House of Representatives

Answer from Tony Burke

The minister stated that excessive cuts to immigration would damage the Australian economy by depriving industries of necessary skills. He noted that sectors such as agriculture, construction, and education rely on overseas workers and international students. While acknowledging the need to temper migration to allow housing supply to catch up, he argued that responsible management requires maintaining sufficient workforce levels for key industries.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister reported that Australia had risen to eighth place in global gender equality rankings, up from 43rd. He highlighted the largest-ever women's health package, including a novel treatment for breast cancer added to the PBS at $25 per script instead of $1,370. He noted that one million women had accessed cheaper medicines for endometriosis and contraceptives, saving $150 million. He also cited paid parental leave extensions, wage protections in feminised industries, and free TAFE training for 14 professions.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that net overseas migration had nearly halved from its peak and was falling ahead of schedule. He attributed previous surges in migration to the prior government's tenure, which coincided with falling housing market indicators. He affirmed that current policies were designed to manage migration responsibly in the national economic interest, contrasting this with the opposition's approach.

Answer from Catherine King

The minister reported that the gender pay gap had narrowed from 14.1 per cent to 11.3 per cent, the lowest in history. She noted that women were earning an average of $325 more per week than under the previous government. Key measures included extending paid parental leave to six months with superannuation, lifting wages in aged care and early childhood education, and policies to help lower-income women build retirement savings. She acknowledged ongoing work needed to end violence against women and close the pay gap further.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the government would legislate Australian standards for artificial intelligence to ensure it serves national interests. He confirmed that data centres would need to use renewables or surplus energy without pressuring the grid or raising prices for consumers. He rejected a moratorium on new technology, arguing that Australia must actively shape AI development rather than sit on the sidelines. He noted that legislation would progress through the corporations power and engage with international partners.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister explained that the government secured an expedited PBS listing for triptorelin, an alternative to Zoladex, which was being withdrawn. The new drug will be available from 1 October at a cost of $25 per script, compared to the previous price of $1,350. He highlighted the anxiety caused by the withdrawal of Zoladex and the government's collaboration with health communities to find an equivalent treatment to prevent women from making irreversible surgical decisions.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer defended the productivity assumption of 1.2 per cent, stating it was based on Treasury advice and consistent with international forecasts from the UK, US, and New Zealand. He argued that the previous government had kept assumptions artificially high at 1.5 per cent despite weak growth. He highlighted the budget's broad productivity agenda, including faster approvals and foreign investment reform, as measures to address long-term structural challenges.

Answer from Tanya Plibersek

The minister announced a $183 million package to reform the child support system, including new legislation to fix processes weaponised against former partners. She noted that $2 billion in unpaid child support debt existed, with some parents owing over $150,000. Future measures would include automatic travel bans for those with debts over $10,000 who travel overseas and increased use of employer withholding to ensure payments are made automatically.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that he had visited Whyalla multiple times and was working constructively with the South Australian government and administrators. He attributed the crisis largely to the failure of previous owners, GFG, to invest in the facility. He declined to engage in a comparison of visit frequencies with opposition members.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer highlighted the upcoming Intergenerational Report, which projected an improvement in the cash balance by 1.2 percentage points of GDP and a decline in gross debt from 33.1 per cent to 22.2 per cent of GDP by 2062-63. He noted that all three major ratings agencies still gave Australia a stable AAA credit rating. He attributed these improvements to responsible economic management, debt reduction, and structural reforms.

Answer from Sam Rae

The minister stated that the government had listened to feedback from veterans and ex-service organisations regarding allied health access. Consequently, the threshold for allied health services was not proceeding, but fee increases for practitioners were maintained to ensure service continuity. He highlighted the passage of legislation implementing 40 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Answer from Julie Collins

The minister reported that $2 million had been invested in vaccines, with over 1,800 native birds vaccinated so far. The program aimed to vaccinate nearly 10,000 birds across 162 species, including little penguins and orange-bellied parrots. She confirmed that a sealion in South Australia tested positive for H5, but noted no detections in poultry or agriculture. She urged the public to report sick birds without touching them.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The minister stated that no payments had been made under the Hydrogen Headstart or production tax credit policies because green hydrogen had not yet been produced. He noted that some hydrogen hubs announced by the previous government had not proceeded. He offered to provide further details on specific hub expenditures and affirmed that green hydrogen had a role in future industrial decarbonisation.

Answer from Anika Wells

The minister highlighted $6 million in funding for the eSmart program to teach online safety. She introduced the draft Digital Duty of Care, which requires platforms to satisfy the eSafety Commissioner that their tools are safe. The duty of care aims to protect children, remove illegal content, and give users more choice. She noted that more than half of Australian children had experienced cyberbullying.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that Mr Muldoon's comments were unacceptable and that he was unaware of them until they appeared in the media. He noted that Senator Dowling had taken immediate action regarding Mr Muldoon's role as an Australia Day ambassador since 2014.

Answer from Jason Clare

The minister announced that all schools would be required to begin addressing bullying reports within two school days from the start of the next school year. He highlighted the impact of social media algorithms on mental health and supported the digital duty of care to address online harms. He cited the case of a teenager who took her own life after experiencing bullying and algorithm-driven content.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister confirmed that approval from King Charles III had been received and nominations could now be submitted via the Australian Honours and Awards portal. He also announced $15 million in funding for the Wingham pool, shared with the New South Wales government, following representations from the member for Lyne.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The minister reported $361 million in housing support, $2 billion in the Local Infrastructure Fund, and $750 million for Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs. She highlighted specific projects like the Cannonvale Community Hub and Langhorne Creek Discovery Trail. She contrasted this with the previous government's use of regional grants for urban projects like the North Sydney pool.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister answered no.

Answer from Anne Aly

The minister reported that over 1.4 million new companies had been registered since the government took office, averaging 27,490 per month. She highlighted the permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off, two-year loss carry-back, and $10.2 billion in annual regulatory burden reduction. She identified lack of policy certainty and chaos from the opposition as risks to small business confidence.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the AI Safety Institute had been established less than a year ago and that funding decisions were made through the ERC and budget processes. He emphasized the importance of Australian standards for AI and community engagement regarding data centres. He noted that the institute worked with international partners and the Australian Signals Directorate to manage emerging risks.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister outlined his upcoming trip to the United States for meetings with private sector leaders and the UN General Assembly. He highlighted efforts to build on the social media ban for under-16s and engage on AI governance with the US and China. He also mentioned launching Australia's bid for a UN Security Council seat and discussing climate change and clean energy transitions with Pacific partners.