What the Senate debated: 26 March 2026 — housing accountability, antisemitism orders, ACCC penalties, and fuel security

The short answer

the Senate debated: 26 March 2026 — housing accountability, antisemitism orders, ACCC penalties, and fuel security

On 26 March 2026 the Senate passed two private senator's bills from Senator Andrew Bragg — the Housing Australia Amendment (Accountability) Bill 2025 and the Housing Investment Probity Bill 2024 — both on divisions of 36–25. The Senate passed additional estimates appropriation bills and the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026. Multiple orders for the production of documents were debated, including on the National Anti-Racism Framework, the Combatting Antisemitism bill, and Accenture Australia contracts. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 passed with amendments. Question time focused on fuel security after a regional WA service station reported diesel shortages ahead of Cyclone Narelle. The Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026 was introduced. Sixteen divisions were recorded across the sitting day.

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Evidence review

Bragg housing bills pass the Senate — accountability and probity

The Senate opened its Thursday sitting by returning to two private senator's bills from Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg. The Housing Australia Amendment (Accountability) Bill 2025 resumed its second reading debate from 4 February. Senator Ellie Whiteaker (Labor, Western Australia) spoke in opposition, telling the chamber that 'a lot has happened since then' and pointing to housing construction underway in her home state, including a Housing Australia Future Fund project delivering 171 affordable apartments in Rivervale, Perth.

Senator Whiteaker said: 'Under Labor's plan more homes are being built — not promised, not modelled, not talked about, not just funded, but built.' She described homes 'for frontline workers, for veterans and for older women at risk of homelessness' and pointed to a pipeline of over 1,100 affordable and social homes across Perth delivered in partnership with the Cook state Labor government.

The Housing Investment Probity Bill 2024 was debated immediately after. Senator Jonathon Duniam (Liberal, Tasmania) told the Senate it was 'a great day when non-government bills pass this Senate' and described the bill as limiting the capacity of the Housing Australia Future Fund to invest in projects or entities associated with the CFMEU. Both bills passed the Senate on divisions of 36 ayes to 25 noes, with 5 pairs recorded. As private senator's bills, they would next proceed to the House of Representatives.

Evidence review

Appropriation and social security bills dispatched

The Senate turned to government business, passing Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025–2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025–2026, and the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025–2026. These are the additional estimates bills that provide supplementary funding for the current financial year. Each passed through second and third reading stages with recorded divisions — the second reading showed 40 ayes to 5 noes, and 36 to 25 on a subsequent vote.

The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 was also moved through its second reading. Technical amendment bills of this nature typically make minor corrections and updates to social security law without changing substantive policy. The bill passed without recorded division on the final question.

The Senate also adopted the report of the Selection of Bills Committee, which determines which bills are referred to which committees for inquiry. The adoption was subject to several divisions, with the government successfully moving amendments to prevent certain bills from being referred to committees — including the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Bill 2026, and the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2026.

Evidence review

Document orders: anti-racism framework, antisemitism bill, and Accenture contracts

A significant portion of the day was spent on orders for the production of documents — formal Senate mechanisms that compel ministers to table specified documents. Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens, New South Wales) moved that the Senate note the government's failure to comply with order No. 356, agreed on 4 March 2026, relating to the National Anti-Racism Framework. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the government had tabled its response that morning and opposed the motion. The division was called off after Senator Gallagher agreed to have the government's opposition recorded.

Further orders for production were moved concerning the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026, Accenture Australia contracts, the Home Guarantee Scheme, Housing Australia, and the Department of the Treasury. Several of these were put to divisions. The Senate also dealt with orders concerning cybersafety, aged care, the State of Australian Cities Report, and GST distribution.

Orders for the production of documents are a key accountability tool available to the Senate. When the Senate agrees to an order, the relevant minister is obliged to table the documents by a specified date. Non-compliance can be raised in the chamber, as occurred with the anti-racism framework order.

Evidence review

Question time: fuel security and Cyclone Narelle

Questions without notice on 26 March 2026 were dominated by fuel security, reflecting a developing crisis in regional fuel supply. Senator Dean Smith (Liberal, Western Australia) opened by referencing an ABC report that S-Bend service station, 30 kilometres south of Geraldton, had run out of diesel. He quoted employee Wendy Butterworth: 'We had to really plead, to say that we're in the position where we're the only outlet that can supply fuel in the 60-kilometre radius.' The supplier provided only half of what was needed, with Butterworth saying it would be 'touch and go' if the allocation would last.

Senator Smith linked the shortage to preparations for Cyclone Narelle, telling the chamber regional families were preparing for possible power outages and severe weather. He asked: 'How has the Albanese government allowed the fuel crisis to get so bad that regional Australians are being forced to beg for diesel just to keep generators running in an emergency?'

Foreign Minister Penny Wong responded that the government was dealing with 'a continuing and unprecedented shock to global energy markets' — 'the largest in history' — and said the government was taking practical action. She noted that the conflict (an apparent reference to international disruptions) was likely to continue impacting supply. Further questions covered waste management and recycling, cybersafety, fertiliser supply, donations to political parties, and the road transport industry. Fuel questions dominated the session, with multiple senators pursuing the issue.

Evidence review

ACCC penalties doubled and Fairer Fuel bill introduced

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 passed the Senate following its second reading debate. The government bill increases the maximum penalties the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can seek for breaches of competition and consumer law. It passed on division, with the Senate also considering the bill in committee and agreeing to a limitation of debate.

The Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026, a private senator's bill, was introduced and read a first time, with the second reading moved. The bill's title suggests it deals with fuel-related workplace relations, though the full text was not debated at this stage.

The Senate also received committee reports from the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, the Treaties Joint Committee, the Law Enforcement Joint Committee (two reports), the Education and Employment Legislation Committee, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee. These reports were tabled and noted.

Evidence review

Adjournment: mining, free speech, and Middle East

In the adjournment debate that closed the sitting, senators raised topics including the mining industry, freedom of speech, workplace relations, the critical and strategic minerals industry, and the Middle East. Adjournment debates provide senators an opportunity to speak on any matter without a formal question before the chamber, and they do not result in any substantive vote.

The sitting day, which had begun at 9:00 am with an acknowledgement of country and prayers by President Sue Lines, concluded after 16 formal divisions were recorded on matters ranging from bill passage to procedural motions and document orders.

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