Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree to the remaining stages of the bill so that it will now be passed in the Senate. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a third time. Since the bill had already passed in the House of Representatives, it will now become law.

What does the bill do?

The bill was introduced alongside the Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025. According to the bills digest, which is a nonpartisan document prepared by the parliamentary library:

The Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025 and the Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 establish an independent Commonwealth Parole Board that will make parole decisions for federal offenders. The Parole Board will:

• be constituted by a Chair, Deputy Chair and at least 3 sessional members, who will have expertise in relevant parole-related matters
• have the power to make, amend, revoke or rescind parole for federal offenders
• be authorised to request relevant information from relevant persons (as prescribed by the rules) and, where relevant, disclose information to relevant persons including law enforcement officials
• have discretion in exercising its functions and powers.