Away from the uproar, we missed a week of milestones Believe it or not, Parliament was ablaze with activity in almost every policy area this week; you just didn't hear about it because everyone was watching the Labor leadership and the government's media reforms. Here's a snapshot of some of the other things that happened while we were distracted. The National Disability Insurance Scheme passed through Parliament with the support of all parties, and will begin from July 1. 4.5 million Australians on pensions and welfare benefits received income boosts of up to $17.60 a week in carbon tax compensation, their "battlers' bonus" and the half-yearly pension boost. Legislation was introduced to give workers the right to request more flexible working arrangements, require employers to consult them about changes to rosters and working hours, and extend their rights to unpaid parental leave. Legislation was introduced to extend the Sex Discrimination Act to outlaw discrimination against gays, lesbians, transgender and intersex Australians; to require superannuation funds to help members to consolidate multiple accounts; to establish an agency to try to eradicate asbestos; and to require financial planners and financial advisers to be licensed. Parliament passed a law to allow the Australian Electoral Commission to use Tax Office data to put voters on the electoral roll, and the House passed a bill to require coal seam gas proposals to face federal environmental impact studies on their use of water. In other activity, Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer supported the Greens' bill to allow gay marriage; the Federal Court overturned a government decision to deport Hazaras back to Afghanistan when their safety cannot be guaranteed; and Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott buried their differences to say sorry to mothers and children who had been victims of forced adoptions.