Pat Conaghan
National Party Member for Cowper
Currently sitting
Photo: City of Coffs Harbour, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Seat and party history (1)
- National Party - Cowper (House) - 18 May 2019 to present
- Seat and party records: OpenAustralia member data.
Contact
Electorate office: (02) 6583 8387
Level 4, 41-47 Horton Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Office details: Parliament of Australia, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Contact details on aph.gov.au Profile on OpenAustraliaNot sure if this is your member? Find your electorate (AEC)
These counts cover what is on this site only. They do not measure electorate work or committee work.
Compared with other members
Pat Conaghan compared with all 150 sitting House members.
Questions asked in Question Time
Lower than 59% of House members- This member
- 8
- Average
- 11.2
- Median
- 12
Debates spoken in
Higher than 63% of House members- This member
- 38
- Average
- 35.9
- Median
- 30.5
Votes cast
Lower than 92% of House members- This member
- 163
- Average
- 253.0
- Median
- 265
Share of divisions voted in
Lower than 93% of House members- This member
- 49%
- Average
- 79%
- Median
- 81%
Read these with care
- The median is the middle member: half did more, half did less. It is less affected by a few very active members than the average.
- Ministers answer questions rather than ask them, and the presiding officers rarely vote, so their patterns differ.
- Government backbenchers are often given arranged "Dorothy Dixer" questions, which raises their question counts.
- Votes only record ayes and noes, so a missed vote cannot be told apart from a pair (an agreed absence).
- Counts cover only what is on this site, and do not measure electorate or committee work. New members have less history.
Question Time
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked how many older Australians would be worse off due to the cut in the private health insurance rebate.
Background: The government cut the private health insurance rebate for Australians over 65.
Answer from Mark Butler
The minister explained that the change addressed inequities where households with the same income received different support based on age. He stated that modelling indicated approximately 44,000 people, or 0.4 per cent of health insurance membership, would change their status. He noted that overall health insurance membership has been growing by two per cent annually and would continue to do so.
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked for details on the assurances given by the Victorian Premier that Commonwealth funds would not reach Mick Gatto or his companies.
Background: The member asked what assurances the Prime Minister had received from the Victorian Premier regarding Commonwealth funds reaching convicted criminal Mick Gatto.
Answer from Anthony Albanese
The Prime Minister confirmed actions taken by the government, including expelling John Setka and excluding the CFMEU. He stated that in 2024, the Commonwealth included provisions in funding agreements requiring states to report allegations of unacceptable behavior. He listed measures implemented by the Victorian government, including fraud management plans, conflict of interest requirements, security access arrangements, timesheet systems, subcontractor registers, and a mandatory register for industrial relations consultants.
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked why small businesses and farming families should trust the Treasurer with sweeping powers to potentially scrap tax offsets, given previous assurances that such changes were not on the table.
Background: The Shadow Assistant Treasurer raised concerns about the Treasurer's powers under new tax legislation.
Answer from Jim Chalmers
The Treasurer stated that the powers were not extraordinary and that legislative instruments defining tax terms were disallowable by Parliament. He noted that similar systems had been used by previous governments of different political persuasions. He argued that settling definitions through legislative instruments was standard practice in major tax reform and criticized the Opposition for misunderstanding the legislation.
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked why the Prime Minister was removing the private health insurance rebate, citing the financial impact on constituents with health issues.
Background: The Shadow Assistant Treasurer asked the Prime Minister about the impact of budget changes on private health insurance rebates for constituents recovering from cancer.
Answer from Anthony Albanese
The Prime Minister stated that the rebate is not being removed and that the premise of the question was incorrect. He highlighted other health measures, including reducing medicine prices to $25 or $7.70 for pensioners, increasing bulk-billing rates, and investing $25 billion in hospitals and health services.
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked why the minister would not provide a straight answer regarding the unfulfilled promise to reduce household energy bills by $275.
Background: The member questioned the government's failure to deliver a promised $275 reduction in power bills by 2025.
Answer from Chris Bowen
The minister stated that the government was taking action to reduce high energy prices through rebates and supporting renewable energy, which had experienced a 44 per cent drop in wholesale prices during the final quarter of the prior year. He highlighted initiatives like solar sharer, providing free power for three hours daily. The minister contrasted this with opposition policies, describing them as expensive and detrimental to reducing energy costs.
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked how many times the government had ignored warnings from Treasury and ASIC regarding the regulation of these schemes.
Background: Collapses of Shield and First Guardian put over $1 billion of retirement savings at risk.
Answer from Daniel Mulino
The minister stated that he had not ignored any warnings. He noted that upon being notified earlier in the year, he sought briefings from his department and wrote to APRA and ASIC regarding further actions. He highlighted that ASIC had taken actions in court and that an agreement with Macquarie saw over $300 million returned to investors.
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked the Minister for Small Business to admit that the government's economic agenda had failed small business due to record insolvencies and job losses.
Background: The Shadow Assistant Treasurer claimed that small-business insolvencies had doubled since 2020, with 34,000 job losses in the last quarter.
Answer from Anne Aly
The minister stated that there were 800,000 more new small businesses since the government took office in 2022, with 35 per cent female-led and 40 per cent migrant-led. She highlighted that small businesses employ over five million Australians and contribute $590 billion to the economy. She noted the introduction of the National Small Business Strategy and recent roundtables to address sector issues.
Question from Pat Conaghan
The member asked if the Prime Minister would put politics aside and join the opposition's plan to halve the fuel excise to provide immediate relief to family budgets.
Background: The Shadow Assistant Minister for Social Services asked the Prime Minister to join the opposition's plan to halve the fuel excise to provide immediate relief to families.
Answer from Anthony Albanese
The Prime Minister distinguished between permanent cost-of-living relief and temporary measures borrowed from the Morrison government. He cited previous comments from the Leader of the Opposition and shadow ministers stating that fuel excise cuts were costly, could be gamed by oil giants, and might fuel inflation. He noted that the opposition had spent three years criticizing such policies. He argued that temporary relief could not replace the lasting cost-of-living assistance the government had provided.
Other Parliamentary Activity
-
Tertiary Education and Training
House of Representatives · Monday 17 August 2026 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: mixed
-
Key Apprenticeship Program
House of Representatives · Monday 17 August 2026 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Thursday 13 August 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate
-
Senior Australians
House of Representatives · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Aged Care
House of Representatives · Monday 29 June 2026 · General Debate
Opened this debate
-
Veterans
House of Representatives · Monday 22 June 2026 · General Debate
Opened this debate
-
Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Monday 22 June 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Budget
House of Representatives · Thursday 4 June 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027; Consideration in Detail
House of Representatives · Wednesday 3 June 2026 · Consideration in Detail
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Wednesday 27 May 2026 · Second Reading
Responded as shadow minister
-
Cost of Living
House of Representatives · Monday 25 May 2026 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Budget
House of Representatives · Monday 25 May 2026 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement
House of Representatives · Thursday 14 May 2026 · Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (The Survivors Law) Bill 2026; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Wednesday 13 May 2026 · Second Reading
Responded as shadow minister
-
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Wednesday 11 March 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Cost of Living, Fuel Security
House of Representatives · Tuesday 10 March 2026 · General Debate
Opened this debate
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Tuesday 3 March 2026 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Flags Amendment (Protection of Australian National Flags) Bill 2026; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Monday 9 February 2026 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail
House of Representatives · Wednesday 4 February 2026 · Consideration in Detail
Responded as shadow minister
-
Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail
House of Representatives · Wednesday 4 February 2026 · Consideration in Detail
Opened this debate
-
Cost of Living
House of Representatives · Wednesday 4 February 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Responded as shadow minister
-
Bondi Beach Attack Victims
House of Representatives · Monday 19 January 2026 · Condolence
Contributed to this debate
-
Low-Income Superannuation Tax Offset
House of Representatives · Monday 24 November 2025 · General Debate
Responded as shadow minister
-
Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Tuesday 4 November 2025 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Regional Australia: Roads
House of Representatives · Monday 3 November 2025 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Monday 3 November 2025 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2025; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Wednesday 29 October 2025 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (Payments System Modernisation) Bill 2025; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Tuesday 2 September 2025 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Police Week
House of Representatives · Monday 1 September 2025 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Australian National Flag
House of Representatives · Monday 1 September 2025 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Fiscal Policy
House of Representatives · Thursday 28 August 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Responded as shadow minister
-
Small Business
House of Representatives · Monday 25 August 2025 · General Debate
Opened this debate
-
Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Wednesday 30 July 2025 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Men's Health
House of Representatives · Monday 28 July 2025 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Regional Australia
House of Representatives · Thursday 27 March 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Apprenticeships
House of Representatives · Monday 10 February 2025 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Agriculture Industry
House of Representatives · Monday 10 February 2025 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Free TAFE Bill 2024; Second Reading
House of Representatives · Tuesday 4 February 2025 · Second Reading
Responded as shadow minister
- Votes recorded
- 163
- Aye votes (44.2%)
- 72
- No votes (55.8%)
- 91
Showing the latest 50 votes.
-
Economy
20 Aug 2026 · Ayes 41, Noes 85 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026; Considerati...
20 Aug 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 36 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026; Report from Federation Cha...
20 Aug 2026 · Ayes 39, Noes 90 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bi...
19 Aug 2026 · Ayes 38, Noes 80 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026; Report from Federation Chamber
19 Aug 2026 · Ayes 41, Noes 84 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
19 Aug 2026 · Ayes 83, Noes 44 · Passed
VOTED NO -
News Journalism Payments Bill 2026; Second Reading
19 Aug 2026 · Ayes 40, Noes 83 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026; Third Reading
18 Aug 2026 · Ayes 103, Noes 14 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026; Consideration in ...
18 Aug 2026 · Ayes 102, Noes 14 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026; Consideration in ...
18 Aug 2026 · Ayes 96, Noes 9 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion
18 Aug 2026 · Ayes 87, Noes 48 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel; Attempted Censure
17 Aug 2026 · Ayes 86, Noes 43 · Passed
VOTED NO -
International Relations: Australia and Japan
12 Aug 2026 · Ayes 88, Noes 41 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Rearrangement
2 Jul 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 42 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Minister for Defence Industry; Attempted Censure
2 Jul 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 41 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026;...
2 Jul 2026 · Ayes 39, Noes 92 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Appointment
2 Jul 2026 · Ayes 38, Noes 101 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future ...
1 Jul 2026 · Ayes 100, Noes 9 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future ...
1 Jul 2026 · Ayes 101, Noes 7 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 20...
1 Jul 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 43 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 20...
1 Jul 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 43 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minim...
1 Jul 2026 · Ayes 43, Noes 92 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
National Anti-Corruption Commission Joint Committee; Consideration of Senate ...
1 Jul 2026 · Ayes 93, Noes 45 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026; Consid...
30 Jun 2026 · Ayes 98, Noes 40 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026; Consid...
30 Jun 2026 · Ayes 91, Noes 48 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Albanese Government
30 Jun 2026 · Ayes 91, Noes 48 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No...
30 Jun 2026 · Ayes 97, Noes 42 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No...
30 Jun 2026 · Ayes 91, Noes 47 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No...
30 Jun 2026 · Ayes 93, Noes 44 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026, Aviation Consumer Protection (Consequ...
29 Jun 2026 · Ayes 47, Noes 86 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Prime Minister; Attempted Censure
25 Jun 2026 · Ayes 87, Noes 42 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Consideration of Senate...
25 Jun 2026 · Ayes 98, Noes 39 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Consideration of Senate...
25 Jun 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 47 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Budget
25 Jun 2026 · Ayes 89, Noes 47 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No...
24 Jun 2026 · Ayes 87, Noes 43 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No...
24 Jun 2026 · Ayes 44, Noes 88 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No...
24 Jun 2026 · Ayes 88, Noes 45 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders
23 Jun 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 46 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Third Reading
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 94, Noes 48 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Consideration in Det
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 94, Noes 48 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Second Reading
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 94, Noes 48 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Second Reading
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 41, Noes 94 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Third Reading
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 94, Noes 49 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 93, Noes 49 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 50, Noes 87 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 7, Noes 104 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 43, Noes 93 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Consideration of Legislation
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 51 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Consideration of Legislation
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 90, Noes 51 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, Income Tax Rates Amendm...
4 Jun 2026 · Ayes 92, Noes 48 · Passed
VOTED NO
About this page
This page tracks Pat Conaghan's parliamentary activity: questions asked and answered in Question Time, debates spoken in, and votes in divisions. Summaries are in reported speech, not transcripts; each one links to the official record.