rulings are not uncommon in politically charged debates.

Evidence review

Question Time: cost of living and Middle East dominate

Question Time on 5 March 2026 covered substantial ground across three blocks. Angus Taylor opened the session with a question on the economy, followed by David Smith on international relations with Canada — reflecting the significance of the prime ministerial visit. After an acknowledgment of distinguished visitors, questioning resumed with Tim Wilson on migration, Tania Lawrence on critical and strategic minerals, Zali Steggall on political advertising, and Julie-Ann Campbell on the Middle East. Tim Wilson returned with a second question on the economy, and Dan Repacholi followed on the same topic.

A second acknowledgment of distinguished visitors preceded the final block of questions. Melissa McIntosh opened on the cost of living — a topic returned to by David Batt later in the session. Basem Abdo asked about fuel security, Ali France about housing, Elizabeth Watson-Brown about the gas industry, Anne Urquhart about schools, Leon Rebello on the Middle East (asked twice), Luke Gosling on aged care, Andrew Wilkie on gambling advertising, Justine Elliot on veterans, Marion Scrymgour on health care, Rebekha Sharkie on elder abuse, and Alice Jordan-Baird on workplace relations.

The breadth of topics — from international relations to gambling advertising to elder abuse — reflected the range of challenges the government was managing simultaneously. The repeated Middle East questions and the focus on cost of living indicated these were the most pressing parliamentary concerns. Personal explanations were also made by Andrew Wilkie and Tim Wilson during statements.

Evidence review

Condolences: Dennis Cometti AM and Judi O'Dea

The House condoled the passing of Dennis John Cometti AM, the celebrated Australian sports broadcaster known for his iconic AFL commentary spanning decades. Prime Minister Albanese moved the condolence motion, and Angus Taylor responded on behalf of the opposition. The Speaker, members of the House, and senators joined in acknowledging Cometti's contribution to Australian sporting culture.

Statements on indulgence were also made for Mrs Judi O'Dea, with Anika Wells speaking. The House observed the customary courtesies for both individuals, reflecting the parliamentary tradition of recording the passing of prominent Australians.

Evidence review

Members' statements: six members raise cost of living

The 90-second statements by members during the morning sitting were heavily weighted toward cost-of-living concerns. Six members directly raised the issue: Julian Leeser, Andrew Venning (pairing it with South Australian roads), Michelle Landry, Alison Penfold, Michael McCormack, Melissa McIntosh, and Julie-Ann Campbell. The repetition of the topic across both sides of the chamber underscored its status as the issue most acutely felt in electorates.

Other statements covered a wide range: women in sport and the Middle East (Jerome Laxale), World Heritage areas (Zali Steggall), The Big Issue (Kara Cook), domestic and family violence (Jodie Belyea), Kooyong roads (Monique Ryan), the Sassafras Wesley Vale irrigation scheme (Anne Urquhart), energy (Simon Kennedy), Solomon electorate infrastructure (Luke Gosling), ADF space capability (Claire Clutterham), Holi celebrations in Holt (Cassandra Fernando), Gilmore health care (Fiona Phillips), Ukraine (Renee Coffey), and the economy (Kevin Hogan).

Evidence review

Cost of living MPI and adjournment debate

A matter of public importance on the cost of living was debated, opened by Tim Wilson. The debate drew ten members: Daniel Mulino, Anne Webster, Kara Cook, Angie Bell, Matt Burnell, Mary Aldred, Tom French, Michael McCormack, and Sarah Witty all contributed. The MPI provided an extended examination of one of the most pressing issues facing Australian households, with members bringing constituency perspectives on grocery prices, housing costs, energy bills, and fuel prices.

The adjournment debate was opened by Rebekha Sharkie on the cost of living. Contributions followed on McEwen electorate roads (Rob Mitchell), the economy and cost of living (Kevin Hogan), social cohesion (Louise Miller-Frost), Bowman electorate disaster and emergency management (Henry Pike), and Lingiari electorate employment (Marion Scrymgour). The adjournment also saw the presentation of the Speaker's panel appointments and the Auditor-General's report No. 23 of 2025-26 tabled.

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