Australian House records a third reading for the Digital Duty of Care bill

The Parliament of Australia bill page for the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026 records that the second reading was agreed to on 28 October 2026. The progress table says that, on the same day, consideration in detail agreed to 15 government amendments and 8 crossbench amendments, and that the third reading was agreed to. The status line on the same page still says Before Reps.

The page still records that the bill was referred on 15 October 2026 to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, with a report due on 20 November 2026. It describes a third-reading text as a version prepared if the house that introduced the bill amends it. The page that was opened does not set out the text of the amendments that were agreed.

The summary on the page says the bill amends the Online Safety Act 2021 to replace the industry code framework and the Basic Online Safety Expectations with a digital duty of care. It says that duty would require online service providers to take measures to provide a safe online environment, and that the bill would expand the powers of the eSafety Commissioner over online services, content and conduct. It also says the bill makes consequential amendments to 5 other Acts.

What it means for business: the progress table records a third reading in the House of Representatives. The status line still says Before Reps, and this page does not show an Act. Online services should not treat a digital duty of care as law in force on the basis of this page. The committee report date on the page is still 20 November 2026. This describes the bill page. It is not advice on whether a particular service is covered.