What the Senate debated on 13 May 2026: gender super gap, competition law in crises, packaging EPR and Bill Grayden tribute

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the Senate debated on 13 May 2026: gender super gap, competition law in crises, packaging EPR and Bill Grayden tribute

On 13 May 2026 the Senate debated a private senator's bill to tackle the gender superannuation gap, fast-tracked the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026 through all remaining stages in a single sitting day, heard statements on topics ranging from the Budget to domestic violence and gun control, and conducted Question Time focused largely on Budget measures. The chamber also paid tribute to Bill Grayden AM, the Western Australian war veteran and former state and federal parliamentarian who died aged 105, and considered committee reports on disallowable instruments including new tobacco regulations and payday superannuation rules.

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Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Tackling the Gender Super Gap) Bill 2025

The Senate spent a substantial portion of the day debating Senator Jane Hume's private senator's bill, the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Tackling the Gender Super Gap) Bill 2025. The bill is designed to address one of the most persistent structural inequities in Australia's retirement system: the fact that women retire with significantly less superannuation than men, largely due to career interruptions for caring responsibilities, the gender pay gap, and the compounding effect of lower contributions over time.

Senator Hume and government senators alike acknowledged that older women are the fastest-growing group at risk of homelessness in Australia. The bill proposes measures to close the gender super gap, though the specific mechanisms were debated at length. Multiple senators rose to commend Senator Hume for bringing the bill forward and to share constituency experiences of women facing retirement poverty.

The bill was treated as a second reading debate during this sitting. The Hansard records senators from across the chamber acknowledging the bill's importance, with speakers highlighting that superannuation money belongs to the individual fund member and that the system should not structurally disadvantage women.

Evidence review

Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026

The government brought the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026 to the Senate under an urgent timeframe. The bill was introduced and progressed through all stages — first reading, second reading, committee of the whole, and third reading — in a single sitting day, after the Senate granted leave to exempt it from the normal cut-off order.

The bill creates new powers for the Treasurer and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to permit coordinated action between businesses during a declared crisis. Under the legislation, the Minister may make an 'exceptional circumstances declaration' where circumstances pose a risk to the Australian economy, businesses and consumers. The immediate trigger was the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which the government argued was impacting fuel prices and affecting Australian businesses and consumers.

The Treasurer indicated that if the bill passed, an exceptional circumstances event would be declared to address challenges arising from the Middle East conflict. The bill also increases the maximum penalties that can be imposed for breaches of the Oil Code of Conduct, designed to discourage fuel companies from taking advantage of market instability. The explanatory material drew parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, when similar competition law exemptions were needed to allow businesses to coordinate during an emergency.

The Coalition did not oppose the bill but raised significant concerns about process. Opposition senators argued the bill was 'thrust upon the chamber in unusual circumstances' and criticised the lack of time for proper scrutiny, including by the Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee. Senator Hume in particular noted that the Scrutiny of Bills Committee places significant weight on the availability of disallowance as Parliament's primary means of controlling legislative power delegated to the executive, and expressed concern about the speed at which the bill was being passed.

Evidence review

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme

The Senate discussed a private senator's bill to establish an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging, placing a direct and legally binding obligation on producers, importers and distributors to manage the full lifecycle of their products. It would make Australia's National Packaging Targets mandatory, with a focus on avoidance and reduction as the primary objective.

Senators noted strong public support for federal intervention in packaging waste, citing a 2024 survey in which 81 per cent of Australians said businesses that produce and use plastic packaging are the party most responsible for reducing plastic waste.

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Statements by Senators

The routine 'Statements by Senators' period covered a wide range of topics. Senators spoke about the Budget, taxation, the economy, health care, Tasmania community events, domestic and family violence, the Middle East, gun control, housing, gynaecological cancers, and the National Walk for Truth.

The dominant theme across many statements was the federal Budget and its impact on constituents, with multiple senators addressing different aspects of fiscal policy and its effects on everyday Australians. The period also included contributions on local matters, with senators raising issues specific to their states and territories including community events, infrastructure projects, and health service access in regional areas.

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Tribute to Bill Grayden AM

The Senate paused to pay tribute to the Honourable William Leonard 'Bill' Grayden AM, who died at the remarkable age of 105. Senator after senator rose to honour the Western Australian war veteran, former state MP, federal parliamentarian, author and advocate.

Grayden's life was measured not simply by its extraordinary length but by its service, courage and independence. His father had served at Gallipoli with the 16th Battalion, and a young Bill was determined to follow. Rejected initially because he was too young, he changed his name from Wilbur to William and adjusted his age to enlist — later returning to battalion headquarters to correct the record.

Grayden served Western Australia in both the state Legislative Assembly and the federal House of Representatives. Senators recalled how he spoke of Western Australia's vast distances, small population, vulnerability and need for development — a perspective that, as senators noted, remains true today. He and his wife Betsy raised 10 children and left a legacy of 36 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.

Evidence review

Questions Without Notice and committee business

Question Time on 13 May was dominated by questions about the federal Budget, reflecting the proximity of Budget week. Senators across the chamber questioned ministers on specific Budget measures and their economic impacts.

The Senate also dealt with several committee matters. The Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation reported on multiple disallowable instruments, including the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Amendment (Tobacco Laws) Regulations 2026 and the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Regulations 2026. A notice of motion to disallow the Migration Amendment (Fees) Rules 2026 was lodged. The Senate also received the Copyright Amendment (False Trade Marks Infringement Notices) Bill 2026 from the House of Representatives, which creates a new strict liability offence for importing goods with false trade marks.

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