House of Representatives

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The minister stated that the government had implemented the largest housing agenda since the postwar period, focusing on building more homes, assisting renters, and promoting homeownership. She claimed supply measures would result in an additional 400,000 homes, including 55,000 social and affordable homes, contrasting this with the previous government's record of building only 373 homes in nine years. The minister highlighted that Commonwealth rent assistance had been raised twice above legislated increases and noted that 270,000 first-home buyers had accessed the five per cent deposit scheme. She argued that recent tax changes would reverse the decline in homeownership rates.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister noted that Australia had banned children under 16 from having social media accounts, resulting in the removal or deactivation of more than five million accounts. He stated that this action had sparked a global movement, with over 20 countries adopting similar measures. He announced the release of draft digital duty of care legislation for consultation, aiming for introduction in October. The legislation included a 'My Feed, My Way' initiative to give users control over algorithms, aiming to empower consumers rather than let technology shape them.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister presented data showing the total value of housing in Australia had increased from $10.1 trillion to $12.7 trillion, a 26 per cent rise. He noted that median house prices had risen in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, and that less than one per cent of mortgage holders were in negative equity. He stated that 8,468 investors had signed up to build new homes in the June quarter, a record high, and that more than 660,000 new homes had been built under the government. He added that construction cost inflation had fallen from 17 per cent to 3.8 per cent.

Answer from Anika Wells

The minister stated that the digital duty of care would set basic safety standards for online tools, similar to standards for cars or food, to address harms from platforms like online games and AI chatbots. She emphasized that the legislation was not about controlling adults but giving them choice, such as opting into algorithmic feeds or chronological ones. She cited support from parents who had lost children to suicide due to online harm, noting that the reforms aimed to hold tech companies accountable for the consequences of their features.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister acknowledged the high bulk-billing rates in Fowler but noted the challenge of training more GPs, stating that 350 additional Commonwealth supported places had been added to medical schools. He explained that current distribution levers prioritized rural and regional areas for overseas doctors, which sometimes disadvantaged outer-suburban areas with low doctor-to-population ratios. He stated that the government was engaging with medical and patient groups to find a more forensic way to address these shortages, though he noted the complexity of balancing rural and metropolitan needs.

Answer from Jason Clare

The minister stated that $20 billion had been invested in public schools over the next decade, tied to reforms such as phonics-based reading instruction. He cited an example from a school in the member's electorate where the percentage of Year 1 students on track with reading rose from 22 per cent to 84 per cent. He mentioned upcoming curriculum changes for primary school maths and discussed the need to balance technology use in classrooms, noting evidence that excessive screen time could lower results. He linked these efforts to the broader digital duty of care reforms to protect children from harmful online content.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister stated that the government would not join the coalition in a price-discounting war with organized crime, arguing that the opposition's policy assumed criminals would not lower prices and failed to consider public health impacts. He cited evidence from Canada where smoking rates among young people increased after tax cuts. He criticized the opposition for not funding enforcement during their time in government and stated that the government's focus was on shutting down illicit stores and taking legal action, rather than lowering taxes.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer outlined policies including five income tax cuts, raising the super guarantee to 12 per cent, and introducing payday super. He criticized the opposition and One Nation for proposing policies that would raid superannuation balances, arguing this would cost workers $3 for every $1 withdrawn and increase taxes. He stated that the government's approach protected retirement savings and supported wages, contrasting it with opposition policies that he claimed would lower wages and increase taxes.

Answer from Daniel Mulino

The minister stated that he had answered previous questions responsibly by not speculating on live incidents. He quoted the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner, who said lowering taxes alone would not resolve the criminal market. He highlighted that the government had invested $365 million in enforcement, resulting in the seizure of 3.4 million illicit cigarettes and targeting over 100 service stations. He argued that the government's approach focused on enforcement rather than tax cuts, which he claimed would not eliminate profit opportunities for criminals.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The minister highlighted the five per cent deposit scheme and housing tax reforms that had supported 270,000 first-home buyers. She criticized opposition and One Nation proposals to allow superannuation withdrawals for housing, arguing these policies would increase costs and lead to more Australians retiring into poverty. She stated that the government's approach protected retirement savings while helping people buy homes, ensuring Australians did not have to choose between current security and future dignity.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister acknowledged that the illicit share of tobacco smoking had grown but disputed the claim that overall smoking rates had increased. He cited the Institute of Health and Welfare, which reported that daily adult smoking rates had declined by about half a million over the last three years. He noted that tobacco excise had increased by 215 per cent under the previous government and less than 40 per cent under the current one. He criticized New South Wales and Victoria for being slow to implement enforcement powers compared to Queensland and South Australia.

Answer from Daniel Mulino

The minister outlined measures including payday super, strengthening the low-income super tax offset for 1.3 million Australians, and improving consumer protections. He criticized opposition and One Nation policies for raiding super balances, citing modelling that showed a median wage worker would be $25,000 poorer under One Nation's proposal. He argued that the government's approach protected retirement savings and supported workers, contrasting it with opposition policies that he claimed would reduce retirement incomes.

Answer from Michelle Rowland

The minister explained that the recommendations were being considered through the Standing Council of Attorneys-General as part of a coordinated national response. She highlighted that $21.4 million had been provided for specialized trauma-informed legal services pilots. She stated that the government was developing the second action plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, following extensive consultation with stakeholders. She affirmed the government's commitment to addressing sexual violence through sustained action across prevention, intervention, and justice responses.

Answer from Julie Collins

The minister reported 498 bird flu events across the country and over 39,000 calls to the national hotline, but stated there was no evidence of H5 bird flu in poultry or agriculture systems. She announced an investment of over $270 million to safeguard against H5 bird flu, including vaccine rollouts for priority bird species. She noted that over 1,500 little penguins in Victoria had been vaccinated, describing it as the world's largest vaccination program for wild birds. She emphasized that biosecurity remained the strongest defense and thanked Australians for reporting sick or dead birds.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the government had increased expenditure on Veterans' Affairs and raised fees for allied health professionals to improve access, as recommended by the royal commission. He explained that the new $5,000 review threshold replaced the previous limit of 12 visits, allowing for more care before a review was required. He clarified that the changes would not affect veterans on special rate disability pensions or those with catastrophic injuries. He noted that the changes took effect on 27 July and that consultation was ongoing.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister said that female patients used roughly 60 per cent of healthcare services and pointed to new PBS listings for birth control, menopause care, and endometriosis drugs. He noted that over 400,000 women had obtained lower-cost prescriptions for contraception and more than 500,000 had gained access to budget-friendly menopause care. He referred to the rollout of bulk-billed IUDs and contraceptive implants, as well as an extended menopause health assessment used by 140,000 women. He confirmed that all 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics were open, claiming these measures corrected years of oversight.