House of Representatives

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the relevant figures were already published in the federal budget. He clarified that existing negative gearing arrangements for properties acquired before the budget were grandfathered, while new investment properties could still utilise negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. He highlighted that investor borrowing for new dwellings had reached record levels, with 8,468 investors signing up in the June quarter, representing a loan value of $5.99 billion. He noted that developers acknowledged increased demand for new builds due to the tax settings favouring this sector.

Answer from Richard Marles

The Deputy Prime Minister noted the recent 75th anniversary of the treaty and his attendance at commemorations in Washington. He traced the alliance's origins to John Curtin's 1941 statement looking to America for support. He emphasised the shared values and history of fighting side-by-side in major conflicts, including the invocation of the treaty after the September 11 attacks. He concluded that the alliance was in the best of order and remained crucial for regional security.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The Minister confirmed that house prices were softening, noting this was the fourth such occurrence in a decade. She cited the federal budget fact sheet, which stated Treasury modelling predicted a small, temporary slowing in price growth, estimated at around two per cent less over a couple of years compared to no policy change. She argued this would lead to 75,000 more people owning their homes in the coming ten years. She contextualised current trends by noting house prices had grown by 400 per cent over the previous 25 years and almost doubled in Sydney during the previous nine years of Coalition government.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister reported that over five million underage accounts had been deactivated or restricted. She cited a YouGov survey indicating improvements in sleep, sports participation, and reductions in bullying and exposure to violent content among young Australians. She criticised platforms for using tactics to evade age verification and noted the introduction of a bill on 1 July to strengthen eSafety's powers and double penalties for non-compliance. She urged the opposition and Greens to pass the bill, which had been recommended by a Senate inquiry.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that income splitting would cost the budget substantially, citing a Parliamentary Budget Office estimate of over $12 billion over forward estimates and nearly $70 billion over the medium term. He noted that such policies primarily benefit higher-income couples and could reduce incentives for women's workforce participation. He outlined alternative government measures to assist families, including tax cuts, cheaper medicines, minimum wage increases, and boosted paid parental leave. He concluded that the government had chosen a different path for cost-of-living relief.

Answer from Pat Conroy

The Minister highlighted the government's role as a partner of choice in the Pacific, citing the recent Pacific Islands Forum summit in Palau. He detailed the endorsement of the Waqa Moana Initiative, backed by a $600 million investment for aerial surveillance and police training to combat transnational crime. He also mentioned the Pacific Policing Initiative, with 120 officers from 13 nations ready to respond to emergencies. Additionally, he noted support for Pacific athletes ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and the doubling of flights under the Paradise Express program.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Minister argued that reducing excise would not solve the price differential between legal and illicit cigarettes, as the raw cost of illicit tobacco remains significantly lower. He emphasised that the solution lay in law enforcement through the National Disruption Group, involving the AFP, AUSTRAC, and the Criminal Intelligence Commission. He cited recent operations that seized over 107,000 cigarettes and closed 11 stores, as well as Border Force seizures of over 2 billion illegal cigarettes and 268 tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco. He criticised the opposition for not modelling the impact of their policies on nicotine use.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer listed several government initiatives, including raising the super guarantee to 12 per cent, boosting the low-income super tax offset, paying super on paid parental leave, and implementing payday super. He criticised the Coalition and One Nation for opposing compulsory superannuation, claiming they would cut super and reduce economic security for retirees. He also referenced past comments by the Shadow Treasurer acknowledging the need to slow housing price growth to address intergenerational inequity.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister noted that tobacco excise had increased by less than 40 per cent under the current government, compared to over 215 per cent under the previous administration. He highlighted a $350 million increase in enforcement activity and tripling of border interceptions. He pointed to Queensland and South Australia as leaders in enforcement, contrasting them with slower responses in other states. He emphasised that smoking rates were still declining and warned that cutting excise, as proposed by the opposition, would likely increase consumption, particularly among young people.

Answer from Daniel Mulino

The Assistant Treasurer highlighted the implementation of payday super, which ensures workers receive their super with their wages, and the strengthening of the low-income super tax offset for 1.3 million Australians. He warned that proposals to divert compulsory contributions would hurt retirees, citing modelling that a median worker withdrawing three per cent over a three-year period would face a $25,000 shortfall upon retiring. He criticised opposition parties for advocating policies that would reduce retirement security and independence.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the government's priority was addressing illicit tobacco as an enforcement and compliance issue, backed by over $350 million in additional resourcing. He noted that the vast bulk of excise increases had occurred under the previous government and that coalition figures had previously supported higher excise to reduce consumption. He affirmed that the government would rely on expert advice rather than political pressure from One Nation when considering next steps on enforcement and compliance.

Answer from Amanda Rishworth

The Minister highlighted the legislation passed one year prior to protect penalty and overtime rates for over 2.6 million workers. She identified the Coalition and One Nation as the biggest risk to workers' pay packets, citing their historical opposition to penalty rates and minimum wage increases. She noted that if these parties formed government, workers could lose penalty rates and earn thousands of dollars less annually.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated he supported his ministers and real action on climate change, emphasising the need for firming capacity to expand renewables. He highlighted Australia's leadership in renewable projects, such as the solar project in Palau. He argued for energy resilience and reduced reliance on international events, noting investments in renewables, firming capacity, and potential domestic fuel production. He stressed that a strategic plan balancing energy security and emission reductions was necessary to maintain public support.

Answer from Jason Clare

The Minister cited recent allegations of sexual violence and praised a school principal for emphasising respect. He argued that teaching boys to respect girls and understanding consent was about common decency and the law, not 'woke' ideology. He blamed online algorithms and harmful content, rather than schools, for influencing young men negatively. He highlighted the rapid exposure to harmful content on platforms like TikTok and the need for leadership to address these issues.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister outlined three points regarding the proposed changes effective July 2027. First, fees for allied health professionals would increase to improve access, as recommended by the royal commission. Second, the requirement for veterans to return to a GP for a new referral every 12 visits would be replaced by a $5,000 threshold before care review, allowing for more visits. Third, further care would remain available if clinical need exceeded the threshold. He noted the changes would not affect veterans on special rate disability pensions or those with catastrophic injuries.

Answer from Madeleine King

The Minister highlighted the government's focus on building processing capacity and securing supply chains through international partnerships. She cited the US-Australia framework agreement, which supported the Sunrise Energy Metals scandium project in New South Wales, creating 100 construction jobs. She also mentioned the Alcoa gallium recovery project in Western Australia and the Arafura Nolans rare earths project in Alice Springs, supported by multiple international partners. She emphasised Australia's potential to meet global demand for critical minerals while supporting national security and net zero goals.