What's happening in parliament - April 2024

Legislative Assembly 

Confiscation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth) Bill 2024

The Confiscation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth) Bill 2024 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 19 March. This bill seeks to amend the Confiscation Act 1997 (which allows for the restraint and forfeiture of a persons property without the need for a conviction) to introduce a new pathway that results in an unexplained wealth order based upon a reasonable suspicion that a person's wealth exceeds their lawfully acquired wealth by at least $200,000. This bill aims to overcome limitations under the existing person and property pathways to better disrupt and target senior organised crime figures who distance themselves from actual offending while reaping significant financial benefits.    

• Read the explanatory memorandum

Estate Agents, Residential Tenancies and Other Acts Amendment (Funding) Bill 2024

The Estate Agents, Residential Tenancies and Other Acts Amendment (Funding) Bill 2024 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday 20 February 2024, passing the third reading stage (and consequently, the Assembly) on Thursday 21 March. 

This bill aims to amend several Acts in relation to funding dispute resolution and advocacy services, abolish the Estate Agents Council and facilitate the closure of the Sex Work Regulation Fund. It also aims to abolish the Public Records Advisory Council and make various statute law revision amendments in relation to these Acts.

• Read the explanatory memorandum 

Legislative Council

Constitution Amendment (SEC) Bill 2023

The Constitution Amendment (SEC) Bill 2023 was first introduced into the Legislative Council on Wednesday 6 March 2024 after passing through the Legislative Assembly the day prior. The second reading debate resumed on Tuesday 19 March.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Constitution Act 1975 to entrench a requirement that the State of Victoria always has a controlling interest in the SEC and to entrench the objects of the SEC of supporting Victoria's transition to having a net zero greenhouse gas emissions electricity system and participating in the generation, storage and supply of renewable energy in Victoria. The bill also aims to add a new paragraph that states if a specific section of the Constitution Act 1975 is to be repealed, altered or varied, it must be passed by a special majority within the Assembly and the Council. 

• Read the amended Explanatory Memorandum  

Royal Assent

Firearms and Control of Weapons (Machetes) Amendment Bill 2024

The Firearms and Control of Weapons (Machetes) Amendment Bill 2024 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on 7 February 2024. It passed the third reading in the Assembly and was introduced to the Legislative Council on 22 February, successfully passing through the Council on 21 March 2024. It recieved Royal Assent on 26 March.

The Act's purpose is to amend the Firearms Act 1996 to further provide for the service of firearm prohibition orders and the Control of Weapons Act 1990 to clarify that a machete is a type of knife. 

• Read the Act as Passed

Committees

There are several inquiries that are underway and committee reports that have been tabled or are due to be tabled. 

Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee

Inquiry into increasing the number of registered organ and tissue donors

On March 20, the Legal and Social Issues Committee tabled their report into the Inquiry into increasing the number of registered organ and tissue donors. The inquiry was referred to the committee on 9 March 2023, who were tasked with investigating how more Victorians can be encouraged to register to become donors, and other issues that impact donation rates. A total of forty-nine submissions were received from a range of experts, organisations and people with lived experience of donation. Seven days of public hearings were held, including online witnesses working overseas in the organ and tissue donation sector, helping the commmittee to get an understanding of what works in other countries. 
Recommendations included the Victorian government consider: 

• Reintroducing the option to register for organ and tissue donation when applying for or renewing a driver’s licence (Recommendation 3)
• Encouraging more registrations through improved accessibility and awareness of the Australian Organ Donor Register, and better promotion of family discussion.

The committee report outlines in detail all 74 findings and 41 recommendations. The committee is currently awaiting government response.

Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee

Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users

The Economy and Infrastructure Committee are currently drafting their report on the Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users, with the report due to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly in the upcoming sitting weeks. This inquiry focused on how road safety behaviours have changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and considered the impact these changes have had on vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycle riders, children 7 and under, older people and mobility device users.

•  View the status of the report and for further information  
   

Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee

The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee is currently conducting an Inquiry into workplace drug testing in Victoria. The committee has finished accepting submissions, with the next step being conducting public hearings. The committee is investigating the legislative and regulatory framework for workplace drug testing including the treatment of prescription medicinal cannabis compared to other prescription medications under that framework, whether the framework for occupational health and safety and workplace drug testing may be improved to benefit medicinal cannabis patients and whether current workplace drug testing laws and procedures are discriminatory. 

• Read the official terms of reference