David Pocock

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister stated that the government was interested in maximizing AI benefits while protecting Australian creatives and media. He confirmed that the government sought to attract frontier AI investment while setting terms that included control and payment for copyright owners regarding the use of their material. The minister affirmed that strong protections for Australian artists and media would remain a core part of the government's approach to artificial intelligence.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister stated that the funds were delivered election commitments, not pork-barrelling. She explained that the grants were administered through a closed, non-competitive round, which is permitted under the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles. She asserted that the government had been clear about this process beforehand and that commitments were made across various seat types, not just marginal ones.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister rejected claims of funding cuts, highlighting extensions to the Saving Native Species program and Natural Heritage Trust funding. He noted that $47 million of the $113 million bird flu preparedness budget was allocated to wildlife resilience. He stated the government had an open mind on further funding but defended investments in manufacturing and jobs.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that all firms investing in Australia must pay their fair share of tax, noting Australia's leadership in OECD multinational tax discussions. He emphasized the government's focus on legislating AI standards for data centres to ensure they support the national electricity grid and economic resilience. He affirmed the goal of capturing as much AI training investment and technology stack development as possible within Australia, from critical minerals to chip manufacturing.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the government had certified more than 660 applications from Afghan LEEs, more than all previous foreign ministers combined. As of 27 July 2026, 2,059 Afghan LEEs had been certified and over 5,700 had arrived in Australia. She noted that over 40 per cent of offshore humanitarian visa grants in the last four years were to Afghan nationals. She explained that LEEs are processed under the wider humanitarian program and that the government had acted on recommendations to process the backlog left by the previous administration.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that the government assessed research infrastructure requirements as part of normal budget processes. He highlighted an additional $387.4 million for the CSIRO in the budget, on top of existing funding. Regarding the Strategic Examination report, he stated that a substantial part had been dealt with in the budget and that the government was delivering substantial funding rather than just talking. He noted the establishment of the National Resilience and Science Council, which would be legislated to direct research and development efforts.

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister stated that the government supported 'same job, same pay' and that the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 provided standards for seafarer welfare. He noted that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) enforced these standards with a zero-tolerance approach to breaches, including wage issues. However, he clarified that he was not the minister in charge of these specific issues and would convey the question to Minister King for a prompt response. He repeated this position for the supplementary questions, stating he was not familiar with the specific exemption details but would seek a response from Minister King.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister stated that the changes aimed to make the tax system fairer and simpler, aligning asset tax with income tax. She explained that grandfathering applied to assets owned at budget night, while new acquisitions followed new rules. She noted that the Women's Budget Statement addressed gender impacts and that the government sought to protect existing investments.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister stated that as at 31 December, 94,963 people were waiting for a Support at Home place and 103,527 were waiting for an assessment. She explained that the government had invested over $4.3 billion in the new Support at Home program. In response to the supplementary, she confirmed that the budget would deliver an additional 32,000 Support at Home places in 2026-27, bringing the total to more than 420,000 places. She also noted that the budget included $3.7 billion for more aged-care beds and better care, including 5,000 additional beds annually.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister denied that voluntary expectations were insufficient, stating they were being operationalized through state planning approvals. He emphasized the need for data centre developers to invest in additional electricity generation and transmission to lower prices. The minister highlighted the government's commitment to securing tech investment in Australia's national interest while ensuring cooperation with states to manage energy impacts.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister referred to a publicly released report from Jobs and Skills Australia and the National AI Plan, which aimed to spread benefits across regions. He mentioned data centre expectations and commitments from proponents regarding energy additionality. In response to the supplementary questions, he stated he had not heard the specific figure of 600,000 job losses. He emphasized the importance of securing sovereign AI capacity and ensuring Australia remained competitive, rather than focusing on specific tax modelling for tech companies.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated that the government had committed substantial funding to native species preservation over the last four years, citing examples like the Lord Howe Island stick insect. He noted that the Saving Native Species program was funded for four years, expiring on 30 June 2026, and that future funding would be considered in the upcoming budget. He defended the government's record on environmental law reforms and biodiversity protection.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister explained that enforcement relied on federal support being conditional on alignment with the expectations. He stated that proposals not meeting the expectations would not receive federal support. He noted that state and territory planning approvals would embed these principles, and that the government was working with states to ensure no race to the bottom occurred. He emphasized that the Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute would also play a role in ensuring investments delivered for Australians.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister disputed the assertion that no action had been taken, listing measures such as banning credit cards for online wagering, mandatory preverification, monthly win/loss statements, and the National Self-exclusion Register. She stated that the government had taken more action than any previous government since Federation. She declined to answer the second supplementary directly, citing interruptions and the personal nature of the questions, and stated she would talk to the senator later.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister stated that the majority of the $218.3 million would be provided to ACCOs to deliver community-led services, aligning with the plan's principles. Regarding the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, she noted that funding decisions were largely a matter for the ACT government, though the Commonwealth was providing additional resources. She confirmed engagement with the ACT government to ensure funding for services like DVCS was maintained.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that she was cautious about commenting on specific security entities. She declined to answer the question directly, citing the sensitivity of the matter, and indicated she would provide further information on notice if possible.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister stated that tax and housing policies had not changed. She highlighted investments in 5,000 social and affordable homes, with 25,000 more in planning or construction, and the Housing Australia Future Fund. In response to supplementary questions about youth homelessness, she contrasted the current government's investment with the previous government's record of building only 373 homes in nine years. She emphasised the government's focus on driving housing supply.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister noted that the Prime Minister had announced $102 million in measures to support the Jewish community since the Bondi attack. He stated that Senator Gallagher had been working closely with the organisation and that a grant opportunity for additional security funding was being prioritised. The minister explained that previous funding decisions were made at arm's length and that the organisation was advised to undertake a full site risk assessment to strengthen its application. He confirmed that the Executive Council of Australian Jewry would administer the funding when available.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister condemned the Iranian government's violent crackdown and called for an end to repressive measures. She stated that Australia had imposed sanctions on approximately 200 Iran-linked people and entities, including nearly 100 linked to the IRGC. The minister noted that Australia had co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution for an independent investigation into human rights violations. She affirmed that the Department of Home Affairs was engaging with the Iranian diaspora community regarding the telecommunications blackout and distress caused by the situation.

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister highlighted existing harm reduction measures, including the BetStop self-exclusion registry and the ban on credit card use for online wagering. He stated that the government was engaging with stakeholders, including broadcasters and sporting codes, to develop further solutions. He did not provide a specific date for introducing advertising ban legislation, emphasising ongoing consultation.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister noted that an expression of interest was open for three new bulk-billed GP clinics in Canberra. She explained that the allocation of Commonwealth supported places relied on advice from a selection advisory committee and was a competitive process. She stated that a further 50 places would be allocated in a second grant round opening in 2026.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister denied that the measure was an austerity cut, describing it as fiscal discipline to ensure agencies prioritized spending. She stated that the Australian Security Liaison (ASL) would not be reduced and that national institutions were exempt from the efficiency dividend. She offered to table correspondence during estimates to provide transparency on the specific requirements.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister confirmed that the framework had passed and imposed mandatory obligations on banks, telcos, and digital platforms. She stated that Treasury was working on codes for banking, telecommunications, and digital services but did not have a specific release date available. The minister offered to have the Assistant Treasurer provide further details directly to the senator.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister declined to comment on the specific case but highlighted the new Aged Care Act starting 1 November, which aimed to ensure sustainable funding and expansion of residential care. She referred the specific case to the Minister for Aged Care. Regarding First Nations elders, she stated that means testing relied on social security law definitions and that the Minister for Aged Care was considering the effects of co-contributions on First Nations Australians.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister highlighted investments in new GP practices and attraction initiatives in the ACT. She did not provide a specific number of practices that had signed up. She emphasized the government's commitment to restoring bulk-billing.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that the minister was working hard on the process and that consultation was ongoing. He highlighted other housing investments, including funding for first home buyers. He did not provide a specific release date.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that the focus was on onshore processing and production to create jobs and investment in regional communities, rather than just exporting ore. He highlighted that the resources sector contributed $48.5 billion in company tax during the 2023-24 financial year, with seven of the top 10 corporate taxpayers being from the resources sector. He noted that the government had changed the petroleum resource rent tax to ensure companies pay tax sooner and was working on gas market settings to support industry. He did not propose a new sovereign wealth fund or specific tax mechanism for critical minerals beyond existing company tax frameworks.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister stated that Commonwealth funding to the ACT hospital system had increased by 16 per cent in the current financial year, totaling $629 million. She rejected the claim that the ACT was being short-changed, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the National Health Reform Agreement. Regarding NDIS and aged care transitions, the minister noted that average waiting times for NDIS participants had reduced from 39 days in December 2022 to 17 days in January 2025, attributing this to operational changes.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister confirmed that the energy bill relief applies to all households, regardless of income level. She stated that the government's approach is to support all families under pressure. She also highlighted other measures, including investments in solar and batteries for social housing and lending through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. She rejected the notion that immediate relief and long-term structural reforms are mutually exclusive.

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister stated the government is consulting stakeholders to ensure the plan is correct and has not been inactive. He highlighted the largest Commonwealth investment in social and affordable housing in over a decade, with 40,000 new homes to be delivered under the Housing Australia Future Fund and National Housing Accord. He noted that homelessness funding has doubled to $400 million annually under the national agreement. He dismissed the link between housing delays and political motivations, stating the minister is working with states and territories to achieve the best results.

Answer from Malarndirri McCarthy

The minister confirmed the government's commitment to keeping Australians safe online, noting that penalties for breaches had been increased from less than $1 million to $50 million. She stated that a digital duty of care would be legislated to place the onus on platforms, alongside other measures such as a minimum age for social media and laws against deepfakes. In response to supplementary questions about the lack of a timeline, she asserted that the government was not sitting idle and was working through recommendations to balance safety with free speech. She clarified that the government was not contemplating changes to allow the eSafety Commissioner to remove content overseas.