Labor and the Democrats will certainly want to send many important bills to committees. A Committee inquiry can often take 3 to 5 months. This is a very important time for all sorts of groups to have their points of view heard. It is the time for detailed argument, not passionate politics. The committees like to see themselves as less sharply political than the Senate, and certainly much less so than the House of Representatives.
Committees often travel to relevant parts of the country.
In the case of social services bills that usually means all around the country since the whole population may be affected. There will be more debate and eventually a Third Reading followed by the final make or break vote. It will often decide to wait a good deal longer than that or not try at all. The government may, if it thinks the matter is important enough and any relevant Constitutional rules do not get in the way, call an election or a double disolution. The double disolution is a very rare event.