Senate

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the legislation would help more Australians buy homes and deliver tax cuts to 13 million people. She indicated that the government intended to address the specific issues raised in subsequent legislation. She defended the government's record of cutting taxes for working people five times, noting that the opposition had voted against each instance. She rejected the characterisation of the policy as a 'widow tax' and highlighted government measures benefiting women, such as higher wages in care industries.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister outlined that the reforms would enable 75,000 more Australians to own their first home and cut income taxes for 13 million workers. She noted that the average working Australian would be up to $2,800 better off annually from 2028, including a $250 tax offset and a $1,000 instant deduction. She stated that changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax would fund these relief measures and align the treatment of labour and asset income. She criticised the opposition for voting against these measures.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister asserted that the government was delivering more funding to public schools and hospitals than any previous administration, including 137 urgent care clinics. She stated that the government had provided significant support to states through existing arrangements. Regarding the specific issue of stamp duty impacts on small businesses restructuring, she indicated that transitional issues would be addressed through the budget process and that the government had flagged the capacity for restructuring in budget papers.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated that the project was currently under assessment under the EPBC Act and Western Australian law, with a final decision pending regulatory advice. He noted that it would be inappropriate to comment further before a decision was made. He emphasised that the government assesses projects on their merits and has approved over 140 renewable energy projects. He also mentioned that the government was presenting evidence to the World Heritage Committee to demonstrate the reef is well-managed.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister detailed that the bill included a $250 working Australian tax offset and a $1,000 instant deduction for over 13 million workers. She noted that negative gearing would be restricted to new constructions starting 1 July 2027, and cost-base indexation would be reintroduced for capital gains tax. She stated that the reforms would help 75,000 more people enter the housing market and that Treasury analysis showed more than 90 per cent of Australians would have fared better by age 30 if reforms had been in place since 2000. She also mentioned concessions for small businesses, including raising the threshold to $10 million.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the policy objective was to help 75,000 more Australians become homeowners and level the playing field for first home buyers. She noted that Treasury modelling indicated house prices would continue to grow, albeit 2 per cent lower than otherwise. She argued that the status quo of high prices locking out young Australians was unacceptable. She rejected the notion that the government wanted to harm existing homeowners, emphasising the need for intergenerational fairness.

Answer from Malarndirri McCarthy

The minister confirmed three detections in migratory seabirds, with no evidence of mass wildlife mortality or infection in poultry. She stated that national biosecurity response arrangements were activated, with states leading on-ground responses supported by the Commonwealth. She highlighted a $113 million investment for readiness within more than $2 billion of biosecurity funding. She noted that a whole-of-government taskforce had been established in 2024 and six national simulation exercises had been conducted.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the government would not enter a minority government with the Greens but had to negotiate to pass legislation, including tax cuts for 13 million Australians. She defended the negotiations as necessary to deliver for working people. She criticised One Nation for voting against cost-of-living measures and tax cuts, alleging they worked with the coalition to block Labor's agenda. She quoted One Nation's leader as saying she was not anti-coalition.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister reported 742,000 free TAFE enrolments in three years, with over 58,000 in construction courses. He highlighted the Key Apprenticeship Program, which provided $10,000 incentives for new apprentices in housing construction, resulting in 29,000 starts since July 2025. He noted that care sector courses represented one in four enrolments, with over 60 per cent of enrolments being women. He criticised the opposition for voting against these programs.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the government wanted more housing supply and had invested $47 billion in the Australian Housing Plan. She noted that less than 10 per cent of SMSFs had limited recourse borrowing arrangements for residential property, and these arrangements accounted for less than one per cent of total residential borrowing. She explained that the ban on these arrangements was to protect superannuation savings, not to stop people from purchasing homes. She emphasised that the legislation would help 75,000 more first home buyers.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that the government had delivered the biggest pro-manufacturing package in history, with 712,000 more manufacturing firms since 2020 and a 43 per cent increase in exports. He detailed that the Economic Resilience Program had approved over $220 million in zero-interest loans for more than 240 firms, primarily small and medium businesses in freight and logistics. He highlighted support for specific industries, including smelters and steel production, and criticised the opposition for lacking industrial policy.