Overview

• Ten MPs and senators, including Allegra Spender, Helen Haines, Zali Steggall, Dai Le, David Pocock, David Shoebridge and Jacqui Lambie, publicly urged the government to abandon the bill.
• The Greens and most crossbenchers oppose the legislation, and the Coalition has signalled in‑principle concerns about fees while reserving final judgment, leaving Labor short of assured Senate numbers.
• The proposal would introduce application fees, a 40‑hour processing cap, mandatory identification for applicants and a revised objects clause that critics say weakens the law’s pro‑disclosure lean.
• Stakeholder feedback to the Senate inquiry has been largely hostile, with only the Attorney‑General’s Department, the Australian Public Service Commission and Services Australia offering support.
• At estimates, officials said the department received 21 FOI requests about the reforms and had all extension bids rejected by the OAIC, as the government’s assertions about bots and foreign actors remained unsubstantiated in evidence.