Senate

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister recalled that the promise of cheaper mortgages was linked to the Help to Buy shared-equity scheme, designed to help workers enter the market without mortgage insurance. She stated that 40,000 Australians had saved up to 40 per cent on home costs through this program. The minister argued that the government had acted to level the playing field for first-home buyers, contrasting this with the previous government's failure to address market exclusion. In response to supplementary questions regarding investor lending and negative equity, the minister cited Reserve Bank of Australia comments stating that negative equity was minimal and declining. She defended tax changes as removing unfair subsidies for investors competing with owner-occupiers.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister confirmed that three million workers received pay rises and that all taxpayers benefited from tax cuts totaling approximately $2,800 for the average worker. She noted that new rules banning supermarket price gouging had taken effect with penalties for breaches. The minister highlighted that all 137 Medicare urgent care clinics were now open and permanent, placing four out of five Australians within 20 minutes of a clinic. She also confirmed that paid parental leave had been extended to 26 weeks. In supplementary answers, she stated that over 260,000 Australians had entered homeownership via the five per cent deposit scheme and that $47 billion was invested in the Homes for Australia plan. She attributed delays in further progress to opposition obstruction.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister did not provide a specific death toll, instead stating that no one wished to see older people die waiting for care. She argued that the previous government had cut $212 billion from aged care and that the current government was investing $47 billion in the upcoming financial year. She described the reforms as a long-term project to address generational demand. In supplementary answers, she announced an additional $3.7 billion investment to deliver 5,000 extra aged care beds annually and free personal care services. She asserted that every person assessed as urgent priority received full funding within a month.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated she did not attend the ball and that disclosure rules regarding gifts and hospitality must be complied with by all senators and ministers. She initially confused the topic with energy policy before correcting herself. In supplementary answers, she noted that while the Greens claimed no sponsorship, their party had been sponsored by a professional gambler. She reiterated that disclosure arrangements applied to all parties and that the Midwinter Ball was traditionally a non-partisan event.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister declined to answer, stating the question was better directed to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell.

Answer from Matthew Canavan

The minister stated that the investment was made through Export Finance Australia's commercial account, meaning there was no cost or exposure to Australian taxpayers. He argued that EFA supports infrastructure development in the region that benefits Australia by strengthening partnerships and granting access to new markets. He rejected the characterization of the question as xenophobic and emphasized that EFA helps Australian businesses trade and invest overseas.

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister estimated the agreement would be worth $10 billion in its first year, effectively doubling the number of Australian free trade agreements. He stated that tariffs on seafood, dairy, rice, nuts, honey, olive oil, fruit, and vegetables would be eliminated or reduced. Critical mineral tariffs would be cut to zero. For Western Australia, he highlighted benefits for minerals, wheat, barley, beef, and sheepmeat. For Queensland, he noted tariff eliminations on wheat, copper, seafood, and vegetables. He warned that protectionist arguments posed a risk to these benefits.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister accused the previous energy minister of concealing price rises. He stated that the government had provided three free hours of solar power for 455,000 Australians with home batteries, resulting in zero electricity costs for those households. He argued that these benefits primarily aided people in outer suburbs and regions. In supplementary answers, he claimed that One Nation opposed solar electricity and that the previous government had wrecked the electricity system and fuel refineries, causing energy insecurity.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister stated that the average worker would save up to $2,800 a year through tax cuts, including a $1,000 instant tax deduction and the working Australian tax offset. She noted that three million workers benefited from minimum wage increases. For small businesses, she cited $312 billion in tax support measures and $25 million for the Digital Solutions program, which had assisted over 1,512 thousand small businesses with coaching and workshops. She emphasized that cost-of-living support was the government's top priority.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister argued that the government had inherited challenges and was cleaning up the budget, delivering surpluses, and reducing debt. She claimed the opposition had campaigned for tax increases and higher debt, including funding for nuclear power stations, which would have raised costs. She stated that the Australian people rejected the opposition's plan. She asserted that the government was addressing cost-of-living pressures through tax cuts, energy bill relief, and healthcare investments, while the opposition focused on internal conflicts.

Answer from Murray Watt

The minister stated that millions of workers saw their real wages rise by a minimum of 4.75 per cent. He provided examples: personal care workers gained $59 per week, registered nurses $86, and enrolled nurses $67. He noted that the government had advocated for pay rises for five consecutive years. Regarding enterprise agreements, he cited ABS data showing 3.2 per cent annual private sector wage growth and 4.1 per cent increases in newly approved agreements. He contrasted this with the previous government's suppression of enterprise bargaining.