On Friday 9 September 2022, the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General Hon. David Hurley, AC DSC (Retd), advised Australians that Her Majesty The Queen had passed away the previous day. In his statement, the Governor-General passed on his condolences to members of the Royal Family and said that he joined all Australians in mourning and reflecting on Her Majesty’s lifetime of tireless service, noting that she had served Australia “with enormous distinction for more than seventy years.”

The Australian House of Representatives and the Australian Senate did not meet in the week beginning 12 September 2022, as had been scheduled. Several commemorative activities marked the death of Her Majesty and the accession of the new monarch, King Charles III. These included a 96-gun salute on 9 September, and a ceremony on the Forecourt of Parliament House at 11.00 am on 11 September, at which the Governor-General read the Proclamation regarding His Majesty The King. A National Memorial Service was also held at Australian Parliament House and broadcast to the nation on 22 September 2022.

The House met on 23 September 2022, the date that had been earlier fixed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Milton Dick, MP. The Prime Minister, Hon. Anthony Albanese, MP, moved that the House agree to an address to King Charles III expressing deep sympathy for the great loss sustained in the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and extending congratulations to the King on his accession to the throne. The motion was seconded by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Peter Dutton, MP. The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Richard Marles, MP, and the Leader of the Nationals, Hon. David Littleproud, MP, then addressed the House in support of the motion. All Members present rose in their places to signify their respect and sympathy. A further 109 Members contributed to the debate before the address was agreed to.

In the Senate, an identical motion was moved by the Acting Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Hon. Don Farrell. The motion was supported, with 47 Senators contributing to the debate during the day, before all Senators present joined in a moment of silence.