Senate

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the Treasurer had confirmed on Insiders on Sunday that the government would address the issue through grandfathering arrangements. She noted that multiple tranches of legislation were planned to resolve matters including startup exemptions and testamentary trusts. The minister argued that the opposition no longer opposed the core policy, acknowledging that the previous housing market status quo was unsustainable and disadvantaged first home buyers. She emphasized that the Labor caucus voted proudly for tax cuts for working people and fairer tax arrangements, contrasting this with the opposition's lack of clear direction.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister outlined that from 1 July, every Australian worker would receive an additional tax cut, building on previous cuts opposed by the opposition. She highlighted the ban on excessive grocery pricing, a strengthened ACCC, a 16 per cent litre cut to fuel excise for July, and the permanent extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business. Regarding working families, she noted the extension of paid parental leave to 26 weeks and wage increases of six per cent for the national minimum wage and 4.75 per cent for modern award wages, marking the first time the minimum wage would exceed $1,000 a week. She dismissed concerns about risks, stating that the government was delivering real change despite opposition efforts to block it.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister said property values rose by 400 per cent from 2000 and by 58 per cent from 2020, making ownership hard for many. She pointed out that auction clearance rates fell prior to the budget and that Treasury projections expected prices to keep rising, though roughly two per cent less than they would have without the reforms. She stressed the aim was to create fair conditions for first home buyers. On the five per cent deposit scheme, she quoted data indicating about 260,000 first home buyers had entered the market, claiming the opposition opposed assisting young Australians to own homes.

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister stated that the government supported 'same job, same pay' and that the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 provided standards for seafarer welfare. He noted that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) enforced these standards with a zero-tolerance approach to breaches, including wage issues. However, he clarified that he was not the minister in charge of these specific issues and would convey the question to Minister King for a prompt response. He repeated this position for the supplementary questions, stating he was not familiar with the specific exemption details but would seek a response from Minister King.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister announced $25 billion in additional funding for public hospitals, including $5.1 billion for Tasmania over five years. She stated that all 137 urgent care clinics would become permanent and bulk-bill from 1 July. Regarding medicines, she noted that 10 new listings on the PBS would provide expanded access to cheaper treatments for conditions such as severe asthma, anaphylaxis, type 1 diabetes, and cancers, capping costs at $25. She explained that the government's approach was based on the principle that patients should only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, and contrasted this with the previous government's cuts.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister stated that the government was investing over $3 billion in aged care beds and packages, funded by returning the PHI rebate for older Australians to the same level as others. She argued that the additional rebate was not the best use of taxpayer dollars and that the changes would restore fairness. She noted that people over 65 would still receive up to 24 per cent in government-subsidised discounts on premiums. She stated that the average impact on those 65 and older was less than a dollar a day, or approximately $250 a year, and that the changes were necessary to ensure the aged-care system's long-term viability.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that she did not have detailed information on the specific contract but would provide information on notice if she could obtain it. She clarified that she represented the Minister for Defence but was not the minister herself, and noted that questions had been raised at Senate estimates. She referred the senator to the government's procurement framework and repeated her offer to provide further information on notice.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated that the reforms levelled the playing field by requiring farmers to comply with the same rules as other sectors, including renewables and mining developers. He argued that the previous exemption was removed to ensure consistent standards. He emphasized that the regulations were necessary to protect the Great Barrier Reef, which supported 77,000 jobs and generated $9 billion in economic turnover. He dismissed the claim of double standards, stating that all industries proposing projects with significant environmental impacts were required to undergo federal assessment.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister outlined that from 1 July, the 16 per cent tax rate would reduce to 15 per cent, and the Working Australian Tax Offset of up to $250 would become permanent. She noted the $1,000 instant deduction, a six per cent increase in the national minimum wage, and indexation of social security payments for 2.6 million Australians. She highlighted that paid parental leave would extend to six months with superannuation paid on it, helping families share care and protecting retirement savings. She stated that once fully implemented, the five tax cuts would make the average worker $2,800 better off annually from 2028.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister expressed sadness at the death of an older Australian waiting for care and emphasized the importance of the government's reforms. She stated that the previous government had cut $212 billion from the sector and failed to meet growing needs. Regarding the assessment process, she argued that the old system was inaccurate and produced unfair outcomes. She explained that the current system involved trained human assessors working with older people to understand functional needs, with a second person reviewing the outcome before sign-off. She noted that delegates could send assessments back if errors were identified, countering claims of misinformation about the process.