House of Representatives

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the government operates through proper cabinet processes and defended the Treasurer's economic reforms, particularly regarding housing affordability. He criticized the Opposition Leader for attending a far-right gathering and for comments suggesting the Liberal Party was in decline. The Prime Minister cited reports of internal Liberal Party struggles and existential crises, contrasting this with the government's orderly functioning.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister explained that the duty of care principle requires tech companies to take reasonable steps to ensure online safety, similar to obligations in other industries. She cited a letter from a child concerned about the negative impacts of online gaming, including addiction and exposure to harmful content. The Minister emphasized that all sides of parliament needed to work together to implement these safety standards.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister noted that the government had achieved the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years and created 1.3 million jobs. He deflected the personal attack by citing media reports of internal Liberal Party dissatisfaction with the Opposition Leader's performance and the party's direction. He argued that the opposition was too preoccupied with internal struggles to ask serious policy questions.

Answer from Jason Clare

The Minister highlighted the ban on mobile phones in schools and noted that states like Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia were introducing screen-time limits or bans for young students. He referenced international trends in the US regarding screen limits. He also discussed the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill, citing a case of online grooming and blackmail to illustrate the need for stricter regulations on tech companies.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Australia's commitment to a two-state solution and stated that Israeli settlements were illegal under international law. He noted that Australia had imposed targeted sanctions on specific Israeli ministers and extremist settlers. He explained that a blanket import ban was not pursued due to concerns about unintended consequences for Palestinians and the potential setback to peace efforts. He emphasized continued coordination with international partners.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister explained that the legislation equalized private health rebates for those aged 64 and 65, generating $3 billion in savings to fund aged care. He criticized the opposition coalition for opposing the measure despite claiming to support fiscal responsibility. He highlighted the government's record of budget savings and contrasted it with the opposition's unfunded promises.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister defended the reform as sensible, noting it equalized rebates based on income rather than age. He linked the savings to funding aged care reforms recommended by the royal commission. He criticized the opposition for opposing the measure while claiming to support older Australians, and highlighted government investments in public hospitals and bulk-billing incentives.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister reported that aged care spending had risen from $24 billion to $44 billion since 2022, with tripled home-care packages and increased nursing staff. He explained that the reintroduced bill would return private health insurance subsidies to an income-based model, freeing up funds for aged care. He criticized the opposition for labeling these investments as wasteful spending.

Answer from Anne Aly

The Minister clarified that low-risk services, such as standard websites and apps, would have minimal obligations under the duty of care. She explained that the regulations targeted platforms facilitating user interaction or content generation. The eSafety Commissioner would provide further guidance, and the government had consulted with small business organizations during the drafting process.

Answer from Daniel Mulino

The Assistant Treasurer cited a $230 billion improvement in the budget position and reduced gross debt. He highlighted investments in free TAFE and sovereign manufacturing, as well as tax cuts for workers. He criticized the opposition for opposing spending restraint measures, specifically the private health insurance reform, and called for the bill's passage to fund aged care.

Answer from Daniel Mulino

The Assistant Treasurer defended the trust reforms as necessary for tax fairness, noting that trust income disproportionately benefits the wealthiest households. He disputed the high compliance cost estimates, stating that Treasury's rigorous assessments showed lower costs and that many trusts would not need to restructure. He highlighted new restructuring options in the bill to assist businesses.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister praised migration for boosting prosperity, filling labor shortages in health and aged care, and supporting entrepreneurship. He noted that over a third of small-business owners were born overseas. He emphasized social cohesion and loyalty to Australia, arguing against using immigration to stir division.

Answer from Michelle Rowland

The Attorney-General confirmed the government's commitment to ending family violence and strengthening safety. She highlighted recent family law reforms, which involved abolishing the assumption of equal shared parental responsibility. She noted that the Commission's report would inform the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, with specialized legal service pilots already underway.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister detailed investments in home care, including full funding for personal care under the Support at Home program and extending the Commonwealth Home Support Program to 2029. He highlighted wage increases and the deployment of registered nurses in aged care facilities. He criticized the opposition for proposing visa cuts that would shrink the workforce.

Answer from Anne Aly

The Minister explained that her portfolio included International Development, which required international travel on behalf of the country.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Minister highlighted the release of updated Essential Eight cybersecurity advice from the Australian Signals Directorate. He emphasized the importance of addressing human firewalls, legacy technology vulnerabilities, and supply chain risks. He noted the rapid exploitation of vulnerabilities due to artificial intelligence and the need for constant updates.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister cited improvements in employment, participation rates, and the gender pay gap. He highlighted reductions in industrial disputes and inflation, as well as budget surpluses compared to projected deficits. He argued that the government had built a stronger economy through tax cuts, wage growth, and free TAFE.

Answer from Julie Collins

The Minister reported suspected H5 cases on Macquarie Island, with further testing underway. She noted that 706 wildlife events had occurred nationally, with no detections in agriculture or poultry. She highlighted vaccination efforts for priority wildlife species, including little penguins, and thanked the public for reporting sick birds.

Answer from Daniel Mulino

The Assistant Treasurer reiterated that the reforms aimed for fairness and were informed by stakeholder consultation. He explained that the bill included mechanisms for businesses to restructure to corporate entities with rollover relief or use an election method for state tax relief. He argued the package provided flexibility and fairness.

Answer from Catherine King

The Minister highlighted the upcoming opening of the Western Sydney International Airport and the M12 motorway. She listed other projects including the Coffs Harbour bypass, Singleton bypass, Fremantle bridge, Bruce Highway upgrades, and Melbourne Airport Rail. She emphasized job creation and improved travel times.

Answer from Julie Collins

The Minister stated that fire ants were first detected on 23 September, with treatment completed by 28 September. She confirmed that genetic analysis showed the ants were not related to the Queensland infestation and that there was no evidence of spread beyond the site. Further surveillance and baiting were underway.

Answer from Amanda Rishworth

The Minister highlighted government actions such as same job, same pay laws and changes to bargaining laws. She criticized the opposition for endorsing a plan by the HR Nicholls Society that she claimed would cut wages and abolish awards. She contrasted the government's support for wage increases with the opposition's alleged support for wage cuts.