Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026; Consideration in Detail

Bell argued that Australians were worse off under Labor, citing rising power prices and housing unaffordability. Bell raised concerns about child safety in early learning centres and questioned the funding and implementation of safety reforms. Bell highlighted the high cost of childcare for regional families and the lack of support for children in remote areas.

Clutterham emphasised the importance of education in building a productive economy and reducing poverty. Clutterham highlighted the free TAFE program and paid practical placements for students in teaching, nursing, and social work. Clutterham noted the government's investment in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, providing an extra $16.5 billion for public schools across ten years.

McKenzie questioned the government's approach to education, arguing that one-size-fits-all policies do not work. McKenzie raised concerns about teacher shortages, declining literacy rates among boys, and the impact of AI on education. McKenzie asked for details on how the government planned to address classroom discipline and support regional education needs.

Coffey highlighted the benefits of cheaper childcare and the three-day guarantee for early education. Coffey discussed the investment in Queensland state schools and the Schools Upgrade Fund. Coffey also noted the reduction in HECS debt for students and the introduction of paid practical placements for essential professions.

Birrell questioned the effectiveness of the Better and Fairer Schools funding, noting that Victoria had not yet signed the bilateral agreement. Birrell raised concerns about university sustainability and the need for a better TAFE system. Birrell highlighted the disparity in educational outcomes between regional and metropolitan students and the need for targeted teacher recruitment strategies.

Smith praised the government's commitment to fully funding public schools through the Better and Fairer Schools agreements. Smith highlighted the additional $16.5 billion investment and the associated reforms, including phonics and numeracy checks. Smith also noted the support for teacher retention and student mental health.

Venning argued that regional students faced significant barriers to education, including distance and staffing shortages. Venning criticised the free TAFE policy, suggesting it did not address completion rates. Venning highlighted the digital divide and the high cost of boarding for regional students pursuing tertiary education.

Cook highlighted the government's cheaper childcare policy and a 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood educators. Cook discussed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and the reduction in HECS debt. Cook also noted the expansion of university study hubs in regional areas to improve access to higher education.

Small criticised the national curriculum for prioritising cross-curriculum priorities over basic literacy and numeracy. Small raised concerns about student behaviour and the impact of HECS debt cuts on future generations. Small argued for greater respect for vocational pathways and apprenticeships.

Hill responded to opposition criticisms, highlighting the government's bipartisan work on child safety in early learning. Hill noted the $189 million national child safety package and the implementation of new legislation. Hill also emphasised the benefits of cheaper childcare, free TAFE, and public school funding.

Le discussed the transformative power of education, citing his own experience as a refugee. Le criticised the Job-Ready Graduates scheme for penalising humanities students and increasing debt. Le called for a fairer system that supports apprentices and trainees, highlighting the need for equity and relevance in education.

Gregg highlighted the government's investment in public schools and the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. Gregg noted the additional $16.5 billion funding and the associated reforms, including small group tutoring and phonics checks. Gregg also mentioned targeted upgrades to schools in his electorate.

Gosling detailed the government's investment in northern defence bases, including upgrades to RAAF Base Tindal and Robertson Barracks. Gosling highlighted the arrival of Apache helicopters and the investment in autonomous undersea vehicles. Gosling noted the growth in the defence industry and the number of jobs created.

Taylor argued that the government was underfunding the ADF and using creative accounting to inflate defence spending figures. Taylor criticised the inclusion of veterans' expenditure in defence spending and called for increased investment in drone capabilities and base hardening. Taylor emphasised the need for proper funding to achieve deterrence.

Khalil defended the government's defence record, highlighting the additional $70 billion in spending and the delivery of key capabilities. Khalil noted the investment in the Henderson precinct and the upgrade of northern airbases. Khalil emphasised the importance of deterrence and the government's commitment to delivering on defence promises.

Price raised concerns about the defence industry, citing uncertainty and delays in procurement. Price questioned the cost and timeline of the Henderson precinct redevelopment. Price argued for a broader defence industrial strategy that included emerging technologies and a strong workforce pipeline.

Lawrence highlighted the government's investment in the Henderson defence precinct and the selection of the Mogami class frigate. Lawrence noted the commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and the creation of high-skilled jobs. Lawrence emphasised the government's focus on delivering defence capabilities.

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Aly argued that the budget strengthens Australia's global influence and regional security through record development assistance. Aly stated that 75 cents of every development dollar is now directed to the Indo-Pacific, the highest share in four decades. Aly emphasised the government's commitment to rebuilding diplomatic capability and supporting civilians in Gaza and Lebanon. Aly affirmed that the budget reflects deliberate choices to focus on national interests in a contested global environment.

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Hogan criticised the government's management of trade relations, particularly with the United States, arguing that the Prime Minister had failed to secure tariff exemptions for steel and aluminium. Hogan described the Export Market Development Grants program as a debacle due to system crashes and high ineligibility rates. Hogan called for the Prime Minister to prioritise meetings with the US President to secure better trade outcomes for Australian exporters.

Steggall argued that climate disruption is an existential security threat requiring greater investment than the current budget provides. Steggall highlighted the disparity between the $368 billion AUKUS cost and the $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund, noting that prevention saves significantly more than recovery. Steggall questioned the lack of funding for defence net zero strategies and the absence of clarity on pillar II technology access.

Clutterham detailed South Australia's central role in defence manufacturing, including the Osborne Naval Shipyard and the Skills and Training Academy Campus. Clutterham noted investments in the Hunter Class Frigate Program and the Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility for aircraft. Clutterham emphasised that these projects create thousands of jobs and enhance sovereign defence capability.

Watts outlined reforms to the New Colombo Plan to deepen Indo-Pacific capabilities through longer-term study and language training. Watts argued that previous short-term placements failed to build strategic foreign policy skills. Watts highlighted the decline in Asian language enrolments and the need for universities to retain funding to support these critical courses.

Wood questioned the allocation of $600 million for rugby league in the Pacific, arguing it might undermine local sporting cultures in rugby union heartlands. Wood expressed concern over the failure to finalise the Nakamal agreement with Vanuatu, suggesting it created a vacuum for other powers. Wood called for accountability regarding taxpayer spending and diplomatic outcomes in the region.

Ryan highlighted the importance of Pacific diaspora communities and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme in addressing labour shortages. Ryan noted that PALM workers contribute significantly to local economies and send remittances home. Ryan emphasised that government policies protect Pacific banking access and support skills development for workers.

Rebello criticised the government's foreign policy as uncertain, citing the recognition of a Palestinian state and delays in listing Iranian entities as terrorist organisations. Rebello argued that Australia's relationship with the United States had drifted and that loopholes allowed Australian consumers to fund Russian aggression. Rebello called for a stronger, principle-based approach to international relations.

Jarrett defended the government's Pacific partnership strategy, highlighting investments in climate resilience and renewable energy infrastructure. Jarrett noted contributions to the Pacific Resilience Facility and the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership. Jarrett emphasised the cultural and sporting connections between Australia and Papua New Guinea, particularly through rugby league.

Watson-Brown condemned the treatment of Australian aid workers detained in Israel and questioned the continuation of weapons exports to the region. Watson-Brown raised concerns about the US government potentially taking equity stakes in Australian critical minerals. Watson-Brown argued that aligning with US interests undermines Australia's sovereignty and climate commitments.

Miller-Frost stated that the government is rebuilding relationships in the Pacific after previous neglect. Miller-Frost highlighted the increase in official development assistance to over $5 billion, with three-quarters directed to the Indo-Pacific. Miller-Frost detailed new packages for economic resilience, health systems, and climate action to support regional stability.