Social Services & Welfare

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript.

• Family Law

  House of Representatives · Thursday 17 September 2026 · Madonna Jarrett ALP

  The member asked how the government was ensuring children received owed support and addressing financial abuse within the child support system.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• United Nations Climate Change Conference

  Senate · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Fatima Payman Australia's Voice

  The senator asked what commitments the government would make at COP31 to connect climate action with women's welfare. In supplementary questions, she asked if the government would commit to a gender-transformative climat...

  Answered by Tim Ayres

• Private Health Insurance

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Monique Ryan Ind

  The member asked if cutting healthcare supports to pensioners was the only place the government could find budget savings, citing PBO analysis that 1.5 million pensioners would lose $1.5 billion in support.

  Answered by Mark Butler

• Aged Care

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Monique Ryan Ind

  The member asked if it would be better to tax oil or gas, cut the diesel fuel rebate, or reconsider AUKUS spending rather than looking for savings in pensioners' pockets.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Public Sector Governance

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 15 September 2026 · Renee Coffey ALP

  The member asked how the government was responding to the Robodebt scheme and how it compared to other approaches.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Private Health Insurance

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 15 September 2026 · Darren Chester Nationals

  The member asked why the government was making life harder for age pensioners by cutting their private health insurance rebate during a cost-of-living crisis.

  Answered by Mark Butler

• Private Health Insurance

  Senate · Monday 14 September 2026 · Anne Ruston Liberal

  The senator asked if it was compassionate to expect pensioners to sacrifice holidays and meals to pay for the policy, given that $1.6 billion of the $3 billion savings came from pensioners. She also asked if the minister...

  Answered by Jenny McAllister

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Thursday 10 September 2026 · David Smith ALP

  The member asked the Minister for Social Services how the government was supporting older Australians in retirement and what impact alternative approaches would have.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 9 September 2026 · Kate Chaney Ind

  The member asked when the government would legislate a framework for automated decision-making that included safeguards, human override, and transparency.

  Answered by Michelle Rowland

• Aged Care

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 18 August 2026 · Allegra Spender Ind

  The member asked if the government would create a compulsory automated-decision-making system with people checking it, as the robodebt royal commission advised, to boost confidence in the aged care assessment tool.

  Answered by Sam Rae

• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

  Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · Penny Allman-Payne Greens

  The member asked what specific actions the department had taken to implement Commonwealth Ombudsman recommendations and prevent further misconduct by private employment services providers. She questioned why the departme...

  Answered by Murray Watt

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Monday 17 August 2026 · David Smith ALP

  The member asked the Minister for Social Services how the government was delivering change through expanded paid parental leave and what risks existed to this progress.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

  House of Representatives · Thursday 13 August 2026 · Louise Miller-Frost ALP

  The member asked how the government was working to reduce such violence and why this issue was important.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Cost of Living

  Senate · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Varun Ghosh ALP

  The member asked why the government prioritised assistance with living expenses for workers and how sound economic management enabled these measures. He sought an explanation of the link between lifting wages and easing ...

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Taxation

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Kevin Hogan Nationals

  The member questioned why the Prime Minister was criticising Australians for employing capital gains tax and negative gearing to improve their financial standing, considering that government members had also utilised the...

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · Kate Thwaites ALP

  The member asked how the government was delivering change through expanded paid parental leave and what risks existed.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Thursday 2 July 2026 · Alison Byrnes ALP

  The member asked how the government is delivering on commitments to strengthen paid parental leave and support families.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Economy, Women's Economic Security

  Senate · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Karen Grogan ALP

  The member asked how the new suite of cost-of-living measures, including income tax cuts and expanded Paid Parental Leave, would support women and their families. She also asked why the government focused on care workers...

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Lisa Chesters ALP

  The member asked how the government was delivering on commitments to strengthen paid parental leave and support families, and what risks existed.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Budget

  Senate · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Anne Ruston Liberal

  The member asked how many pensioners would lose the private health insurance additional rebate under the government's tax changes. She further asked how pensioners on fixed incomes could absorb estimated cost increases o...

  Answered by Jenny McAllister

• Budget

  Senate · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Raff Ciccone ALP

  The member asked how the tax cuts and other cost-of-living help arriving on 1 July were making a difference for working people. He further asked how the expansion of paid parental leave to six months with superannuation ...

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Budget

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Ali France ALP

  The member asked for details on the government's progress in strengthening paid parental leave and supporting women in the workforce, and what risks existed.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Paid Parental Leave

  House of Representatives · Monday 29 June 2026 · Sharon Claydon ALP

  The member asked how the government was strengthening paid parental leave, why it was important, and what risks existed to this commitment.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Women's Economic Security

  Senate · Wednesday 24 June 2026 · Ellie Whiteaker ALP

  The senator asked the minister to outline why the government prioritised investment in women's economic security, particularly paid parental leave. She also asked how broader reforms regarding health, the gender pay gap,...

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 24 June 2026 · Alicia Payne ALP

  The member asked how the government was fulfilling its pledge to enhance paid parental leave and what risks existed.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Cost of Living

  Senate · Monday 22 June 2026 · Larissa Waters Greens

  The member asked whether the government accepted that rising support for One Nation was due to Labor's lack of a serious plan to address the cost of living. She highlighted disparities in wealth and the limited immediate...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 3 June 2026 · Jess Teesdale ALP

  The member asked how the government was strengthening paid parental leave and what risks were involved.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

  House of Representatives · Thursday 28 May 2026 · Alison Byrnes ALP

  The member asked how the government was addressing family, domestic, and sexual violence.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Artificial Intelligence

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 27 May 2026 · Kate Chaney Ind

  The member asked why the government had not implemented the Robodebt Royal Commission recommendation to enact laws providing protections and supervision for automated decision-making in government.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• National Security

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 27 May 2026 · Melissa McIntosh Liberal

  The member asked how many ISIS sympathisers who arrived in Australia had been detained or prosecuted for going into a designated terrorist area.

  Answered by Tony Burke

• Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence

  House of Representatives · Monday 25 May 2026 · Sam Lim ALP

  The member asked the Minister for Social Services how the government was working to reduce family, domestic, and sexual violence.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Pensions and Benefits

  Senate · Wednesday 1 April 2026 · Penny Allman-Payne Greens

  The senator asked whether the government would suspend mutual obligations to relieve the burden on people living on below-poverty-line payments, given the skyrocketing fuel prices.

  Answered by Murray Watt

• Albanese Government: Automated Decision-Making

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 1 April 2026 · Kate Chaney Ind

  The member asked when a compulsory legal system for automated decision-making in government could be expected.

  Answered by Michelle Rowland

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 24 March 2026 · Justine Elliot ALP

  The member asked how the government was strengthening the social security system and delivering relief, and if there were risks.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Workplace Relations

  Senate · Thursday 12 March 2026 · Tony Sheldon ALP

  The member asked how the same-job same-pay laws and other reforms were helping Australians deal with cost-of-living pressures. He sought details on the benefits to workers.

  Answered by Murray Watt

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Thursday 12 March 2026 · Cassandra Fernando ALP

  The member inquired how the government was fulfilling its pledge to enhance paid parental leave and what the risks were.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Paid Parental Leave

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 3 March 2026 · Susan Templeman ALP

  The member asked how the government was delivering on paid parental leave commitments and what risks were involved.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Social Services

  House of Representatives · Thursday 12 February 2026 · Jodie Belyea ALP

  The member asked how the government was supporting families.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Tame, Ms Grace

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 10 February 2026 · Melissa McIntosh Liberal

  The member asked if the Prime Minister would condemn Grace Tame's antisemitic conduct and disassociate himself from her words.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 3 February 2026 · Cassandra Fernando ALP

  The member asked how the government was strengthening paid parental leave and what approaches had been considered.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 25 November 2025 · Louise Miller-Frost ALP

  The member asked what measures the government was implementing to address family, domestic, and sexual violence.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 25 November 2025 · Sussan Ley Liberal

  The member stated that 74 women had lost their lives to violence in the past year and emphasized the need to pause and reflect on each loss.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek (Minister for Social Services)

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Monday 24 November 2025 · Cassandra Fernando ALP

  The member requested details on how the government was delivering on paid parental leave commitments and what other approaches were considered.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme

  Senate · Wednesday 5 November 2025 · Penny Allman-Payne Greens

  The member asked how long it would take for the government to stop chasing old welfare debts and reinstate the six-year limitation on debt recovery as intended by the Royal Commission.

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Freedom of Information

  House of Representatives · Thursday 9 October 2025 · Allegra Spender Ind

  The member asked if the government would work with parties responsible for robodebt to increase secrecy, contrary to the royal commission's recommendations.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Thursday 9 October 2025 · Joanne Ryan ALP

  The member asked how the government is easing cost-of-living pressures for social security recipients and what risks exist from alternative policies.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Freedom of Information

  House of Representatives · Thursday 9 October 2025 · Helen Haines Ind

  The member asked why the government is expanding cabinet secrecy in the FOI bill when the royal commission recommended the opposite.

  Answered by Michelle Rowland

• Telecommunications

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 8 October 2025 · Anne Webster Nationals

  The member asked if the minister took steps to verify that welfare and wellbeing checks were being conducted for affected individuals, such as apologizing to families.

  Answered by Anika Wells

• Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme

  Senate · Thursday 4 September 2025 · Josh Dolega ALP

  The senator asked for an update on the settlement outcome reached with victims of the robodebt scheme and how the government was addressing the legacy of the program.

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Thursday 4 September 2025 · Anne Stanley ALP

  The member asked about the outcome of the robodebt class action and the circumstances leading to it.

  Answered by Michelle Rowland

• Pensions and Benefits

  Senate · Wednesday 3 September 2025 · Tammy Tyrrell Ind

  The member asked what logic justified additional support for parents of triplets but not twins, given that twins also incur higher costs and reduced workforce participation.

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Multiple Birth Allowance

  Senate · Wednesday 27 August 2025 · Tammy Tyrrell Ind

  The senator asked why the government continued to exclude families with twins from the multiple birth allowance, noting that twin births cost five times as much as single births. She also challenged the minister on a pre...

  Answered by Don Farrell

• Cost of Living

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 26 August 2025 · Libby Coker ALP

  The member asked the Minister for Social Services how the government was easing cost-of-living pressures and tackling challenges in the portfolio.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme

  Senate · Monday 25 August 2025 · Penny Allman-Payne Greens

  The senator asked if the government would legislate a six-year limitation on debt recovery to prevent vulnerable people from being pursued for historical debts related to income apportionment.

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Medicare

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 30 July 2025 · Sussan Ley Liberal

  The member asked why the Prime Minister made statements he knew were untrue regarding the cost of seeing a general practitioner, citing data that contradicted his claims of free healthcare.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Medicare

  Senate · Wednesday 30 July 2025 · Anne Ruston Liberal

  The member asked if the Prime Minister stood by his promise that GP visits would be free. She cited Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data showing $166 million in out-of-pocket costs in May 2025 and nearly $2 bi...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• Paid Parental Leave Scheme

  House of Representatives · Thursday 24 July 2025 · Julie-Ann Campbell ALP

  The member asked how the government was delivering on paid parental leave improvements and if these changes were guaranteed.

  Answered by Tanya Plibersek

• Fuel

  House of Representatives · Thursday 27 March 2025 · Pat Conaghan Nationals

  The member asked if the Prime Minister would put politics aside and join the opposition's plan to halve the fuel excise to provide immediate relief to family budgets.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Pensions and Benefits

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 25 March 2025 · Anne Stanley ALP

  The member asked how the government had assisted Australians on income support and what alternative policies could harm them.

  Answered by Amanda Rishworth

• Pensions and Benefits

  Senate · Monday 10 February 2025 · Kerrynne Liddle Liberal

  The member asked if the government had realized the benefits of mandatory income management and whether it should have promised to remove it.

  Answered by Penny Wong

• Answers to Questions

  Senate · Thursday 17 September 2026 · Dean Smith (Western Australia) (Liberal Party) Liberal

  Senators debated the government's recent policy announcements regarding migration controls and healthcare funding. The Opposition criticised the government for losing control of borders and harming veterans and pensioner...

• Child Support and Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Ending Financial Abuse in the Child Support Scheme No. 1) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  House of Representatives · Thursday 17 September 2026 · Tanya Plibersek (Sydney) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The Minister for Social Services introduced the bill to address financial abuse and safety risks within the child support system. The legislation aims to close loopholes that allow parents to harass former partners, hide...

• United Nations Climate Change Conference

  Senate · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Fatima Payman (WA) (Australia's Voice) Australia's Voice

  Senator Payman moved that the Senate take note of the Minister's answer regarding Australia's role as President of Negotiations for COP31. She argued the Minister failed to address how women's welfare would be prioritise...

• Knox Class Action (Facilitation) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  Senate · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Jess Walsh (VIC) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The Senate debated the Knox Class Action (Facilitation) Bill 2026, which facilitates compensation for victims of the former Robodebt scheme. Minister Jess Walsh moved the bill, arguing it ensures victims receive full com...

• Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay) (National Party) Nationals

  The debate centered on the government's proposal to remove the age-based private health insurance rebate loading for Australians aged 65 and over, effective 1 April 2027, to fund aged care reforms. Coalition members Came...

• Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Monique Ryan (Kooyong) (Independent) Ind

  Monique Ryan moved an amendment to exempt age pensioners from reductions in the private health insurance rebate proposed by the bill. Ryan argued that the legislation would disproportionately impact older Australians, re...

• Superannuation, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 15 September 2026 · Jodie Belyea (Dunkley) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  Jodie Belyea opposed the One Nation proposal to allow workers to divert compulsory superannuation contributions into their weekly pay. She argued that this policy would undermine long-term financial security and dispropo...

• Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 15 September 2026 · Monique Ryan (Kooyong) (Independent) Ind

  The debate centred on the government's proposal to remove the age-based private health insurance rebate uplift for Australians aged 65 and over. The Independent member for Kooyong moved an amendment to exempt Age Pension...

• Knox Class Action (Facilitation) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 15 September 2026 · Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay) (Liberal Party) Liberal

  The House of Representatives debated the Knox Class Action (Facilitation) Bill 2026, which exempted robodebt compensation payments from income testing and recovery under social security, veterans' entitlements, and NDIS ...

• Answers to Questions

  Senate · Monday 14 September 2026 · Ross Cadell (NSW) (National Party) Nationals

  Senators debated the government's economic management, focusing on real wage growth, productivity trends, and housing supply. Opposition senators argued that real wages were falling and productivity was declining due to ...

• Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  House of Representatives · Monday 14 September 2026 · Michael McCormack (Riverina) (National Party) Nationals

  The debate focused on the government's proposal to remove the additional private health insurance rebate for Australians aged 65 and over, replacing it with an income-based system. Labor members argued the change promote...

• Knox Class Action (Facilitation) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  House of Representatives · Thursday 10 September 2026 · Tanya Plibersek (Sydney) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The debate concerned the second reading of legislation to facilitate compensation for victims of the former government's robodebt scheme. The Minister for Social Services argued that the bill was necessary to ensure sett...

• Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission Yearly Report to Parliament

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 9 September 2026 · Tanya Plibersek (Sydney) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The Minister for Social Services presented the Commission's yearly report, outlining the government's strategy to make violence rare, brief and non-recurring through systemic reforms and new funding. The Shadow Minister ...

• Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 8 September 2026 · Tanya Plibersek (Sydney) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The Minister for Social Services moved a government amendment to clarify child care subsidy funding agreements. The amendment updated the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 to specify that agreements could be ...

• Automated Decision-Making (Safeguards and Transparency) Bill 2026; Second Reading

  House of Representatives · Monday 7 September 2026 · Kate Chaney (Curtin) (Independent) Ind

  The debate focused on the need for legislative safeguards against the use of automated systems in government decision-making, citing the robodebt scheme as a cautionary example. Kate Chaney introduced the bill to address...

• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

  Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · Penny Allman-Payne (QLD) (Australian Greens) Greens

  Senator Penny Allman-Payne moved a motion to take note of the Minister for the Environment and Water's response regarding welfare payments. She criticised the government for relying on financial penalties and private emp...

• Gas Industry: Taxation

  Senate · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Steph Hodgins-May (VIC) (Australian Greens) Greens

  The Senate debated a motion proposing a 25 per cent levy on gas exports to guarantee a fair return for Australians from resource revenues. Greens and Independent senators argued that multinational corporations were profi...

• Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; Second Reading

  Senate · Thursday 2 July 2026 · Katy Gallagher (ACT) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The debate focused on the introduction of the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026, which aims to simplify regulations, reduce compliance costs, and advance a 'tell-us-once' approach to government services. The sole speak...

• Labor Government

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Tim Wilson (Goldstein) (Liberal Party) Liberal

  The debate centred on the economic impact of the Albanese government's policies, with opposition members arguing that high inflation, rising interest rates, and increased national debt were harming households. Government...

• Women's Economic Security

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Libby Coker (Corangamite) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  Libby Coker addressed the House regarding the Albanese government's commitment to women's economic security. She highlighted upcoming reforms to paid parental leave, including extended duration and superannuation contrib...