Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026; Third Reading

Summary

Parliament is approving extra money for the Department of the House of Representatives and the Department of Parliamentary Services beyond what was already budgeted for 2025–26. This happens because the government has made new decisions since the original budget was passed, so these two departments need additional funding to pay for new or expanded work. The money comes from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (the government's main bank account) and operates alongside earlier Supply Acts and Appropriation Acts that were passed earlier in the year. This matters because it ensures Parliament's own departments have the cash they need to function properly when unexpected costs or new parliamentary priorities emerge during the financial year.

What happens at this stage

The final vote in this chamber on the bill as a whole, after all amendments have been considered. If it passes, the bill moves to the other chamber to go through the same process. If both chambers have already agreed to identical text, the bill proceeds directly to Royal Assent.

Next: The other chamber, which runs the same process from First Reading, or Royal Assent if both chambers have already agreed