banner

Last updated Tuesday 24 February, 2026 11:53 AM


Today's Events


NSW Budget Estimates
House: Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into Schemes, Digital Wallets and Innovation in the Payments Sector.
Senate: Education and Employment References Committee inquiry into quality and safety of Australia’s early childhood education and care system.
Senate: Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount.
Senate: Community Affairs Legislation Committee inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025.
ABS: Deaths due to Acute Respiratory Infections in Australia.
ABS: Provisional Mortality Statistics.
Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA): Head of Economic Analysis Department, Michael Plumb, to deliver a speech to the 2026 ABE Annual Forecasting Conference.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, King will make an announcement on the next stage of High Speed Rail and hold a press conference.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, to hold a press conference announcing the next stage of Newcastle-Sydney high-speed rail.
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to be interviewed by Mel Clarke on ABC AM.

See our Diary and Calendar pages for more detail. Use the Alerts Manager / All Options in the Main Menu to sign up for Diary Alerts.

Return to top

Top Headlines

Unsuccessful appeal of Gordon Ng

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stated the Federal Government is deeply concerned that Australian citizen Mr Gordon Ng was unsuccessful in his appeal against a guilty verdict in Hong Kong. Mr Ng, arrested in January 2021 for organising and participating in an election primary, was convicted under the National Security Law on 30 May 2024. The Federal Government has expressed strong objections to Chinese and Hong Kong authorities regarding the broad application of national security legislation, including to Australian citizens, and has sought consular access while continuing to advocate for Mr Ng’s welfare and best interests.
Download

Return to top

Team AUS delivers most successful Winter Olympic Games performance ever

Minister for Sport Anika Wells and Australian Winter Olympic Team Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin celebrated Australia’s best-ever Winter Olympic performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, with six medals - three gold, two silver and one bronze. Standout achievements included Jakara Anthony’s historic second gold in moguls and Scotty James’ third Olympic medal in snowboard halfpipe. The results reflect sustained Federal Government investment, including $37.5 million for high-performance winter sport programs since 2022 and $3.3 million through the dAIS athlete support program. Attention now turns to the Winter Paralympic Games in March.
Download

Return to top

Record jump in bulk billing for Tasmanians

Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler announced that 59 Medicare Bulk Billing practices are now operating across Tasmania following the Federal Government’s $8.5 billion investment to strengthen Medicare. In Lyons, 17 practices are fully bulk billing, up from six prior to 1 November. Tasmania’s GP bulk billing rate has risen to over 77 per cent, while the national rate has increased to 81.4 per cent. Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney welcomed the expanded access, highlighting improved affordability and support for local doctors.
Download

Return to top

QLD: From floods to fame - new campaign ignites Queensland outback

Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain, Assistant Minister for Tourism Nita Green and Queensland Minister for Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell announced the launch of the ‘Outback Queensland. It’s Something Else’ tourism campaign to support flood-affected communities. Jointly funded through the Commonwealth–State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the $2.14 million program will drive visitation through marketing and live music events, including performances by Lee Kernaghan across the region. Running from 1 March to 30 June 2026, the initiative aims to boost local economies and aid recovery following the 2025 Western Queensland floods.
Download

Return to top

NSW: Major construction begins on $720 million Richmond Road upgrade

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King announced the start of major construction on the $720 million Richmond Road upgrade in western Sydney, jointly funded by the Federal Government and NSW Government. The project will widen key sections between the M7 Motorway and Heritage Road, deliver new bridges and intersections, and improve bus priority, active transport links and flood resilience. NSW Premier Chris Minns, NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car, NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison, Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland, Member for Chifley Ed Husic, NSW Member for Mount Druitt Edmond Atalla, NSW Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali, and NSW Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby all welcomed the milestone.
Download

Return to top

Recent Acts

Federal
Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026

21/01/2026

1

Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026

21/01/2026

2

Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026

09/02/2026

3

See Capital Monitor's Federal Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

Australian Capital Territory

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
Government Procurement Amendment Act 2026

16/02/2026

1

Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Act 2026

16/02/2026

2

Territory Records (Executive Records) Amendment Act 2026

16/02/2026

3

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2026

16/02/2026

4

See Capital Monitor's Australian Capital Territory Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

New South Wales

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2026

11/02/2026

1

See Capital Monitor's New South Wales Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

Northern Territory

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
Care and Protection of Children Amendment (Worker Screening) Act 2026

09/02/2026

1

Trade, Business and Asian Relations Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Licensing Schemes and Other Matters) Act 2026

09/02/2026

2

Statute Law Revision and Repeals Act 2026

09/02/2026

3

Housing Amendment Act 2026

09/02/2026

4

See Capital Monitor's Northern Territory Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

Queensland

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Act 2026

19/02/2026

1

Youth Justice (Electronic Monitoring) Amendment Act 2026

19/02/2026

2

Major Sports Facilities and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026

19/02/2026

3

See Capital Monitor's Queensland Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

South Australia

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
 

 

 

See Capital Monitor's South Australian Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

Tasmania

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
 

 

 

See Capital Monitor's Tasmanian Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

Victoria

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Stalking and Other Matters) Act 2026

10/02/2026

1

Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Amendment (Financial Assurance) Act 2026

10/02/2026

2

Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Act 2026

16/02/2026

3

Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Act 2026

24/02/2026

4

Justice Legislation Amendment (Vicarious Liability for Child Abuse) Act 2026

24/02/2026

5

See Capital Monitor's Victorian Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

Western Australia

Act Name Date of Assent Act No.
 

 

 

See Capital Monitor's Western Australian Bills Monitor and Acts Assented pages for detailed coverage.

Return to top

Political Calendar

Federal

The Federal Parliament will next sit from 2 - 5 March 2026.
The 2026-27 Federal Budget will be handed down on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
Additional Budget Estimates were held on 9 - 12 February 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for 25 - 28 May & 2 - 5 June 2026.
Supplementary Budget Estimates are scheduled for 26 - 29 October 2026.
The last Federal Election was on 3 May 2025.
Federal Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 13 May 2025.

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Parliament will next sit from 24 - 26 February 2026.
The 2026-27 Territory Budget will be handed down in June 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for TBA.
The last ACT Election was on 19 October 2024.
ACT Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 07 November 2024.

New South Wales

NSW Parliament will next sit from 17 - 19 March 2026.
The 2026-27 State Budget will be handed down in June 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for 24 - 27 February, 2 - 11 March, 18 - 31 August & 1 - 2 September 2026.
Supplementary Budget Estimates are scheduled for 26 - 30 October 2026.
The last NSW Election was on 25 March 2023.
NSW Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 05 April 2023 and most recently amended on 17 March 2025.

Northern Territory

NT Parliament will next sit from 10 - 12 March 2026.
The 2026-27 Territory Budget will be handed down on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for 9 - 18 June 2026.
The last NT Election was on 24 August 2024.
NT Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 10 September 2024.

Queensland

Queensland Parliament will next sit from 3 - 5 March 2026.
The 2026-27 State Budget will be handed down on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for 20 - 24 & 28 - 31 July 2026.
The last Queensland Election was on 26 October 2024.
Queensland Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 21 November 2024 and most recently amended on 22 February 2024, 10 May 2024 and 04 April 2025.

South Australia

The SA Parliament was prorogued on Saturday 21 February 2026.
The SA State election will be held on Saturday, 21 March 2026.
The 2026-27 State Budget will be handed down on TBA.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for TBA.
The last SA Election was on 19 March 2022.
SAAdministrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 29 January 2025.

Tasmania

The Tasmanian Parliament (Assembly) will next sit from 3 - 5 March 2026.
The 2026-27 State Budget will be handed down on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for 1 - 4 June 2026.
The last Tasmanian Election was held on Saturday 19 July 2025.
Tasmanian Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 11 August 2025.

Victoria

The Victorian Parliament will next sit from from 3 - 5 March 2026.
The 2026-27 State Budget will be handed down in May 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for TBA.
The last Victorian election was held on 26 November 2022.
Victorian Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 02 October 2023 and most recently amended on 12 December 2023.

Western Australia

The WA Parliament (Assembly) will next sit on 24 - 26 February 2026.
The 2025-26 State Budget will be handed down in June 2026.
Budget Estimates are scheduled for 19 - 21 May 2026.
The last WA election was held on 08 March 2025.
WA Administrative Arrangements Orders were most recently made on 02 April 2025.

Return to top


If you have any issues viewing this page, please contact LexisNexis Capital Monitor on 02 6100 0801 or help@capmon.com

alt_text

© 2026 LexisNexis Capital Monitor

COPYRIGHT WARNING: This page is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, copied or redistributed, in part or in whole, without the express permission of LexisNexis Capital Monitor.