Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill 2026, Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill 2026, Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025, Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and Trusted Tax System) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

The Senate is debating five separate pieces of legislation on 22 June 2026. The Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment modifies how long service leave entitlements work for coal miners. Two separate Secrecy Provisions Amendment bills deal with government confidentiality laws—one repeals certain criminal offences, while the other adds a sunset clause (meaning the rules will automatically expire unless renewed). The Telecommunications Amendment strengthens protections for phone and internet customers, likely around billing, contracts, or service standards. The Treasury Laws Amendment aims to streamline the tax system and improve its efficiency and trustworthiness. Together, these reforms affect coal workers' job security and benefits, government transparency rules, consumer protections in telecommunications, and how taxes are administered across Australia.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause