Monique Ryan

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister stated that hard decisions were necessary to fund significant additional investment in aged care, including more beds and support at home packages. He argued that the changes restored the rebate to its original design, removing age-based differentiation introduced by the Howard government. He cited government modelling indicating an average impact of 70 cents per day and around 44,000 people potentially withdrawing from insurance, dismissing industry predictions as self-serving and inaccurate.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister defended AUKUS as an investment in Australia's safety, security, and jobs, noting it had bipartisan support until recently. He stated that the resources sector contributed significantly to taxation and wealth. He argued that the government had to make responsible fiscal decisions to fund aged care reforms, contrasting this with the opposition's lack of budget responsibility.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that members across parliament regularly advocate for projects in their electorates and that political parties make election commitments. He reiterated that the three projects in his electorate—a women's health centre, a domestic violence refuge, and environmental repairs to prevent sewage pollution—were all worthwhile and provided community benefit. He affirmed that these projects supported people in need and defended the system as legitimate.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister noted that pending legislation would remove betting sponsorship from NRL jumpers and stadium names, impacting about 15 clubs. He acknowledged the positive role of sports in social cohesion and community engagement, particularly for young people and women in AFLW and NRLW.

Answer from Jason Clare

The minister acknowledged that the Job-Ready Graduates scheme has failed and that work on fixing it is unfinished, noting that the ATSC is finalizing cost data next year. He highlighted that the government cut the debt of three million Australians by 20 per cent, wiping out $16 billion. He also pointed to legislation investing an extra $312 billion into the education system to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds access university.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister declined to discuss specific case details due to privacy but confirmed familiarity with the situation. She stated that the government has amended aged-care rules to recognize MND as a condition warranting urgent priority under Support at Home. This change applies retrospectively, prioritizing access for those already assessed or waiting. She offered to meet with the member and the family to discuss the specific case further.

Answer from Jason Clare

The Minister stated that the government had already cut the student debt of three million Australians by 20 per cent. He highlighted reforms to make degrees cheaper and faster, particularly for those with TAFE qualifications. The Minister noted that changes to HECS indexation had already been made and announced the appointment of Professor Barney Glover to the Tertiary Education Commission to continue reform work.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister stated that the budget included approximately $500 million in new funding to increase Medical Research Future Fund disbursements to $1 billion annually by the end of the decade. He noted that a unified strategy had been delivered to the government by Rosemary Huxtable. The Minister indicated that he would wait for budget outcomes regarding MRFF disbursements and the one-stop shop for clinical trials before releasing the strategy, but would have more to say in the coming days.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the government had substantially increased ACCC powers and penalties, including on-the-spot fines and penalties up to $100 million, to deter misconduct. He confirmed he had signed a letter directing the ACCC to monitor the market closely to ensure the benefits of the excise cut were passed on to motorists and truck drivers. He emphasized that preventing gouging was a key part of the government's strategy.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The minister stated that the government took the recommendations of the strategic review seriously and was working through the 20 recommendations. He noted that Minister Ayres was working out the best way forward for the council. He emphasized how vital research, development, and innovation were for tackling productivity challenges and raising living standards. He mentioned meetings with panel members and engagement with members interested in medical research.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer affirmed the government's enthusiasm for investing in medical research and acknowledged the link between research and productivity. He noted that the Medical Research Fund was part of the government's thinking and that recommendations from a recent report on research and development were being considered. He highlighted that productivity had grown for five quarters but needed to improve further. The Treasurer assured the member that research would play a role in the productivity agenda and budget deliberations.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the government has already made changes to the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) to ensure Australians collect more tax sooner from offshore gas exports. He noted that these changes provide extra billions of dollars to fund government priorities like Medicare and housing. He acknowledged calls for further action but emphasized that substantial steps have already been taken.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister confirmed he had written to the Presiding Officers to consider increased transparency and rigour for sponsored passes, particularly for professional lobbyists. He stated that unescorted access should be reduced for security reasons. He tabled the letter and highlighted other transparency measures, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission and changes to political donation laws.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister said that in the July-September 2025 quarter, the median period for home assessments fell by seven days and comprehensive ones by eight. He noted that the integrated assessment tool aids assessors without substituting clinical judgement. He confirmed that the algorithm depends on assessor input and will be updated regularly using feedback.

Answer from Tony Burke

The minister stated that the arrangements were important for stopping boat arrivals, citing a 90 per cent reduction in 2013. He emphasized that the current arrangements involved individuals who had committed serious crimes and had their visas cancelled. He argued that visa cancellation must be meaningful and that third-country resettlement was necessary when return to origin countries was not possible.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to the MRFF, noting its capital of approximately $24 billion. He explained that success rates for government research funds are typically well below 100 per cent, with the MRFF achieving a 30 per cent success rate compared to lower rates for the ARC and NHMRC. He stated that a national health and medical research strategy, led by Rosemary Huxtable AO, was being finalized. Once delivered, along with the 10-year statutory review of the MRFF, the government would consider the matter of funding levels.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister explained that the MRFF was designed to fund priority-driven projects, with annual disbursements of $650 million for several years. He noted that a statutory review by Treasury and Finance had recently raised issues regarding funding levels. He stated that the government was awaiting a final national strategy for health and medical research from Rosemary Huxtable, due by the end of the year, which would guide future thinking on MRFF disbursements.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The minister stated that the review was necessary to ensure Australian industry, homes, and gas-fired power stations have access to gas at reasonable prices. He emphasized that gas is necessary to underpin the transition to renewables due to its flexibility. He noted that three policy mechanisms were reaching the end of their scheduled lives, necessitating a comprehensive review. He did not specify a date for intervention but affirmed the principle of ensuring supply for Australian uses.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The minister defended the safeguard reforms, stating they had reduced emissions equivalent to two-thirds of domestic aviation in their first year. He expressed concern about the specific incident and confirmed he had asked his department to ensure the expert review of methane emission management, led by Dr Cathy Foley, examined the matters raised. He promised to update the House upon receiving the report.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister acknowledged the fund's establishment by the previous government and noted that total medical research funding had risen to $11.2 billion annually, including NHMRC increases. He explained that the $650 million cap on MRFF allocations was a policy decision from the previous government. He stated that the debate over allocation levels would be part of a national plan for health and medical research, with a draft due soon. He also mentioned a 10-year statutory review of the MRFF conducted by the Treasurer and Finance Minister, which would be published shortly.

Answer from Jason Clare

The minister recognised the law reducing student debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians. He said the Job-Ready Graduates scheme follows recommendations in the Universities Accord report. He observed that 31 of 47 recommendations from the report had already been implemented or were in progress. He indicated that further work on the recommendations would continue with advice from the Tertiary Education Commission.

Answer from Julie Collins

The Minister stated that the government had introduced the legislation in June to provide certainty, noting the opposition had delayed it until the last week of the previous financial year. She said that if the opposition committed to getting it through speedily, the government would see what it could do. She emphasized the need for certainty for small businesses and noted the opposition's history of delaying such measures.

Answer from Tanya Plibersek

The Minister stated that the Liberals and Nationals had teamed up with the Greens to block the nature-positive laws in the Senate. She argued that the Greens had not supported a strong environmental protection agency with new powers, while the opposition had voted against faster project approvals. She highlighted the government's achievements, including expanding marine protections and saving the Great Barrier Reef from an endangered listing, contrasting these with the opposition's record.