House of Representatives

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The Minister stated that legislation passed the previous week delivered tax cuts for 13 million workers and created a level playing field for first home buyers, aiming to help 75,000 renters purchase homes. She noted that Treasury modelling predicted house prices would continue to grow but at a slower rate, approximately two percentage points less than otherwise, a figure supported by the Commonwealth Bank and the Grattan Institute. The Minister emphasized government support for first home buyers through the five per cent deposit program, Help to Buy, and the new tax reforms.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister confirmed that from 1 July, award wage earners would receive a 4.75 per cent increase and minimum wage earners a higher increase, marking the fifth consecutive rise under the government. He stated that tax cuts would be delivered to every taxpayer, paid parental leave would increase to six months with superannuation contributions, and superannuation would be paid on payday. Additionally, urgent care clinics would become a permanent part of Medicare, and 10 more medicines would be listed on the PBS at lower costs. The Prime Minister contrasted these measures with the opposition's past opposition to wage rises and tax cuts.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The Minister directed the member to the budget documents, specifically page 5 of the factsheet on capital gains tax and negative gearing. She quoted Treasury modelling indicating that reforms would increase the owner-occupier share of the market by around 75,000 over the next decade, reversing ten years of decline in home ownership rates. The Minister stated that the reduction in investor demand was expected to cause a small, temporary slowing in house price growth, estimated at around two per cent less over a couple of years compared to no policy change.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that from 1 July, the government would deliver income tax cuts, wage boosts, extended paid parental leave, superannuation paid with wages, extended petrol price relief, and a permanent small business instant asset write-off. He cited specific weekly wage increases for aged care workers: $59 for personal care workers, $86 for registered nurses, and $67 for enrolled nurses. The Treasurer noted that national debt was $200 billion lower than when inherited and that the deficit would be smaller, contrasting this with the opposition's stance against these relief measures.

Answer from Catherine King

The Minister acknowledged the impact of the Great Western Highway closure on businesses and families. She noted that a contractor had been appointed with construction beginning in July to reopen the highway next year, and detailed design work was underway, including the possibility of an extra lane. The Minister stated that once costs were clearer, the NSW government would submit a specific funding request to her department, and she had signaled support for Commonwealth assistance for this significant infrastructure project.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The Minister highlighted that over 2,000 people in the member's electorate had accessed their first home with government assistance. She described the Help to Buy shared equity scheme, the five per cent deposit program, and new legislation to ensure a level playing field at auctions. The Minister stated that these measures would help 75,000 households move from renting to owning. She contrasted this with the opposition's vote against these measures, claiming they opposed expanding the deposit program and scrapping Help to Buy, thereby disadvantaging first home buyers.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the budget changes aimed to make the housing market fairer for first home buyers and young Australians who had been locked out for a quarter of a century. He argued that the opposition sought to preserve the status quo, which he characterized as a policy mistake that distorted the market. The Treasurer emphasized that the government was taking action to address the challenge of housing affordability, contrasting this with the opposition's inaction.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The Minister noted that 60 severe weather events had impacted over 190 local government areas in the last high-risk season. She listed government investments including the establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency, a $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund, a National Emergency Management Stockpile, the AusAlert warning system, and over $100 million in aerial firefighting capability. The Minister criticized the opposition for ignoring warnings and playing politics with recovery support, referencing comments by the Leader of the Opposition regarding firefighters.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that he opposed corruption in any form and that it was up to authorities to take action if evidence of corrupt conduct emerged. He did not provide specific details on the timing or form of assurances sought from the Victorian Premier.

Answer from Amanda Rishworth

The Minister stated that from 1 July, over 14 million Australians would receive tax cuts, and almost three million workers would receive wage increases, including a 4.75 per cent rise for award workers and a six per cent rise for minimum wage earners. She noted that the national minimum wage would be over $12,000 higher per year than when the government took office. The Minister identified the opposition as the biggest risk, citing their past opposition to wage increases and promises of tax hikes.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister did not directly answer the question about Mick Gatto. Instead, he discussed actions taken after the 2022 election, including expelling John Setka from the Labor Party and excluding the CFMEU from affiliation. He contrasted these actions with the former government's handling of union issues.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister stated that since the social media minimum age laws commenced on 10 December, over five million accounts belonging to under-16s had been removed or restricted. She noted that tech companies like Roblox and Apple had introduced improved safety features inspired by Australia's approach. The Minister announced plans to introduce a digital duty of care to prevent harm from AI chatbots, algorithmic recommendations, and other online risks. She urged support for amendments to allow the eSafety Commissioner to hold platforms accountable.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister explained that funding adjustments were due to a transformation in health access, particularly the rollout of 1800MEDICARE, which provides 24/7 nurse advice and free telehealth GP services after 6 pm. He noted that 1800MEDICARE had responded to 700,000 episodes of service since January. While acknowledging that urgent care clinics do not cover every regional community, he stated that the combination of 1800MEDICARE, urgent care clinics, and bulk-billing incentives was delivering a stronger Medicare service. He confirmed that the specific service in question would receive reduced funding for 2026-27 reflecting lower service volumes.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister said the government had put nearly $18 billion into raising pay for aged care staff. From 1 July, registered nurses would get an extra $85 weekly, enrolled nurses $67, and personal care workers $59. She noted that the average registered nurse was already more than $28,000 better off per year under the government. The Minister highlighted that another wage increase for nurses would occur on 1 August, emphasizing that supporting workers was essential for a strong aged care system.

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.

Answer from Jason Clare

The Minister stated that a 15 per cent pay rise for childcare workers had resulted in 20,000 more workers in the sector. He noted that centers receiving funding must cap fees, saving the average family about $1,500 over two years. The Minister highlighted that centers must meet national safety standards to receive funding, including banning personal mobile phones and mandatory safety training, which 99 per cent of workers had completed. He stated that funding had been cut to 115 centers for non-compliance, with seven voluntarily relinquishing licenses.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister stated that the government had funded Cancer Australia to research the causes of the increase in early onset bowel cancer. He noted that the causes were not yet fully understood. The Minister mentioned that the government was working with the college of GPs to provide materials and resources to help doctors recognize symptoms in young patients. He also highlighted the role of campaign groups in raising awareness among young Australians to report symptoms.

Answer from Tanya Plibersek

The Minister stated that from 1 July, paid parental leave would increase to six months with payments of over $1,000 per week. She noted that the government had more than doubled the entitlement to around $30,000. The Minister highlighted that these changes benefited female-dominated industries like aged care, contributing to the lowest gender pay gap in history. She criticized the opposition and One Nation for their inconsistent or negative stances on paid parental leave.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister stated that at the peak of the crisis around 2018, more than 16,000 older Australians died on the waiting list each year. She noted that the number had significantly reduced, with 4,812 Australians dying on the list in the last financial year. The Minister highlighted that wait times had decreased, with standard-priority cases waiting three months less and high-priority cases waiting one to two months. She stated that $47 billion was invested in aged care for the next year, including 32,000 new Support at Home places.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister stated that bulk-billing rates had climbed by more than 10 per cent for non-concession card holders since November. He noted that 137 urgent care clinics had been delivered, with over 3.2 million Australians using them. The clinics were staffed by doctors and nurses, open seven days a week, and fully bulk-billed. The Minister emphasized that these clinics were a permanent feature of Medicare, backed by the trusted Medicare brand.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government was increasing allied health fees and scrapping the treatment cycle that required new referrals every 12 sessions. He explained that the $5,000 allocation replaced this cycle, but any veteran with a clinical need to exceed this amount would be able to access additional services. The Minister noted that the median use was $1,900, and around one in 10 veterans might exceed the cap. He committed to consulting with the veterans community to establish an approval system for additional services.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister stated that the cheaper home battery policy, introduced on 1 July last year, had been adopted by 456,320 households, equating to 13 gigawatt-hours of storage. He noted that this capacity was 100 times that of the Hornsdale battery. The Minister highlighted that over 10 per cent of households in several electorates, including Hume, had installed batteries. He criticized the opposition for opposing cheaper home batteries, EV tax cuts, and the new vehicle efficiency standard, claiming they wanted to keep bills high.