43rd Australian Parliament Prorogued, Current Bills Lapse

Due to the calling of the Commonwealth Federal election on 7 September 2013, all current bills in Commonwealth Parliament have now lapsed as Parliament has prorogued.

According to election laws, The House of Representatives is dissolved when the election is called. By calling the election for 7 September 2013, Prime Minister Rudd has triggered the proroguement of Federal Parliament (embodied in the gazette of 5 August 2013, numbered C2013G01196).

Legislation which was awaiting assent in Commonwealth Parliament before the date of dissolution has now lapsed. This includes (among many bills):

• Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2013

• Copyright Legislation Amendment (Fair Go for Fair Use) Bill 2013

• Corporations Amendment (Simple Corporate Bonds and Other Measures) Bill 2013

• Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (New Mandate and Other Measures) Bill 2013

• Fair Trade (Workers’ Rights) Bill 2013

• Fair Work Amendment (Arbitration) Bill 2013

• Homelessness Bill 2013

There is also some speculation about the referendum push for the Constitution Alteration (Local Government) 2013 Bill which, although it has passed both houses of Federal Parliament, may now lapse due to the proroguement of Parliament.

There will now be a wait until 7 September 2013 and following election day, a legislatively tabled 5 week break to count election votes.

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