House of Representatives

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister expressed condolences to the families and acknowledged the tragedy. He stated that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had apologised for failing to inform the families, which was appropriate. He confirmed that the Foreign Minister had demanded full accountability from Laos authorities, noting that charges should reflect the seriousness of the incident involving six deaths. He pledged continued engagement with Laos authorities and support for the families.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister stated she had placed Roblox on notice and demanded an urgent meeting to discuss child safety measures. She reported writing to the eSafety Commissioner for advice on preventing harm and requested the Classification Board review Roblox's PG rating, last updated in 2018. She highlighted the government's commitment to legislating a digital duty of care to hold platforms accountable for preventing harms such as predatory behaviour and exposure to harmful algorithms.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that President Herzog was visiting at the invitation of the Governor-General to offer solidarity to the Jewish community and mourn victims of the 14 December attacks. He urged Australians to lower the temperature of the debate and noted that NSW Police were examining footage of the protests. He explained that systems were in place to separate protesters from the President, but some individuals broke these separations. He affirmed his support for the visit and the two-state solution, rejecting calls to withdraw support for Herzog's presence.

Answer from Tanya Plibersek

The Minister announced the release of a dedicated national plan endorsed by all states and territories, accompanied by an additional $218 million in funding. She cited statistics showing Aboriginal women are seven times more likely to die in domestic homicide and 27 times more likely to require hospital care because of intimate partner violence. She detailed investments in mobile teams, men's centres, legal services, and housing, noting that this funding complements previous commitments of $262 million and $367 million.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that Reserve Bank forecasts indicated inflation would peak around the middle of the year before trailing away. He highlighted government actions to lower inflation, including tax cuts and cost-of-living assistance, which he claimed the opposition opposed. He criticised the opposition's economic record, citing their support for wage stagnation and policies that would increase taxes and debt, specifically blaming the members for Fairfax and Hume for undermining economic credibility.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer outlined reforms including competition policy changes, FIRB reform, payment system reform, and abolishing non-compete clauses. He noted progress in speeding up approvals, pausing the construction code, and releasing a national AI plan. He contrasted this with the opposition's record, claiming they had never delivered a surplus and proposed policies involving higher taxes and nuclear energy that lacked economic credibility. He emphasised that the upcoming budget would focus on inflation, productivity, and global uncertainty.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister stated that the cost of the Capacity Investment Scheme was commercial in confidence, noting that this principle had also been applied by the previous government for similar schemes. He highlighted that the majority of renewable energy investment comes from the private sector. He reported that 7.7 gigawatts of renewable capacity had been added to the grid since May 2022, compared to only one gigawatt under the previous government.

Answer from Amanda Rishworth

The Minister explained that new laws allowed the Fair Work Commission to consider applications for better pay and conditions for platform drivers. She noted that two applications were currently being considered, which could lead to significant pay increases and improved rights for drivers. She contrasted this with the previous government's neglect of digital platform workers for nearly a decade, stating that the opposition had voted against these protections and argued that low pay and poor conditions were acceptable.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister listed government measures to alleviate cost-of-living pressures, including cutting student debt by 20 per cent, protecting penalty rates, increasing social services payments, and expanding the first home buyer deposit plan. He highlighted the opening of 122 urgent care clinics, tripling the bulk-billing incentive, and installing home batteries. He accused the opposition of opposing these measures and lacking positive plans, while focusing on internal divisions.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister detailed the expansion of medical school places, including new schools in Cairns and the Northern Territory, and approvals for 10 other universities. He noted a 50 per cent increase in new medical practitioner registrations compared to pre-pandemic levels. He highlighted that 2,100 junior doctors were starting GP or rural generalist training this year, a record number, with half training outside major cities. He linked these efforts to the broader Strengthening Medicare agenda.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister clarified that the policy was not renewables-only but included gas peaking and firming for the remaining 18 per cent. He stated that the pathway to 82 per cent renewables was informed by the Integrated System Plan and GenCost reports from the CSIRO. He emphasised that investment decisions were primarily made by the private sector and households, noting the significant uptake of rooftop solar and home batteries.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister reported that 346,893 older people had been allocated Support at Home places, and the National Priority System had dropped by almost 30,000 people. Median assessment wait times had decreased by eight days to 24 days. He highlighted $18 billion in pay rises for aged care workers. He contrasted this delivery with the opposition's internal divisions and previous neglect of the sector.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer outlined a three-part plan: helping people with the cost of living primarily through the tax system, getting the budget in better condition, and lifting the speed limit on the economy to grow without adding inflationary pressure. He acknowledged the pressure on households, particularly those with mortgages, and stated that the government was acting on these challenges rather than just acknowledging them.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Minister announced Operation BROADSTAFF to combat illegal fishing in Queensland and the Torres Strait, led by the Australian Border Force. He cited previous successes in Operation LEEDSTRUM and Operation LUNAR, which resulted in hundreds of interceptions and boat destructions. He noted that border protection funding had increased by $600 million and surveillance flights were 26 per cent higher than in 2022-23. He warned illegal fishers that they risked losing their vessels and freedom.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister referred to his previous answer regarding the need to lower the temperature of the debate. He stated that the government should not look for political opportunities in a devastating situation and urged a reduction in rhetoric.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The Minister announced $4.4 billion over five years for the Roads to Recovery program, an increase of $1.8 billion. She highlighted the Growing Regions program delivering $600 million for projects, and increased Black Spot funding to $150 million annually. She noted the launch of a $200 million Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program and restored highway maintenance funding from $350 million to $460 million. She contrasted this with the previous government's freeze on funding.