Senate 31 March 2026: NDIS integrity, fuel crisis, and the cash acceptance debate

The short answer

Senate 31 March 2026: NDIS integrity, fuel crisis, and the cash acceptance debate

The Senate sat on Tuesday 31 March 2026 for a long and combative sitting that ran through legislation, disallowance motions, and a matter of urgency on taxation — all against the backdrop of the escalating global fuel crisis. The day's most substantive legislative work was on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025, which progressed from second reading through the committee stage with extensive debate and multiple divisions. The Copyright Amendment Bill 2026 was debated at second reading and ultimately passed its third reading. A significant procedural moment came with a disallowance motion on the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Cash Acceptance) Regulations 2025, where One Nation's move to strike down the regulations drew fierce opposition from the Coalition. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026 was also introduced. Question Time was heavily weighted toward fuel security, and senators across the chamber addressed topics from women in sport to the Perth antisemitic attack.

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Evidence review

NDIS Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025: second reading and committee

The day's most substantial legislative debate centred on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025. The second reading debate drew contributions from senators across the chamber. Senator Anne Ruston, for the Coalition, moved a second reading amendment that called on the government to acknowledge the scale of fraud within the NDIS. Her amendment noted that the NDIA Fraud Fusion Taskforce estimated 'up to 10 per cent of NDIS claims are inappropriate, mischievous or outright criminal' and that 'the changes in the bill provide no direct regulation or fraud controls for the 94 per cent of NDIS providers who are not registered'.

Senator Lidia Thorpe brought an Indigenous justice perspective to the debate, arguing that previous NDIS amendments passed in 2024 had effectively stripped criminalised people — disproportionately Aboriginal women — of their agency over NDIS plans. 'In this country we apparently have a principle in the law that no-one should be tried or punished more than once for the same crime,' Thorpe told the Senate. 'But in 2024 this place passed an amendment... which effectively ripped that principle to shreds.' She noted that 95 per cent of First Nations people appearing in court charged with a criminal offence have an intellectual disability, cognitive impairment or mental illness.

Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator Jordon Steele-John, Senator Kerrynne Liddle, Senator Wendy Askew, Senator Corinne Mulholland, and Senator Pauline Hanson all contributed to the second reading. Senator Jenny McAllister summed up for the government. The bill then went into committee of the whole, where Senators Ruston, McAllister, and Steele-John debated specific amendments. Multiple divisions were called by Senator Nick McKim on procedural and substantive votes during the committee stage. The bill's committee stage concluded after sustained examination of the proposed changes to participant protections, provider obligations, and the NDIA's integrity powers.

The Senate sitting on 31 March 2026 fell near the end of the autumn sitting period. Senate business typically includes government legislation transmitted from the House of Representatives, committee reports, questions without notice, and motions moved by senators. The Senate's composition — where the government rarely holds a majority — means that negotiation with crossbench senators is a constant feature of the chamber's operation and determines which bills pass, are amended, or are blocked.

Evidence review

Copyright Amendment Bill 2026: second reading, committee, and passage

The Copyright Amendment Bill 2026 received its second reading debate, with Senator Michaelia Cash and Senator David Shoebridge contributing. The bill then returned to the Senate's agenda later in the day for further debate, passing through committee of the whole and third reading. During committee stage, the government's amendments to the bill were debated with contributions from Senators David Shoebridge, Malcolm Roberts, David Pocock, and Nita Green. Multiple divisions were called as the Senate worked through amendments, with Senator Pocock pressing for changes on behalf of crossbench concerns.

The bill ultimately passed its third reading, completing Senate consideration. Also introduced during the day was the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Commission of Inquiry Bill 2026, a private senator's bill introduced by Senator Ross Cadell, which received its first and second reading speeches.

Senate Question Time differs from the House in important ways. Senators may direct questions to ministers representing portfolios for which they are not directly responsible (because ministers sit in the House). The President of the Senate manages the conduct of Question Time with a different set of standing orders from the Speaker of the House. Questions tend to be more varied in topic and can range across the full scope of Commonwealth responsibilities.

Evidence review

Cash acceptance regulations: One Nation's disallowance motion defeated

One of the most contentious debates of the day was on Senator Malcolm Roberts's motion to disallow the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Cash Acceptance) Regulations 2025. Senator Michaelia Cash led the opposition to the disallowance, telling the Senate bluntly: 'The obvious question that is before the Senate in relation to the disallowance motion is, why does One Nation want to ban cash? Because that is exactly what this disallowance motion does.'

Cash explained that the regulations legally required major retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, and fuel stations including BP, Ampol and Shell to accept cash. 'Right now, today, if any Australian walks into a Coles or a Woolworths anywhere in our country, that store, because of the regulations that One Nation is seeking to disallow, is legally required to accept your cash,' she said. She warned that if the motion passed, 'Woolworths and Coles can literally turn around tomorrow and say they are 100 per cent cashless.'

Senator Nick McKim, Senator Sean Bell, and Senator David Pocock also contributed to the debate. The disallowance motion went to a division and was defeated. Senator Cash's argument — that the effect of the disallowance would be to 'go back to the position that existed before 1 January this year, which is that no company in Australia has any legal obligation to accept cash for anything' — proved decisive.

Senate committees are a distinctive feature of the upper house's work. The Senate's committee system — including legislation committees, references committees and joint committees — conducts inquiries, holds public hearings and produces reports that inform parliamentary debate. Estimates committees, which scrutinise government spending, are among the most visible and consequential of the Senate's committee activities.

Evidence review

Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026 introduced

Responding to the fuel crisis, the government introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026. Senator Don Farrell moved the first and second readings. The second reading debate drew contributions from Senator Claire Chandler, Senator Deborah O'Neill, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Bridget McKenzie, Senator Pauline Hanson, Senator Kerrynne Liddle, Senator Tyron Whitten, Senator Slade Brockman, Senator David Pocock, and Senator Malcolm Roberts. Senator Katy Gallagher summed up for the government.

The bill went to committee of the whole and subsequently passed its third reading after a series of divisions. The debates canvassed the impact of fuel price spikes on regional communities, the design of excise relief measures, and the intersection with environmental policy. The bill's passage on this day reflected the urgency the Parliament attached to addressing fuel affordability as global supply disruptions continued.

Motions in the Senate can be used to express the chamber's view on matters of public importance, to establish inquiries, or to require the government to produce documents. The Senate's power to order the production of documents is a significant accountability mechanism, though governments may resist such orders on public interest grounds. The resolution of such disputes can become matters of considerable parliamentary contention.

Evidence review

Question Time: fuel crisis and the death of Zomi Frankcom

Question Time was dominated by the fuel crisis. Senator James McGrath opened with a question on the Australian Parliament, followed by Senator Richard Dowling on fuel and Senator Jane Hume on the economy. Senator Mehreen Faruqi asked about the death of Australian aid worker Lalzawmi 'Zomi' Frankcom in Gaza — a moment of solemnity in an otherwise combative session. Senator Raff Ciccone asked about fuel security.

After a brief acknowledgment of distinguished visitors by President Sue Lines, questioning continued. Senator Ciccone returned to fuel security, while Senator David Pocock raised both the environment and artificial intelligence regulation. Senator Malcolm Roberts questioned on migration, Senator Ellie Whiteaker and Senator James Paterson on fuel, and Senator Charlotte Walker on housing. The pattern of questioning reflected the Senate's preoccupation with the intersecting crises of fuel supply, cost of living, housing affordability, and the Middle East conflict. A take-note debate on answers followed, with Senators Ross Cadell, Tony Sheldon, Dave Sharma, Marielle Smith, and Kerrynne Liddle contributing, and Senator Faruqi returning to the subject of Zomi Frankcom.

Evidence review

Senators' statements: from fuel security to endometriosis

The 90-second statements by senators revealed the breadth of concerns across the chamber. Senator Leah Blyth spoke on women in sport, followed by Senator Nita Green on fuel security and Senator Nick McKim on media coverage of the Middle East. Senator Dave Sharma addressed Easter and Passover, while Senator Dorinda Cox spoke on the reported antisemitic attack in Perth. Senators David Pocock and Susan McDonald both addressed fuel from different perspectives — Pocock on environmental dimensions and McDonald on regional impacts.

Senator Lisa Darmanin raised breast cancer awareness, Senator Mehreen Faruqi spoke on universities, Senator Lidia Thorpe on the Middle East, and Senator Anne Ruston on aged care. Senator Tyron Whitten addressed Easter and family law, Senator Penny Allman-Payne spoke on recognition of Dr Hillel Newman, and Senator Tammy Tyrrell pressed Tasmania's campaign for full horizontal fiscal equalisation. Senator Marielle Smith closed the statements with remarks on endometriosis awareness.

Evidence review

Motions, urgency, and committee business

Senator David Shoebridge moved a motion on the Australian Defence Force, to which Senator Katy Gallagher responded on behalf of the government. The motion went to a division. A matter of urgency on taxation was debated, with Senator Steph Hodgins-May, Senator Matt O'Sullivan, Senator Marielle Smith, Senator Tyron Whitten, Senator Glenn Sterle contributing before it went to a division. A second matter of urgency on fuel followed, with Senators James McGrath, Corinne Mulholland, Andrew Bragg, Deborah O'Neill, and Maria Kovacic all speaking.

Committee reports were presented from the Education and Employment References Committee (Senator Kovacic) and the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee (Senator Jessica Collins). The Senate also agreed to orders for the production of documents on topics including artificial intelligence regulation, cybersafety, Housing Australia, and superannuation. The Community Affairs References Committee and Procedure Committee received new references moved by Senator Malcolm Roberts.

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