Thought Leadership
The opening of the 48th Parliament marks a constitutional reset - and a critical moment for businesses, advocacy groups and not-for-profits to assess how government priorities are evolving and reset their own policy positioning.
17 July 2025 - GovernmentPolicyStrategy
Next Tuesday, the 48th Parliament of Australia will be formally opened. While these proceedings follow a well-worn script of constitutional ceremony and tradition, they also mark a new and practical shift in the political calendar.
For businesses, not-for-profits and advocacy groups, the opening is a critical moment to assess how government priorities are evolving and to reset their own policy positioning.
Parliamentary activity pauses when an election is called. Following a general election, the writs are returned, and the Governor-General formally opens the new Parliament.
The Governor-General will deliver a speech in the Senate chamber to set out the government's agenda. This ceremonial address is part of a broader day of formal proceedings that reset the parliamentary calendar and allow the government to begin its new legislative program.
The opening of a new session also allows for the swearing in of new members and senators, the election of the Speaker in the House of Representatives and the renewal of committee memberships.
Australia's federal parliamentary history reflects the flexible nature of Westminster democracy. Under section 28 of the Constitution, the House of Representatives has a maximum term of three years from its first sitting following a general election. However, it is standard practice for parliaments to be dissolved earlier at the Prime Minister's request.
The average lifespan of a federal Parliament has been about 2 years and 130 days. The 47th Parliament, which concluded earlier this year, lasted 2 years and 246 days - placing it within historical norms.
Each Parliament may consist of multiple sessions. Prorogation ends a session and clears the legislative slate, while dissolution ends the Parliament itself. Since 1993, it has become standard practice to prorogue before dissolving the Parliament.
This historical pattern underscores the political and procedural significance of the opening date. It is not simply ceremonial. It is the constitutional reset point that defines how government re-engages with Parliament, stakeholders and the broader public.
The proceedings begin with a Welcome to Country conducted by representatives of local Aboriginal groups - a standing feature of parliamentary openings since 2008.
From there, the formalities unfold in sequence. The Senate assembles, the Clerk reads the proclamation aloud, High Court deputies are introduced by the Usher of the Black Rod, and members of the House of Representatives are summoned to the Senate chamber. Newly elected senators are sworn in, the Speaker is elected in the House, and proceedings suspend until the Governor-General delivers the opening address.
The Governor-General's speech sets out the government's legislative program for the session. While not binding, it gives strong clues as to what will be prioritised in the months ahead.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese enters this term with renewed authority and one of the largest federal majorities in decades. His post-election message has focused on delivery and national renewal - strengthening healthcare and education, fixing the disability system, improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and boosting productivity.
The return to Parliament comes hot on the heels of renewed international outreach including visits to Indonesia, the G7 in Canada and a landmark trip to China - the first by an Australian Prime Minister in seven years.
The legislative agenda ahead is substantial:
Student debt relief. A 20 per cent one-off reduction to student loan balances and a rise in the repayment threshold to $67,000 are expected early in the session, removing around $16 billion in HECS-HELP debt.
Superannuation reform. From 1 July 2025, super balances over $3 million will be subject to an additional 15 per cent tax on earnings, including unrealised capital gains. Controversial, but likely to pass with the government's strengthened Senate numbers.
Workplace relations. Sweeping reforms are in train, including forced bargaining provisions, expansion of same-job-same-pay to service contractors, new controls on rostering and shift scheduling, regulation of artificial intelligence in workplaces, and expansion of portable leave entitlements.
The second-term agenda reflects not only ACTU-aligned ambitions but also emerging risks for employers in sectors such as mining, logistics and care services.
In addition to its industrial relations agenda, Labor is under pressure to deliver on small business commitments. While the 2025–26 budget contained modest new measures - a $150 energy rebate for eligible SMEs, phoenixing enforcement funding, and a ban on non-compete clauses for employees earning under $175,000 - many business leaders are still calling for a permanent uplift to the instant asset write-off, expanded tax concessions and procurement reform.
Labor's National Small Business Strategy focuses on regulatory harmonisation, not new funding. It has been welcomed as a start but widely seen as insufficient on its own.
Following the opening, both houses hold an address-in-reply debate - a broad-ranging discussion that allows senators and MPs to respond to the Governor-General's remarks and deliver first speeches. From a stakeholder perspective, these speeches are worth monitoring closely. They may reveal new champions for key issues or signal shifting dynamics within the chamber.
As Parliament returns, the next phase of government will play out across the dispatch boxes in the usual contested, high-stakes environment. The government is pushing ahead on major reforms while managing ongoing cost-of-living pressures, falling productivity and long-term structural budget challenges.
With a narrow window for policy delivery before the next election, the parliamentary battles ahead will be ones to watch.
The return of Parliament signals more than ceremony. It marks a shift in power, priorities and the policymaking agenda. For businesses, advocacy groups and not-for-profits, this is the moment to step forward, shape the conversation and influence outcomes that will define the next term.
If your organisation needs to cut through, make its case and be part of the decisions that shape Australia's future, talk to Stratagem. We are here for the moments that matter.
Originally published on LinkedIn, 17 July 2025.