Senate

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the government replaced the 50 per cent capital gains discount with an inflation-based discount for gains accruing from 1 July 2027. She declined to provide individual tax advice, noting that the budget measures were clear. She argued that the reforms ensure income from assets is taxed analogously to wages and highlighted that investors would benefit from permanent tax cuts, accusing the opposition of voting against lower taxes.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister noted that from 1 July, eligible families would access 26 weeks of leave, receiving nearly $30,000 including superannuation. She stated that parents would be approximately $15,692 better off than under previous arrangements. She highlighted improvements in women's health, including PBS listings for contraceptives and menopause treatments, and the opening of endometriosis clinics. She dismissed criticisms of the scheme as incorrect analysis.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister clarified that the agreement supported banning future borrowing by self-managed superannuation funds for residential property, noting that less than 10 per cent of such funds had these arrangements. She cited the 2014 Murray inquiry and Council of Financial Regulators reports regarding risks to retirement savings. She accused the opposition of defending the status quo and voting against tax cuts.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister condemned the targeting of children and stated Australia would speak at the UN Security Council on the issue. She noted that Australia had sanctioned two senior Israeli ministers for human rights abuses in coordination with partners. She rejected the characterisation of the conflict as genocide and dismissed the suggestion to gift land to Israel as absurd.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated that the Fair Work Commission increased the minimum wage by at least 4.75 per cent from 1 July. He cited analysis showing allied health workers gained between $8,000 and $13,000 annually, with further gains from multi-employer bargaining and gender undervaluation reforms. He contrasted this with One Nation's policies, which he claimed would make workers significantly worse off, and criticised the Liberal Party's alignment with One Nation.

Answer from Malarndirri McCarthy

The minister stated she had contacted the Queensland government and Mount Isa City Council. She noted that Indigenous Business Australia could assist some families, while discussions were ongoing regarding the debt. She confirmed she had known about the matter for a month or more and assured families that the government was working to prevent homelessness.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister clarified that the changes targeted specific borrowing arrangements, citing risks identified by the Murray inquiry and Council of Financial Regulators. She stated that existing arrangements would be protected and that the package included tax cuts for all taxpayers. She accused the opposition of running baseless scare campaigns and voting against tax cuts.

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 Malarndirri McCarthy

The minister highlighted the delivery of 6,000 jobs in remote communities, including in Wujal Wujal. She announced that 120 stores had signed up to the Low-cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme, reducing the cost of 30 essential items to city prices. She criticised the opposition for advocating cuts to Indigenous programs.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister reiterated that the government was replacing the 50 per cent discount with an inflation-based discount from 1 July 2027. She stated that the changes applied across all asset classes to ensure fairness. She accused the opposition of running scare campaigns and voting for higher taxes.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that the Cheaper Home Batteries Program had facilitated 450,000 installations, providing 12 gigawatts of capacity. He noted that 15 new large-scale storage projects were announced, attracting $6 billion in private investment. He argued that renewables secured energy supply against global shocks and criticised the opposition for wrecking electricity investment.