I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring:

(1) on Tuesday, 23 June 2026:

(a) immediately following the discussion of a matter of public importance, the order of the day for the resumption of the debate on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 being called on, and:

(i) at 5 pm, or if the debate concludes earlier, questions being put immediately on any second reading amendments and on the second reading of the bill;

(ii) if a detail stage is required, any amendments circulated being treated as if they had been moved [together] by the Member proposing them with:

(A) one question to be put immediately on any government amendments;

(B) one question to be put immediately on any opposition amendments; and

(C) separate questions to be put immediately on any sets of amendments circulated by crossbench Members; and

(iii) the questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of the bill being put immediately;

(b) at 5 pm, or immediately following proceedings on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 if concluded between 5 pm and 5.30 pm, the Speaker proposing—That the House do now adjourn—and debate on the question continuing until 5.30 pm, at which time the House standing adjourned until 9 am on Wednesday, 24 June 2026;

(c) if proceedings on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 conclude after 5.30 pm, once concluded, the House immediately standing adjourned until 9 am on Wednesday, 24 June 2026;

(d) any divisions called for during debate on the adjournment question being deferred until the first opportunity the next sitting day; and

(e) the Federation Chamber standing automatically adjourned at no later than 5 pm;

(2) on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, if not completed earlier, immediately following the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance, debate on the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026 being resumed, and:

(a) at 5.30 pm, or if the debate concludes earlier, the questions being put immediately on any second reading amendments and on the second reading of the bill;

(b) if a detail stage is required, any amendments circulated being treated as if they had been moved [together] by the Member proposing them with:

(i) one question to be put on any government amendments;

(ii) one question to be put on any opposition amendments; and

(iii) separate questions to be put on any sets of amendments circulated by crossbench Members;

(c) debate on any amendments provided for under paragraph (2)(b) being limited to up to five minutes for the mover and up to five minutes for a minister speaking in reply;

(d) the questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of the bill being put immediately; and

(e) deferral of divisions not applying during proceedings on this bill;

(3) during consideration of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 and the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026, motions other than amendments to the motions for the second reading, or detail amendments, to either bill, not being permitted except for motions moved by a Minister; and

(4) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.

I expect there will be some parts of this that are supported unanimously, including for us to be able to get to the War Memorial this evening. I know we'll come to a vote fairly shortly, I suspect, because there are some parts of it that won't have the unanimous support of the House. But I want to make clear from the outset it's understood that everybody would be supportive of the early finish for the War Memorial. I just think it's important to say that.

I'll explain what this resolution means for the rest of the week, because it has a number of changes in how the House will operate. First of all, we're in an unusual situation for the budget sittings. Normally, when the budget sittings finish, we are still in the current financial year. Whereas this time, in terms of the Senate, getting some legislation that has to get through this financial year creates a different circumstance. So, for the order of debate, this resolution means that the excise bill would go through all of its stages today. If there are divisions, and I presume there will, at least, be a second reading amendment, they will commence at 5 pm and then go through all stages. If we finish before 5.30, then we would still have the ordinary adjournment debate speeches until 5.30, and, at the moment we get to 530, the House would adjourn. So the usual practice of being able to get through six adjournment speeches I think certainly won't happen, but there may well be time for a couple. But at 5.30 the House will conclude today.

Tomorrow, we will be dealing with the workplace relations bill. That will be debated until 1.30 and interrupted for 90-second statements, question time and the MPI, as usual. Following the MPI, debate on that bill will recommence, and at 5.30 we would go through a period of votes. I suspect there will be amendments in detail on that bill. For each of those, where there's an amendment in detail, the mover would have five minutes and the minister would have five minutes to respond. I suspect we will still get through all of that before 6.30, but if we don't, it is possible that we would continue having divisions beyond 6.30. They would not be postponed—divisions under this motion. We'd continue doing that until we finish with the bill. But then, once we've finished with the bill, the normal rules would apply in terms of no further divisions or quorum calls taking place.

The final thing, I can just advise members—this is not part of what's in front of us, but is for people planning their diaries—it is likely that the House will remain here on Thursday while we are waiting for messages from the Senate. For people who would normally be keen to get flights, particularly those who have significant distances to travel, I'd rather let them know now the likelihood that we are here beyond 5 pm on Thursday is high while we wait for messages from the Senate.

I thank the Leader of the House for acknowledging that there are parts of this that we all agree with—in particular, that we leave so that those who want to can go to the War Memorial. I appreciate the fact that he's acknowledged that because it is critically important in this place that things like bipartisanship continue when it comes to things like the War Memorial, our veterans, defence et cetera. I greatly appreciate that. That spirit is highly acknowledged.

The leader also spoke about what some of these other motions are about. What they do is bundle the uncontroversial fuel excise bill into the same motion as the controversial IR bill. The issue is that the government is hoping that no-one will notice. We just think that, once again, this is completely the wrong way to do things. I say this because this is what the Prime Minister said as opposition leader:

And I think really, people are sick of a government that has 'wedge-islation', as I call it, looking to wedge the opposition rather than legislation. I've been constructive as Opposition Leader.

He also said:

He doesn't have legislation. He has wedge-islation.

They sit around the Cabinet, they don't think about the national interest. They think about how can we wedge Labor on this issue? How can we wedge Labor—

everything this guy does. And then, in his first press conference as Prime Minister, he said:

I look forward to leading a Government that makes Australians proud. A Government that doesn't seek to divide, that doesn't seek to have wedges, but seeks to bring people together for our common interest and our common purpose. I think that is one of the messages that came through on Saturday. People do have conflict fatigue.

Given those words by the Prime Minister himself, I move an amendment to the suspension motion moved by the Leader of the House:

That paragraphs (2) and (4) be omitted.

We do this because I think the Australian people are deeply concerned about what is happening at the moment with this government. The government has made very strong commitments before an election and then seems to be doing the complete opposite after the election. I think there is a growing cynicism within the Australian people because of this. They want to see us saying what we mean and then doing what we mean. This is just another unnecessary example of this.

The government knows, when it comes to the fuel excise, that it has our support. It was our idea, so you have our support. That's clear. So why wouldn't we just deal with that and then deal with the controversial IR bills? It's even worse than that because the IR bills come in two parts. We are, on the whole, supportive of one of those parts, but we're not supportive of the other one. So why would you bundle it all together like this, unless you just want to be completely and utterly cynical and literally just say to the Australian people, 'We're happy to say one thing before an election and happy to do the complete opposite after the election'? That is why we are moving the amendments to this. I thank all the Labor MPs who have sat there and listened. I'm hoping that, given what I've been able to say to you, you will now see the light, understand how important it is and all come and vote with us.

Is the amendment seconded?

I second the amendment that paragraphs (2) and (4) of the motion moved by the Leader of the House be omitted. As the Manager of Opposition business just said—

I move:

That the question be now put.

The question is that the question be now put.

The question before House is that motion moved by the Leader of the House be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

What do you say of a government that constantly gets wagged by the tail of others? We have a situation where, in the Senate, this government is being wagged by the tail of the Greens, and, when it comes to providing fuel excise, this government has wagged been by the tail of the coalition. Before this government put forward excise relief, the coalition had been calling for it for many weeks. We understood that Australians were doing it tough, that prices were rising at the bowser and, of course, because of global conflicts and conflicts in the Middle East, that there were going to be supply constraints. So what did the coalition do? It rationally looked at the challenges and said to the Australian people, 'We need to make sure that these price rises aren't being needlessly passed on to you when we're already living through the greatest cost-of-living crisis in recent years.'

The response from the government was to dismiss and say it wasn't necessary and for the Treasurer, in his usual dismissive and mocking way, to attack anybody who put a proposition forward. But eventually they buckled. As another example of this government buckling and being humiliated again, eventually they accepted that perhaps Australians needed excise relief. The difference was, when we put forward a proposal to relieve Australian households of the pressures of excise when the prices of petrol and diesel were going up, we offered inflation offsets. We understood that, if you just increase access and reduce excise, it has is an inflationary effect on Australian households where the government seemingly gives with one hand but, later down the track, takes with the other.

This is the entire economic model of the Albanese government. They offer an incentive on one hand, and, through the political process, argue that they're somehow giving this great relief to Australians, but they're using it by enabling a pathway to spend, which stokes inflation. They then come along and tax inflation, and then, of course, they spend the inflation again in a vicious cycle of slowly taking the wealth and standards of living of Australians. We offered inflation offsets to say: 'There is a limit. We have to make sure that Australian households are protected from the consequences of these international events.' But the Albanese government in their usual—I don't know what you'd say—arrogant, dismissive, uneconomic and ignorant way decided they would continue on with the fuel excise relief without paying any heed or attention to standard economics or understanding the consequences of what they're doing.

Of course, we've seen this now in many different ways. It's not just in the fuel excise relief. We've seen it in their federal budget, where they have directly assaulted the livelihoods of Australians. They've directly assaulted the investment strategies that young Australians and older Australians—that every Australian seeks to employ. They've attacked and assaulted those employee share ownership schemes, directly assaulted those who build businesses, directly assaulted those who have startups and directly assaulted those who own investment property. The list keeps going and going about the number of people they've directly assaulted. They don't understand economics, but they also don't understand the consequences of their policy and how it flows through to the Australian people.

So here we are now, and we're a few months into the crisis in Iran. In light of that, the government—in addition to the first three months of fuel excise relief—is now offering a further month, but they still have not offered a single inflation offset as a trade-off to make sure that they protect the financial best interests of Australians from the decisions that they've made. We made recommendations, around $2.9 billion, and now they're offering further fuel excise relief in the vicinity of $400 million. We know the trade off from this downstream is going to be more stoking of the inflation pressure and more debt petrol on the inflation fire.

We don't even understand why it's necessary. When you come into this parliament, we hear so often from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy that there's more fuel in Australia now than there was at the start of the crisis. Remember that, Member for Gippsland? So many times he has come into this chamber and said, 'There's more fuel in Australia now than at the start of the crisis.' There's so much fuel that he could reenact that scene in Zoolander where they pull out the petrol bowser and spray it upon themselves. That's how much fuel there is in this country. And yet that's not what Australians are living. Despite there being more fuel in Australia right now and despite there being cheaper prices at distribution in Singapore, it's not flowing through to the bowser in Australia. Despite the fact there's more fuel in Australia right now, we're still having to offer tax relief to address the consequences of a shortage of fuel. I don't know about you, but that doesn't make any sense to me. But this is the consequence of how the Albanese government has approached this crisis and the consequences of its decision-making.

We absolutely believe that Australians should be able to go about their lives and be able to afford fuel to engage in the normal activities of life—such as drop families off at Saturday sport. But it's not just impacting families; it's also impacting small businesses. Let's not forget, Speaker, that we currently have record small-business insolvencies in Australia under this government, and I see you nodding your head. It's very disappointing.

I invite the member to not make me a part of the debate.

Speaker, I'm not seeking to make you a part of the debate. I just acknowledged the facial expression—

Well, you did.

My apologies.

Leave me out of the debate, and the House can continue.

I note then that Labor members are not shaking their heads at the idea that we have record small-business insolvencies. Apparently it does not concern Labor members that they have overseen the greatest collapse of small business in this country. The cost of the small-business crisis that is occurring right now is an absolute tragedy. Every time a small business closes, what goes with it are standards of living. What goes with it are livelihoods. What goes with it is aspiration. What goes with it is the contribution it makes to the community, including providing the first employment opportunity for somebody to get their foot on the ladder of economic opportunity. But, clearly, this is not a cause of distress for the Labor members in this chamber.

When you increase the price of fuel, it goes through and flows into the consequences of small-business costs. When you increase small-business costs, it has an impact on the household. What a surprise that we have record low small-business confidence! We have record low consumer confidence, and that might be part of the reason why we have record small-business insolvencies, directly off the back of the ruinous economic policies of the Albanese government, only exacerbated by, or compounded by, international events.

There's a point when we need change, and I can tell you we need change right now. Small businesses in this country have never done it so tough as under the Albanese government. They are living the consequences of record low consumer confidence. Small businesses in Australia have never done it so tough in this country as they are right now. They are living with record low small-business confidence and record low consumer confidence, which is at an all-time low. And, of course, there are record small-business insolvencies.

If we want to give Australians hope in communities and those who are backing themselves and applying effort to back themselves, we need to be backing small business. Instead, we've got the complete opposite. We've got an economic model from the Albanese government that is constantly focused on how it undercuts and undermines small business. We've got an economic model from the Albanese government that has one mad proposition: to constantly stoke inflation, then tax the inflation and then spend the inflation in a vicious cycle. It continues go round and round as the government takes more control over Australians' incomes.

We know the direct consequence. As inflation continues to go up, it's being stripped out from wages. Every time wages go up to adjust, what's happening is people are paying more tax and are moving higher up the tax bracket. That's why the coalition have our tax back guarantee—because our tax back guarantee is focused on how we return that overtaxation back into the hip pockets of Australians so they can control their own lives and make decisions about their own destiny. That's important because it directly contributes to consumer confidence.

We've got an economic environment where small businesses are living with the worst economic environment and the highest record level of insolvencies. We have record low small-business confidence, we have record low consumer confidence and, of course, we have record small-business insolvencies. This is sapping the aspiration and the economic opportunity that exists at the heart of communities.

We want small business to have confidence, to be able to build, to grow, to invest and to employ so they have a pathway to realise their dreams and their success. We should want a society that's built off the aspiration of Australians who apply their energy to back themselves. What we don't want is an economy that's built on the idea of dependence or control from Canberra. It should start with community, and we should want small business to succeed in a way that they never have before—not do as the current government wants, which is to put a limitation or a cap on their ambition or their success. We also want to make sure that Australians have a pathway to keep more of their own hard earned money in their own hip pocket. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026, which focuses on fuel excise, is about how there's short-term relief to address one limiting factor on the amount of money that goes into people's household bills.

We want an Australia where Australians have control of their own financial future. We want an Australia where Australians pay their fair share of tax but it's also assumed that the first place that their money should be is in their own pocket. We believe in an Australia where we defer to individuals, families and communities being better deciders of how they spend their money than the government. We believe in an Australia where small business succeeds and is in control of their own destiny to grow, contribute and employ. That's why we believe in making sure we limit the amount the government spends. But, more importantly, we believe in how much people can keep in their own hip pocket to decide their own destiny, to invest in their communities, to back small businesses and to grow the state of the overall economy.

That's what's so tragic about what the Albanese government is currently doing in its approach in the economy and in this budget. At every point, this government has turned around to young Australians; to those who are aspiring to get ahead; to those who are working hard, saving and sacrificing; or to those that are seeking to retire with security and directly assaulting their financial sustainability and their fiscal confidence to be able to control their own lives. This government is trying to kneecap Australians from getting ahead, because it has the arrogance to think that it understands better how to control people's lives and to decide their destiny. This government has the arrogance of believing that, if it controls people's money and more money is hoovered out of the back pockets of Australians up into the Treasury in Canberra, better decisions will be made for all of us.

The government has no confidence and no belief in Australians and what they seek to achieve. The Albanese government doesn't believe in Australians or them being able to realise their ambitions or their dreams. The Albanese government doesn't believe that the best interests of Australians are realised by them being able to determine their own destiny. The Albanese government believes in one thing: themselves, their sense of control and dictating the terms about how Australians can get ahead, because they believe they better understand how to live people's lives than Australians do on their own.

The Albanese government believes that control is central to their political objectives. At every stage of their lives, they want to control what people learn so they can understand how they think. The Albanese government wants to dictate how people work and be able to do it under the terms in which they set and under the unions that control them. They want people to only be able to save on the terms or invest on the terms that suit them. Whether or not they've done any work to achieve it, the Albanese government wants to take half of it. They want to make sure that, when Australians have a choice, they want to compel as much money as possible into the industry super funds to be able to dictate how their money is invested on their behalf and control them so that they can lever control over the financial system and Australia's economy, even when they're thrown out of government by the Australian people.

The Albanese government is the most immoral government in Australian history. It is the one that has sown the most social division and fed the worst cost-of-living crisis in our country. The Albanese government has done the most to kneecap Australians, their ambition, their dreams and their sense of aspiration. The Albanese government continues to corrode the very foundations of our country and its strength. There's a time when immoral governments need to be removed. Keir Starmer is experiencing this in the United Kingdom right now. The Albanese government should not be far behind—because it is led by a man, by ministers and by a backbench who simply have lost their moral compass and understanding of how Australians can live out their best lives. They believe deep down that they can decide how Australians can live their lives only on the Albanese government's terms.

While we're passing this legislation through the parliament to enable Australians to be able to get some relief at the petrol bowser—and, if they're involved in shipping or freight, to be able to remove some of the cost pressures—this bill doesn't relieve the much bigger problem that sits at the heart of the Albanese government. At the heart of this Albanese government is a direct assault on the aspiration and dreams of Australians, particularly those who want to back themselves to get ahead, to build a small business and to be part of building their Australian dream.

My hope, of course, is that one day the Albanese government wake up. They wake up and realise the consequences of what they're doing in their budget are directly assaulting the foundations and the economic foundations of this country. My hope is that one day the Albanese government stops taking the terms being dictated by the Greens and now their assault on retirees. My hope is that one day the Albanese government wakes up and realises that there's a serious consequence to continuing to drive the country downward, where we seem to have a Treasurer whose primary objective in policy is to run the economy down, to crash the economy because it gives the Labor government the best pathway to build the case to take control of Australians' lives. My hope is that the Australian people understand and are watching and witnessing exactly how bad this Albanese government is operating and that they're thrown out at the next federal election. And I will point out that increasingly that looks like precisely what's going to happen.

My hope is that one day we have a government that's built on building out and backing Australians to get ahead, where, for those who apply themselves and put in their effort and hard work, we have their government cheering them on, not what they currently have in a government that's focused on how to kneecap them from their success. My hope is that we'll have an Australia that's filled with aspiration and ambition not just for who we can be individually but for who families can be and, more importantly, for where communities and small business can be. My hope is that we're able to build out a better nation for every Australian—one where we have a government that cheers Australians on to their full success. That isn't going to happen under this government, but change is on the way. Hope is on the way, and, believe me, Australia can be a better country, but it's only going to come with the end of the immoral Albanese government and its direct assault on Australians and their capacity to live out their ambition and their dreams.

And so, while we pass this bill today on the important issue of excise, let us never forget what the objective of this bill should actually be about. It should be about providing a pathway for Australians of all stripes to be able to get ahead. Instead, this is the consequence of living with the impact of the active inflationary agenda of the Albanese government, which they're now trying to provide short-term relief for. They're going to give with one hand and then take with another, whether it's families, small businesses or communities, because we are living with the ruinous consequences of a terrible Albanese government.

That was quite the ideological rant from the shadow treasurer. To remind people in the gallery what bill is actually before the House, in case you were wondering after that: this is about whether or not we lower the fuel excise. Given the war in the Middle East and the constraints in global supply and despite the fact that Australia has done incredibly well in being able to secure fuel supply, we're not immune to the fact that there is a global supply shortage that is, unfortunately, increasing prices. We're really conscious that that is having an impact. We had hoped the war in the Middle East would be all over. We all had hoped that that would be the case, but this would provide quite a shock for many people who rely on the cut that we have made to the fuel excise.

The other thing is that, in my portfolio of transport, there is a co-linking—a road user charge—that the trucking industry pays for. It pays for the money that goes into our roads. But, because the trucking industry is so directly impacted by the price of fuel at the moment, we want to keep some relief going for the trucking industry as well. That's actually what this bill is about, if you were wondering about the debate here.

Since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East, Australians have been faced, as we know, with rising fuel costs. I want to take this opportunity, frankly, to commend and thank the Australian driving public for their response to the domestic impacts of this global conflict. You have been absolutely magnificent. It hasn't been easy. We know that, at the start of the crisis, people were pretty worried about there being a shortage, and we saw that as people tried to stockpile, but they have responded incredibly well. They have really thought about what's happening with fuel usage. They have really thought about the trips that they're taking. They really wanted to make sure that the fuel supply was going to where it was absolutely needed, that our farmers could continue to have diesel and that essential services workers could continue to have access.

I want to thank the Australian public for the great work that they've done. This is really about all of us, as a country, being in something together. It is not a crisis of the making of any of us, but we've had to deal with it, and deal with it as best we can, so I really want to thank the Australian public for that. Many of you have taken the voluntary actions this government has suggested to free up more fuel supply so that we can get it to the people who need it the most, like our farmers, our truck drivers and our emergency services workers.

In parallel, our government's been working hard to shore up the fuel supply and provide cost-of-living relief to drivers and transport operators who are feeling the pressure of high fuel prices. As at 16 June, our emergency reserves include 44 days worth of petrol, 32 days worth of jet fuel and 39 days worth of diesel, and that's been a combined effort by industry, the international community and the government, working together. We're also continuing to work with our international partners to secure those additional supplies through agreements with countries like Japan, Brunei, Malaysia and Korea. Because of that work, there's more fuel in the country now than there was when this crisis started in February. Keeping that is important work that the government has done, but we're not immune to what is happening globally. We have seen fuel prices come down from their peaks in April. In most capital cities, the petrol price is around 90c per litre lower and the diesel price is around $1 per litre lower, but we know, particularly those of us who live in regional communities, that it is still creating some difficulty for people.

We welcome the agreement between the United States and Iran to de-escalate the conflict. We are desperate for that to hold—I know the whole world is desperate for that to hold. While we're hopeful, obviously we know that it is going to take quite a while for this to bear down and for global fuel movements to recover. That's why it is critical that this legislation pass urgently. It will provide that continued certainty and support for those who need it. Extending the fuel excise by another month will make petrol and diesel around 16c per litre cheaper than normal July prices and will save Australians around $11 per tank.

In addition to this support, as I said, we're also reducing the heavy vehicle road user charge by 16c for the same period, providing continued relief to our transport operators. This is more temporary help, following the three-month reduction of the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero and the deferment of the next scheduled increase by six months.

We know that we are, hopefully, on the road to a pathway out of this, but time is still needed to allow that to occur. That's why the government's taking a measured and staged approach to returning the fuel excise and the heavy vehicle road user charge to their regular settings. Our approach has been welcomed by industry, including the Australian Trucking Association, and I again acknowledge their real advocacy and their capacity to work with the government on this issue; the Australian Automobile Association, representing, of course, all of the motoring groups and the travelling public; and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Andrew McKellar has said:

Extending this support provides some welcome short-term certainty for freight operators and the many small and medium businesses that depend on them.

It's important that we as a government remain responsive to the ongoing impact of this crisis. The legislation is the next step in doing so, and I very much commend this bill to the House. I look forward to its passage here.

The minister who's walking out now was absolutely right: this bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026, is about the extended reduction of the fuel excise. But it also goes to a few other points as well, and I hope to clarify my view in relation to those points.

It goes to responsible government. The bill supports a 16c reduction per litre, and this follows, obviously, the situation that we've had with conflict in the Middle East. When that conflict began, the coalition called out quite loudly for some time, asking for the government to reduce, to halve, the fuel excise. Eventually, the government came to the table on that, and we supported that measure. What we're seeing now and being asked to vote on is for a continuation of that extension. However, instead of it being halved, it will be further halved to 16c. So it's a 16c reduction, as opposed to the 32c reduction it was before.

That's going to provide a little bit of relief to Australians, and Australians are doing it tough at the moment. On the Gold Coast, which is the area that I represent, we saw fuel rise quite significantly at the beginning of the Middle East conflict. While this will result in a slight increase, based on what we've seen over the last couple of weeks, it is no doubt a form of cost-of-living relief that Australians truly need at this time.

The coalition is going to support this bill. We are going to vote in favour of the bill. But let's be clear, the coalition voting in favour of the legislation is neither an endorsement of Labor's economic management nor an endorsement of Labor's broader economic plan, or lack thereof, because what we've seen from the Middle East conflict is that it's actually exposed Labor's incompetence. While the government may try to hide behind the conflict in the Middle East as a shield for its own poor economic management, when we actually unpack the facts, what do we see? We see a situation where 13 out of the 15 interest rate rises that have occurred were before the conflict. So it's disingenuous for the Treasurer to come into this place and make comments insinuating that the reason Australia is in a difficult economic situation and that Australians are hurting and suffering under a cost-of-living crisis is solely to do with what is happening in the Middle East.

We also see a situation where government expenditure has been totally out of control. In fact, we've seen government expenditure outpacing economic growth in Australia at a rate of four to one. It is the highest level of government spending in around 40 years, outside a recession. Australians are happy to pay taxes if they can see their tax money being well spent. At the moment, most Australians that I speak to and I think most Australians listening would agree with me when I say that they have very little confidence in the way this government is using their taxpayer dollars.

It goes to leadership. The government can come in here and say, 'We're going to provide cost-of-living relief to the Australian people in the form of a continued cut to the fuel excise,' but the coalition has asked for the government's plan to pay for that. We've asked for inflationary offsets, and that's really important, because it's not a small cost. The previous legislation for a cut to the fuel excise cost us $2.9 billion, and this one's going to cost the taxpayers around $400 million. So it's a substantial cost, but not $1 of that cost has been offset. No member of the government has come in here and said how they're going to pay for it. No-one's come and given us an alternative plan. I say that as a member of the coalition but one who happens to be the youngest member of the coalition. Because, at the end of the day, it is our future generations who are going to have to pay for every measure that this government implements. Whilst we do support the legislation and the intention of the legislation, all we're doing is putting a bandaid on a wound that we're not focused on healing, because Australians down the track are going to have to deal with this in addition to all the other forms of expenditure that this government has overseen.

I do remind the chamber that when the coalition was in government, we offset spending against savings, and the consequence of not doing that means, as I said, that the next generation is going to be worse off. There's nothing in this that is going to meaningfully attack and address inflation. We've seen this government be in power for the last 4½ years, and there is still no credible plan for how they're going to address inflation in a way that is meaningful and that is effective.

The other part of this legislation goes to the heavy vehicle road user charge, which ultimately goes to transport in this country—our ability to get things around—and to small businesses. The coalition has always stood with small businesses, but they need more support than what we're seeing now. Despite the rhetoric that has come through over the last couple of weeks, especially following the budget, small businesses are really struggling. They're not feeling that government is helping them or even understanding what their issues are.

I think that goes to the ideological difference between those on this side of the chamber and those in government—those on this side of the chamber have experiences directly and firsthand with small business—and it goes to our values. I joined the Liberal Party because I believed in the value of personal responsibility—if you drop something you pick it up, and if you want something you work for it. But it also means you live within your means. I think those opposite and those in government would do well from adopting a similar approach—from adopting an approach of living within our means as a country and taking some responsibility for our actions, because that's ultimately where this is going.

We're here supporting the bill. We're not going to block cheaper fuel for working Australians, but we do have to ask why Australians are in this position in the first place. It's followed a government that has spent three years adding fuel to the inflation fire through their reckless spending, through record deficits and through no structural reform that's going to actually reduce cost pressures.

I do note that, when the Treasurer presented this bill, in his second reading speech on the legislation, he said:

This comes after a budget that is all about making it easier for people to buy their own home. It's got more income tax cuts and is better aligning the treatment of income from labour and assets.

Then he went on to say this:

… extra fuel excise relief is just the latest …

So we've got a treasurer who's linking this bill, this cut to the fuel excise, to the CGT and negative gearing changes that were put through in the recent budget. He refers to a better alignment of the treatment of income from labour and assets. I don't know which world he's in, but you can't use emergency fuel relief as cover for a permanent tax increase that will push up rents and hurt aspirational homeowners. We all know in this place—or we should know—that cheaper petrol for five weeks doesn't offset a permanent tax on housing investment. They're completely different things. One's a temporary response to an external shock, and the other is a deliberate choice to tax the aspiration of Australians who want to get ahead.

The other component to this legislation is making sure that Australians actually benefit from the cost-of-living relief that is intended. The coalition, those on this side of the chamber, have asked the government to report to the parliament on what proportion of the relief has reached Australians, not just what was legislated. I'd say that that should be the case going forward in relation to the next month of extension as well, because, at the end of the day, if the savings are not passed on to Australians when they're filling up their tanks, the beneficiaries are not the Australians who are doing it tough right now. They're fuel retailers and not Australian families.

The coalition is going to support this bill, but we do so considering the broader context in which it is being presented, and that is an Australian economy that is being mismanaged and that is resulting in Australians doing it tough. The people that I speak to on the southern Gold Coast—and I have had a number of chats, especially at some listening posts at the markets at Burleigh Heads straight after the initial conflict broke out in the Middle East and the government announced, or followed our lead in announcing, the cut to the fuel excise. I had a lot of conversations and people said, 'Yes, this is great; it's going to help.' But it's not enough. It's a small part of addressing what is a very large problem.

Make no mistake. It's a problem that is created here at home. When you compare Australia's inflation rates—and we're seeing 4.2 per cent now, well above our target band as a country—with those of like-minded countries around the world, ours is far above them. So it is home-grown inflation. It's a situation that is created by this government. The scary part is that we're not seeing any meaningful discussion about solutions.

So while we do support this bill and we won't stand in the way of cheaper fuel for Australians, we support it knowing well and truly that this is only one small part of a very large problem. The government must come to the table if we are going to have meaningful cost-of-living relief for Australians at a time when they actually need it more than perhaps they have ever needed it in their lifetimes.

On 1 April this year the government halved the fuel excise and suspended road use charges for heavy-vehicle operators. That was a direct response to disruption caused by the conflict in the Middle East. As we know, that initial relief is due to expire next week, on 30 June. The government has now introduced this legislation to taper that relief, rather than abruptly withdrawing it. Under the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026, the initial 50 per cent cut in the fuel excise of 30c per litre will drop to 16c per litre from 1 July and then phased out from 2 August.

It's my view that tapering this relief is the right approach. Since fuel prices peaked at the end of March, petrol prices in most capital cities have dropped by about 90c a litre. They're now below the levels they were at the time the conflict first began. But although petrol prices have eased considerably, diesel prices remain elevated. They're still averaging about 20c a litre more than when the conflict broke out. We also have ongoing uncertainty about the resolution of that conflict.

So an abrupt removal of excise relief would potentially impose a very significant shock on small businesses, transport operators, truck drivers, freight companies and the wider logistics industry, which is reliant on diesel to operate. A phased withdrawal provides businesses with greater certainty, and it will allow time to adjust to prevailing market conditions, acknowledging the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and the failure to secure a clear end to hostilities in the Middle East.

But, having said that, I think we need to be sure that these measures have genuinely translated into lower prices for consumers and for businesses. The measures in this bill will cost about $400 million, on top of the $2.9 billion in forgone revenue from the first three-month reduction in the excise. Australians deserve to know that the benefit will be reflected at the bowser and not absorbed elsewhere in the supply chain. Given that taxpayers themselves are funding this relief, parliament should be able to assess whether it has delivered the outcomes promised.

I would welcome greater transparency from the government on how much the excise cut actually translated into price reductions at the bowser. The crossbench sought that data yesterday, when we were first briefed on this legislation, but it has yet to be provided. Before we commit hundreds of millions of dollars in additional support, it doesn't seem unreasonable that we should have a clear understanding of how much relief actually reached houses, businesses and freight operators.

While the reduction in the fuel excise undoubtedly provided some relief, Australia has also been lucky in the last few months, particularly on the supply side. In the wake of the conflict, Australia was able to dramatically increase imports of crude oil from South Korea, jet fuel from Malaysia, and diesel and petrol from the US. Australian importers even bought 50 million litres of jet fuel from the US, which is a rare supply route. Our supply chains held together remarkably well, with 92 fuel shipments arriving in Australia over this period. As a result, our reserves have been built up to 44 days worth of petrol, 39 days worth of diesel and 32 days worth of jet fuel.

But the truth is that Australia has been protected from what could have been a much more severe supply shock. Major fuel-consuming nations, including Japan and China, drew heavily on their strategic reserves. China significantly reduced its imports, easing pressure on global markets. The International Energy Agency coordinated releases of 400 million barrels of oil from emergency stockpiles, helping to stabilise supply and moderate price volatility. Those measures were effective, but they were also quite extraordinary. I congratulate the Australian government—the Albanese government—on securing our energy security through this crisis.

Emergency measures always carry with them a degree of uncertainty and a degree of anxiety. Strategic reserves exist to cushion temporary disruptions, not to provide a permanent solution. Many of the stockpiles accumulated over decades have now been drawn down. Rebuilding them is going to take time, and that reality should serve as a reminder of the fragility of the global energy markets. The combination of geopolitical conflict, constrained shipping routes and tightening supply can quickly expose vulnerabilities in countries that rely heavily on imported fuel.

Unfortunately, at this point, Australia remains one of those countries. Despite recent measures from the government, the reality is that our domestic refining capacity is modest. We remain highly dependent on imported refined fuels. We cannot assume that the same combination of favourable circumstances, strategic stockpile releases and alternative supply routes will be available the next time we have a major disruption of this sort. Energy security should not simply be a crisis response; it must be a long-term national security priority.

Record fuel prices have accelerated local interest in electric vehicles, with the Tesla Model Y becoming the first electric vehicle to top Australia's monthly vehicle sales charts when it became the country's bestselling car in May. That's not just a consumer trend; it's a reflection of Australians who are seeking protection from volatile global fuel markets. For many households, EVs are no longer just an environmental choice. They are increasingly an energy security choice and a cost-of-living choice.

But, at the same time, at the very moment that consumers and businesses are considering alternatives to imported fuel, some of the government's policy settings, which have actively supported the energy transition, are being wound back. The fringe benefits tax exemption for electric vehicles is being narrowed from 1 April this year. I appreciate the government's desire to better target tax concessions, but we have to be very careful not to undermine one of the very few policies which has demonstrably accelerated the EV market and uptake in Australia. Some versions of the Tesla Model Y cost close to $90,000. If we limit the FBT tax exemption to cars under $75,000 from 1 April 2027, as is planned, we risk discouraging uptake of some of the most popular EV brands in Australia.

What's most frustrating is the clear and apparent cognitive dissonance in the government's policy settings. While this government has long been emphasising the need for energy security, it has kept in place longstanding fuel tax concessions for some of Australia's largest fossil fuel users. I don't know how many times the crossbench has raised this issue in the House, but the Albanese government continues to provide over $10 billion every year in fuel tax credits which disproportionately benefit large, fossil-fuel-intensive industries.

The diesel fuel tax credit is not a neutral tax concession; it is a $10 billion-plus annual incentive to industry to keep burning fossil fuels. BHP alone reportedly received $622 million in fuel tax credits in 2024 and at the same time posted around $10 billion in profit. What has that subsidy brought? Did it bring decarbonisation? No. Despite committing in its own climate strategy to trialling electric trucks from 2024 and rolling them out across its fleet in 2027-28, BHP has now spent more than $500 million on new diesel trucks and has put the brakes on its shift away from diesel trucking. It's not a coincidence; it is cause and effect. According to analysis by Fortescue, the 51.6c-per-litre fuel tax credit halves the return on investment on electrification. BHP's own leaked documents confirm as much with its internal modelling flagging changes to diesel pricing or credit availability as a potential decarbonisation risk factor and its internal projections suggesting that BHP expects to cut it's emissions by only one per cent by 2030.

Australians taxpayers are subsidising very profitable companies to continue to burn imported fossil fuels. They are sending taxpayer money up in smoke. If we are serious about strengthening Australia's energy resilience, about reducing our exposure to global fuel shocks and about accelerating the transition to cleaner transport then we cannot continue to subsidise fossil fuel consumption, on one hand, while scaling back support for lower emissions alternatives on the other.

The lesson from recent months is clear. Temporary fuel excise relief may help households, and it might help businesses weather an energy crisis, and for this reason I do support the measured tapering the government has proposed in this bill. But long-term energy resilience will not come from emergency excise cuts. It will come from building a transport system that is less dependent on imported fuels, that is electrified, that is energy efficient and that is insulated from global geopolitical shocks. That is the broader challenge before us: not simply how we choose to respond to the current fuel price crisis but how we prepare Australia for the next one.

Resources rich, politically poor—that is Australia in 2026. We are arguing the merits of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026. The opposition is not going to stand in the way of consumers getting a cheaper tank of fuel, even if it is only $11. We are not going to stand in the way of people, particularly in regional Australia, being able to fill up and get about their daily business.

During the early stages of the fuel crisis, when Iran was first being bombed, there were regional people who were choosing whether or not to stay at home, whether to take the children to their weekend sport or dancing or whatever the case might have been. We heard from the government, over and over, that supply was not an issue. Well, I can tell you it was.

In Batlow, in my electorate, there was no fuel available. There were many farmers—it was the start of sowing season—who could not access diesel to sow their crops, to plant their winter crops so that they would have a harvest at the end of the year. And there were farmers who could get some access to diesel but they could only half-fill their tanks and, inexplicably, they had to pay cash for it. That goes against every measure of fair play. It's probably an issue that should have been raised with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. This was the reality of life in regional Australia when the Strait of Hormuz was initially blocked. This was the lived experience.

I suspect this government doesn't care all that much about farmers. They do care about polls and polling and pollsters. They do care about making out as if they're doing the right thing by Australians, hence an extension to the fuel excise rebate, but at a smaller discount. The federal government is winding back its discount to the fuel excise over the next month—the 32c per litre fuel discount is dropping to 16c per litre—and the heavy-vehicle road user charge will go up from free to 16c per litre. Motorists have had three months of relief, as they should have. The coalition called for this and brought the Labor government kicking and screaming to the table to do what we'd asked and to do what our constituents said was important so that our farmers could plant their crops and so that our regional families in particular could take their children to sport and other activities they enjoy.

I don't think city people always get the fact that we drive far greater distances. In the fortnight away from parliament, I was averaging about 400 kilometres a day just travelling around my huge electorate. I could throw my handkerchief over the electorates of some of these city MPs and still have room to spare. They just don't understand the hardships faced by their country cousins. If they did, they'd do more to protect the transport sector and the trucking industry, just as one example. ASIC figures show that of trucking companies in 2021-22—remember, Labor took over in May 2022—196 went to the wall in that period. In 2022-23, 347 went broke, with 495 the following year, and, as of 6 April this year—so the figures are a little bit dated, but the argument remains the same—535 insolvencies had already been recorded. That's Australia's transport, postal and warehousing sector. That's our truckies.

Without our truckies, nothing gets anywhere in this country. When the trucking sector grinds to a halt, so does the nation. We should be ever so thankful that our truckies do a mighty fine job for and on behalf of this nation, because no food gets on the table of anyone in Australia without a truck. It doesn't. They're under the pump. XL Express, with a fleet of 193 vehicles, stood down its 200 employees, and, a couple of months later, creditors vowed to wind up the 17 companies associated under the XL group. It was burdened by debt. It shows a worrying, alarming and growing trend in Australia. We had the Don Watson Transport and Coldstores group, after 77 years of delivering in Australia, in trouble such that it announced it was finishing up. This company's collapse meant another 300 employees were out of work—140 trucks and 170 trailer trucks annually covering 22,000,000 kilometres.

They're not isolated examples. Ron Crouch Transport in Wagga Wagga has been going for a long, long time. It's a generational family trucking business. This is due in no small part to the issues around fuel supply, the issues of the cost-of-living crisis and the issues of getting business done. The issues of false and sham contracting is playing a big part as well. The government will say it's doing some work in this space, and I commend it for that, but there's much more that can be done, that should be done, that must be done. Discounting petrol, helping out some small degree, will go a little bit of the way, but this government has the levers by which to pull, to manage, to control and to do a lot more in the economic space to help particularly regional Australia.

I think it gets forgotten in this place that regional Australia keeps the lights on. It gets neglected in this place that regional Australia ensures that food gets delivered and put on the table. When every Labor member tucks their knees under the table three times a day, every day, they should be mindful of that. They should be well aware of where their food comes from. But I don't think they are, because, if they were, last week they wouldn't have been spending, as our debt spirals towards $1 trillion, another $430 million buying productive water out of the Murray-Darling Basin. That might well be another story altogether, but that equated to 86 gigalitres, the equivalent of 34,400 Olympic-size swimming pools, taken out of the productive consumptive pool and flushed down the mouth of the Murray. And for what? For the environment.

We heard the member for Kooyong just a minute ago praising the Labor government, as though we should all get down on our knees and say: 'Oh, thank you so very much for the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026! Thank you, oh great ones, for providing this relief!' I have a different view. I have a very different view to the teals. They're arguing at the moment about whether they should become a party or not. They've been a party ever since they got in here. When you get funded by Simon Holmes à Court and you take money from that billionaire, when you have the same policies, when you have the same talking points, when you meet in your caucus together and you've got the same colours, you're a party. Don't ever think that you're not, because you are. They come in here and give almighty praise to Labor as though they're doing something in this space.

Then the member for Kooyong started to talk about the need for more EVs. That's all well and good, but I'll tell you what—out in regional Australia, they don't cut the mustard, because they don't go far enough. I've had example after example of companies that went into the electric vehicle space and then their employees were stranded and couldn't get home in time because either somebody hadn't put sufficient storage in the battery or, for whatever reason, they came to a town where they didn't have the charging points. It's all well and good for these city MPs. They've got blinkers on and always have had. They don't know about the hardships of regional Australia.

There were none of them around the table yesterday when I had a group from the southern basin of the Murray-Darling here talking about how tough they're doing it. There were no city Labor MPs looking into the tear-filled eyes of those people who grow our food, listening to their stories of how they're paying more and more for water. And, yes, those farmers will see that there's a little bit of relief here. But I'll tell you what—they should be getting it, too. They deserve it. They deserve every bit of help we can give them. I'll tell you what the government shouldn't be doing, and that's continuing to go into the Murray-Darling Basin and buying water out of the productive consumptive pool. They should not be doing that, but they won't stop, even though we've got a nation in crisis, heading towards a trillion dollars of debt.

What really galls me in this place is when the Treasurer goes to that dispatch box and talks about the trillion dollars of debt that Labor inherited. It is a fallacy. ABC Fact Check says so. It says it is a fallacy. It says it's not true. And yet he continues to spout this misconception that Labor inherited a trillion dollars worth of debt. It was nowhere near that amount. I'll tell you what we did during COVID—we saved lives and we saved livelihoods. What did Labor do at the time? They wanted us to spend more and more money. JobKeeper was put in place by the member for Kooyong before this one. He wasn't a teal. He was a coalition member and a good one. That JobKeeper saved businesses. It kept the doors of business open when businesses across the world were going bankrupt, were going out backwards. The Johns Hopkins centre rated Australia second in the world for COVID preparedness for the number of lives we saved—tens of thousands of people who would, but for our assistance, not be alive today. We kept them alive and we kept their businesses going. But the debt that we're now faced with, grappling with and struggling against? That's on Labor's watch. It doesn't help matters when they want to go and spend $430 million buying productive water and doing what with it? Flushing it out of the mouth of the Murray. How is that good economics? It is not.

We're not going to oppose this, because we want to see relief at the bowser. We do. But the other things that Labor are doing are only going to push the price of groceries up. We want to see our trucks being able to go up and down the busy byways and freeways and little country roads, that last mile to the farm gate. We want to see people paying less at the cash register in the grocery store. That just makes for good economics. It also makes quality of life much better. At the moment, there's way too much homelessness. There are way too many people suffering because of the cost-of-living crisis brought about because of the poor economics of this Labor government.

I started by saying we are resources rich, and we are, but we're politically poor, and we are. We've got resources underneath our feet. We wouldn't have to go down this path if we bothered to dig them up, if we bothered to drill, if we bothered to have a policy whereby we not only extracted our own energy and fuel but refined it and used it for our own sake instead of importing all of our energy. We should be smarter than that. We are smarter than that. We have to be smarter than that for the sake of ourselves, our children and our children's children.

I support the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 and will not stand in the way of Australians receiving relief at the bowser. Families, farmers, truck drivers, tradies, commuters and small businesses across Australia need the assistance. But support for this bill should not be mistaken for support for the circumstances that made it necessary, because the question before us today is not simply on why fuel prices have risen. The real question is about why Australians are finding it so difficult to absorb yet another increase in the cost of living. Why are families living week to week? Why are small businesses struggling to stay afloat? Why are farmers, transport operators, businesses and community organisations being forced to make increasingly difficult decisions? Why do so many Australians feel that, despite working harder than ever, they are somehow falling behind? Across Lyne, I hear the same message repeatedly. People are hurting and they are hurting badly. I've never seen Australians under this level of sustained economic pressure.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics tells us headline inflation remains at 4.2 per cent. Underlying inflation remains at 3.4 per cent, still above the Reserve Bank's target range. Housing costs have risen by 6.3 per cent, transport costs have risen by 6.6 per cent and electricity prices have risen by more than 22 per cent. These are not just statistics; they are the reality facing Australian households every day. Families are paying more for groceries, more for electricity, more for insurance, more for rent, more for mortgages, more for housing and more for almost every essential part of daily life.

Now, they're paying more for fuel. The conflict in the Middle East did not create Australia's cost-of-living crisis; it exposed it. Australians were already struggling before oil prices moved. Mortgage holders had already endured years of elevated interest rates. Businesses were already battling rising costs. Households were already making sacrifices. Fuel has simply become the latest pressure point in an economy already under strain. Fuel is not just another expense. Fuel is the cost of everything. When fuel prices rise, freight costs rise. When freight costs rise, food prices rise. When food prices rise, household budgets come under further pressure. The impact flows through every corner of the economy.

Nowhere is that more obvious than in regional Australia. Over recent months, I've heard directly from constituents who've been living with this reality. Gregory from Foster asked me, 'How does the government allow fuel companies to gouge the price of fuel so quickly?' He was not asking as an economist; he was asking as somebody watching costs rise faster than he could understand or explain. Veronica from Mitchells Island, questioned why families already struggling with the cost of living were expected to absorb even higher fuel costs. Mark from Foster raised concerns about fuel prices rising before higher-cost fuel had even entered the supply chain. Karen from Taree South told me she watched fuel prices rise from 165.9 cents per litre to 219.9 cents per litre in a matter of days. For many Australians, that sort of increase is not an inconvenience—it is the difference between making ends meet and falling behind. Bill from Tallwoods Village told me he felt nobody was listening when concerns were raised about rapidly escalating fuel prices.

Whether people agree with every concern or not, the message is consistent: Australians feel powerless as costs rise around them. But this goes beyond motorists. I've heard from timber operators, transport operators and farmers across my electorate facing soaring diesel costs. I've heard concerns from community transport providers questioning whether they can continue operating if costs continue to rise. These are not theoretical concerns. These are real Australians trying to run businesses, support families and contribute to their communities—certainly, a community that's the oldest in the country.

It's not only households carrying these pressures. Small businesses are carrying them as well—the local cafe, the local workshop, the trucking operator, the family owned business, the farmer employing local people. The consequences are increasingly visible. ASIC reports that 14,722 Australian companies entered external administration during the last financial year. That is an increase of more than 33 per cent on the previous year. Behind every one of those insolvencies is somebody's life's work, somebody's savings, somebody's employees, somebody's family. That is why inflation matters and that is why fuel prices matter. That is why governments cannot continue treating cost-of-living pressures as though they are merely temporary inconveniences. I said, previously in this House, that we stand in here expecting Australians to flex with the crisis, but so many do not have that flexibility. Every ask we make of them is heard as another sacrifice they have to make—another bill, another cost, another burden, another promise that somehow never quite gets delivered. And, after years of inflation and rising costs, many Australians have reached the limit of what they can absorb.

The bill before us extends temporary fuel excise relief from 1 July until early August, and Australians will welcome that relief. The coalition supports that relief, but relief should not be confused with a solution. The government calls this a taper. Australians will experience it as a price increase. A family filling a 65 litre tank received around $21 in fuel relief during June. From 1 July that relief falls to around $11. That is, effectively, a $10 increase every time they fill up their car from the first day of the new financial year. For transport operators and trucking businesses, the impact is even greater. That is why Australians are entitled to ask a simple question: if inflation is supposedly under control, why are they still paying more? If the economy is supposedly improving, why do they still feel poorer? The answer is that the underlying problems remain. The original fuel excise reduction cost approximately $2.9 billion. This extension costs another $400 million, yet the government has refused to identify genuine inflationary offsets.

The coalition repeatedly argued that any cost-of-living relief should be accompanied by spending restraint elsewhere, because relief that is borrowed today becomes inflationary pressure tomorrow. A government credit card is not an economic strategy. Borrowing more money to treat the symptoms while ignoring the causes is not economic management; it is political management. The same lack of long-term thinking that has contributed to inflation has also left Australia vulnerable on fuel security.

Over recent months I have repeatedly raised concerns in this parliament about Australia's fuel vulnerability. I've spoken about diesel fuel disruptions. I've spoken about pressure on regional fuel distributors. I've spoken about my concerns that the ACCC does not appear to have a grip on the fuel supply chain at all. I've spoken about the resilience of Australia's fuel supply chain because fuel security is not simply about what motorists pay at the bowser. Fuel security is about whether food reaches supermarket shelves. Fuel security is about whether freight continues to move. Fuel security is about whether farmers can harvest crops. Fuel security is about whether emergency services can respond during natural disasters.

The debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 43. The debate may resume at a later hour. The member will be given leave to continue speaking when the debate is resumed.

I'm thrilled to speak about two amazing initiatives from my electorate. The first is Cosy Companion, started by a young constituent Skye and her friend Ina. Both had grandparents in aged care and saw firsthand how isolating that experience can be. They created a youth led movement where student volunteers spend time with residents, having conversations, doing activities, organising concerts and writing to pen pals, building friendships that span generations. Cosy Companion now collaborates with six schools and 13 aged-care homes across Sydney, with over 50 volunteers having touched the lives of more than 70 elderly Australians. I commend Skye and Ina for their community spirit, and I look forward to watching that grow. Please get involved if you can.

The second is Kids Breaking Bread, started by four local mums who wanted to build stronger ties between communities through their children. Students from Kincoppal-Rose Bay and Emanuel School came together to make breads that hold deep meaning in both Jewish and Christian cultures. They braided friendship bread, shared stories and simply got to know each other. As co-founder Anna put it, 'The children are actively learning and embracing the similarities in our different cultures.'

Both initiatives remind us about the power of connection and what young people can achieve when given the space to lead. They are both enormously inspiring, and I congratulate everyone involved in Kids Breaking Bread and Cosy Companion for the leadership they're showing in our community.

I congratulate Nestory Irankunda, Australia's first goalscorer in the FIFA 2026 World Cup in Australia's match with Turkiye. In doing so, at 20 years of age, Nestory became Australia's youngest goalscorer in a FIFA World Cup, adding to his long list of extraordinary soccer career achievements. Born in a refugee camp in Tanzania of Burundi parents, Nestory came to Australia as a three-month-old baby, first settling in Western Australia and then moving to Parafield Gardens in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, where he played and developed his soccer skills, playing for local clubs Parafield Gardens, Northern Wolves and Adelaide Croatia Raiders, and ultimately A League club Adelaide United, before moving to German club Bayern Munich and currently English club Watford. It has been a remarkable soccer journey for a young man whose family arrived in Australia as refugees.

With migration to Australia being a frequent topic of public discourse, Nestory's story is not simply one of personal determination and achievement or the opportunity that Australia has given him but just as importantly a reminder of how immigration to Australia has lifted Australia and brought pride to us all on the world stage. At 20 years of age, Nestory has a long soccer career ahead of him, and I wish him every success for the years to come.

Australia is off to a cracking start at the World Cup—and that makes us so proud, of course—with the two-nil win over Turkiye and huge effort against tournament hosts the United States. Congratulations to Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, who both scored goals on their World Cup debuts. At a time when some seek to divide Australians by where they come from or what they believe, the Socceroos remind us that this country is strongest when we stand together. We see it in packed pubs, school playgrounds, local sporting clubs and living rooms right across the country.

This Socceroos team reflects modern Australia, one that represents families with roots from across the world, united by a shared commitment to our incredible nation. Nestory Irankunda's journey is a remarkable Australian story, as are so many others: born in a refugee camp in Tanzania after his family fled conflict in Burundi and now scoring for Australia on the world's biggest stage. This is the Australia we celebrate—confident, open, united and proud of the people who help make this country what it is. Congratulations to the Socceroos, regardless of the results, not just for the goals, grit and performances but for reminding us of our real values and who we are when we at our very best. Thank you for being such phenomenal ambassadors for Australia.

Last week I attended a memorial service for Constable Keith Smith, a long-serving and respected member of Tasmania Police who spent 25 years working across northern and western Tasmania. Keith received the Commissioner's Medal in 2011, the National Police Service Medal in 2016 and a 20-year clasp in 2021. He was tragically killed in June 2025 while serving his community. Police colleagues, first responders and community members gathered in Ulverstone on Wednesday to honour Keith, holding a minute's silence at 11 am with the wider police family right across Tasmania.

We remembered Keith for his generosity, kindness and ability to make people feel seen and heard. It was especially touching when the Central Coast mayor, Cheryl Fuller, announced a local thoroughfare between King Edward Street and Victoria Street in Ulverstone would be named Keith Smith Lane. Regularly used by police, paramedics and first responders on their way to a favourite coffee shop, the lane will stand as a lasting tribute to Keith's service and as a reminder of the community's love and respect for him.

My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

'My word is my bond' is a phrase never to be used again in Australia, and we can thank the Prime Minister for that, as, when he was asked 50 times prior to the election, 'Will there be changes to capital gains tax or negative gearing?' he kept on saying no. He even belittled the media when he was asked that question. It's an absolute shame, because it is a slur on all members of parliament when such a broken promise to the Australian people actually occurs.

But what it hurts the most is small business. Small business people who have had trust set up have had to go to their accountants and say, 'What do I need to do now?' They've already gone once, and now that we've seen this dirty deal with the Greens today, they're going to have to go and see their accountants again. There's no escape now that there are self-managed super funds. They've now been hit today. The way small business has been hit in this country is an absolute travesty. Also, when it comes to capital gains tax, those who've put their future into having a 50 per cent write-off won't be able to do that in the future.

When it comes to first home owners, we see the mortgage clearance rates getting worse and worse each weekend. The Labor Party members may have celebrated on budget night, giving themselves high fives, but they have really hurt the Australian people and, in particular, business.

For 30 years I have stood against One Nation and Senator Hanson's policies of division, and I can hardly believe that, 30 years on, we are still here, having to call out the same old tired attacks on working families. At the National Press Club, Senator Hanson said, 'If women take time off and they are not paid their wages because they're not working, fair enough.' She then asked, 'Why should businesses pay? They're not at work.' And today, on morning television, she said, 'It's up to companies whether they want to have in their policy that they will give it to their workers.'

We know millions of workers and young families across the private sector will be rightly shocked that she is telling them they do not deserve time away from work to care for their children, bond with their babies and establish their families. One Nation believes a parent's time with their young children should depend on where they work and who they work for.

I know how precious parental leave is for my family. Twenty months after I had my first child, I gave birth to my second baby. At that stage, my savings were completely depleted from my first six months of parental leave. I was incredibly thankful that, for 13 weeks, the government provided paid parental leave for baby No. 2. However, I could not afford to take any more time off. It's always been something that I have been very sad about. I returned to work earlier than I would've wanted to, so I had to juggle breastfeeding and two small kids with returning to work so quickly.

Labor understands that raising a new baby is important work. It was a Whitlam Labor government that introduced paid maternity leave for Commonwealth employees in 1973. But now, 50 years later, Senator Pauline Hanson wants to take us backwards. Labor will not let that happen. We are increasing paid parental leave to 26 weeks from 1 July.

Just after midnight this morning, 80 metres from my office in my home town of Warragul, a suspected illegal tobacco outlet was firebombed. A week ago it was ramraided, and, like clockwork, there was an arson attack this morning. My thoughts are with the five businesses in that immediate vicinity who have had to close their doors and cancel appointments with clients. They're not going to be open for the next couple of days, maybe even a week. They're now looking at increased insurance premiums and structural damage.

This is not an isolated story. This is Victoria under Jacinta Allan as premier. We've got her failed illegal tobacco taskforce; that is clearly not working. We've got incredible local police that are doing their best with limited resources and their hands tied behind their back. Until this federal government gets serious about having a multipronged approach to address illicit tobacco, we're going to continue seeing alarming statistics like what the Australian bureau of stats released last week. It provided clear evidence that 80 per cent of the tobacco market in Australia is now illicit. Smoking rates in Western Australia are going up. Proceeds are going to organised crime linked to the CFMEU, terrorist groups and bikie gangs. Australia is not safe as we continue with this illicit tobacco crisis.

What women want—in 2022, we saw a record number of women elected to the federal parliament. What people wanted to see were governments that respond to our whole population, including women. So, in 2025, we got to see 50 per cent women in the cabinet. And what have we delivered? We didn't just deliver a record to our federal parliament; we're changing our community. We are changing our society. We have cheaper child care. We have introduced the three-day childcare guarantee. We are closing the pay gap. And, of course, we have been increasing paid parental leave—26 weeks is coming soon, and we're going to pay superannuation on that.

What did we hear in the last week, including on Sunrise today? Senator Hanson, from One Nation, wants to get rid of paid parental leave. It's absolutely outrageous. This is not what women want. You can't stop migration and then stop families from having children. I suspect that this is going to be a policy that she does a backflip on. We saw that when the coalition wanted to stop public servants working from home. Like that, this is a really bad idea.

Paid parental leave is a way that we can help support families. The cost of living is real. Having a family costs time. And—you know what?—we want families to spend time with their babies. They are delightful.

As the Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Motor Neurone Disease, I rise to recognise Global MND Awareness Day, which just passed. It was a powerful symbol of hope for sufferers and their carers, who are showing the resilience of the blue cornflower every single day by caring for those with motor neurone disease.

Today there are around 2,752 Australians living with MND, and with modern techniques diagnosis is getting higher and higher, and there is more recognition of this terrible disease. We're also seeing increased investment in research, care, advocacy and support services as we work towards better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

This year we marked the very sad passing of Neale Daniher, a great Australian, and also the diagnosis of the rugby league player spoken about by so many here in this House, Jai Arrow. This has helped draw attention to the national conversation about the realities of living with MND, the realities of the sufferers and their carers and the great urgent need for support.

I want to thank the member for Mayo for asking a great question and putting pressure on the government, leading to the announcement of a priority pathway for aged care for MND sufferers, something that should have always been there. While finding a cure remains critically important, people living with MND and their carers need compassion and practical support right now through the aged-care system and the NDIS—and everything else that we can do. These are the most vulnerable people in our society. I ask the government to continue its good work on supporting people with MND, their carers, friends and families and making those priority pathways available to people.

Over many years, the focus for the residents of Werriwa has been the health of their families. The Albanese government has worked steadily since its election to ensure that health care is affordable and available close to where you live. The tripling of the bulk-billing incentive has seen 32 fully bulk-billed GP practices available to the people I represent in suburbs like Austral, Green Valley, Cecil Hills, Lurnea, Hoxton Park, Casula and Prestons. Our election commitment to open an urgent care clinic in Austral was realised in January this year. Already more than 2,000 people have accessed the clinic. The clinic joins the 137 Australia-wide, as promised and delivered by this government. There have been more than 3.1 million visits to urgent care clinics Australia-wide. This means that almost all Australians live within a 20-minute drive of a bulk-billing clinic, and May's budget confirmed that urgent care clinics are now a permanent feature of our healthcare landscape. Urgent care clinics in south-west Sydney ease the burden of already strapped emergency departments in Liverpool, Campbelltown and Fairfield. They also ensure that mums, dads, kids and older Australians get the advice they need when they need it out of hours. This is what access to Medicare and health looks like: care when you need it, where you need it and free of charge.

A handyman from Booyal, a barber shop in the Bundaberg CBD, a convenience store at Coral Cove, a sheet metal and engineering business from Pialba—these are just some of the many hardworking small businesses of Hinkler who last month completed a quick survey to let me know how they are travelling. Sixty-three per cent of respondents said they were not confident about their future. Fifty-six per cent said skyrocketing electricity prices are crippling. Wage costs are a major issue for 46 per cent, and red tape and regulation remains a burden for almost half. Many also identified the cost-of-living constraints facing their customers.

This is the reality for regional small businesses, yet the budget of broken promises from those opposite is in tatters, causing confusion and chaos for small business. Labor's toxic taxes don't need a tweak, a carve-out or another Canberra fix. They need the axe because you don't fix a bad tax by making it more complicated. You scrap it. I sincerely thank each small business who took the time to complete the Hinkler small-business survey.

In the gallery today from my electorate of Hinkler is my good friend and previous local government colleague Ms Judy Peters OAM, who is visiting Canberra this week to attend the 75th anniversary events as a life member of the Australian Local government Women's Association. I've been fortunate to work alongside Judy in many roles across all levels of government, and I sincerely thank Judy for her time and community service and for always putting her community and its residents first.

The export of Australia's world-leading over-the-horizon radar technology is critical for Australian jobs and our national security. This landmark $2.5 billion deal is the largest defence export in Australia's history, and it will support Canada's Arctic over-the-horizon radar, enhancing early-warning and long-range surveillance across the North Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific. Not only will this further support the national security of Australia and Canada, but the deal will also strengthen Australia's sovereign industrial base; create 1,000 direct and indirect high-skilled, high-paid Australian jobs; and promote broader employment across supply chains by creating new opportunities for local industry.

So what is an over-the-horizon radar? The curvature of the Earth limits the straight-line trajectory of radio waves, and this technology facilitates the travel of those waves beyond just a straight line by bouncing them off a layer of the upper atmosphere and beaming them back down to earth, enabling the surveillance of aircraft or ships that are thousands of kilometres away. Its capability means that aircraft and ships that would otherwise be hidden by the horizon or attempting to fly low to evade conventional radar can be tracked. As well as strengthening our friendship and partnership with our ally Canada, this deal promotes economic prosperity and national security and forms part of the Albanese Labor government's Future Made in Australia.

Labor's toxic taxes do not need a tweak, a carve-out or another Canberra fix. They need an axe. Labor and the Greens, the two parties of the extreme left, have done what they always do: stitched up a dodgy Canberra deal and left Australians to foot the bill. More tax, more complexity, more pain in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis because you do not repair a bad tax by making it harder to understand. You scrap it.

Across McPherson I meet business owners, tradies, investors and young families who've done what Australians were told to do: work hard, save, invest, take a risk and build something for their future. Labor looks at that effort and sees dollar signs for this wasteful spending. After promising Australians one thing before the election, this government is now trying to tax aspiration and pretend that a carve-out will make it fair. But a carve-out's not fairness; it's Canberra picking winners. It's a bureaucrat deciding which business is innovative enough, which savers acceptable enough and which Australians are allowed to get ahead. They don't need another tax; they need a government that gets out of their way. The coalition's position is clear: lower taxes, less complexity and reward for effort.

The United Kingdom has had enough. Keir Starmer has resigned. Right now the Prime Minister is making Starmer look competent. He's running the same playbook: uncontrolled migration, a weak economy, broken promises and taxes Australians were told would never come. It's time the Prime Minister followed Starmer's lead. It's resignation season.

I want to say to my fellow 4,585 Australian Olympians: happy Olympic Day. Today is Olympic Day. Thank you for what you've done for this amazing country of ours: Australia. Thank you for representing at the highest of levels. Thank you for working so hard and putting everything in front so that you can be representing this beautiful country on the world's biggest stage. You're amazing people. Thank you for what you do and not only for what you do—but thank you to all the mums, the dads, the grandparents and support staff out there that help get your brother, your sister, your son, your cousin or your nephew to the Olympic Games. Thank you for all the work you've done. To all the coaches out there and to all the support staff, thank you for the work that you've all done as well in helping those 4,585 Olympians in this country. To all the other Olympians around the world, happy Olympic Day to you as well.

You know what can make this happen? We work hard. We train hard in what we do to represent the country at the highest levels. And you know what we need? Sometimes we need good health care to make that happen as well, and the Albanese Labor government has now opened 137 urgent care clinics all around this country. When you're training hard, when you pull a hammy or when you hurt yourself, you can get in there and get the help you need. Make sure you get to one of the 137 urgent care clinics all around the country.

About one per cent of people can do a backflip, and I'm not one of them. But you can imagine my surprise watching the Labor circus in recent weeks, watching the Prime Minister and the Treasurer do backflip after backflip over the unfair tax changes Labor promised 50 times they would never introduce. Australians were told Labor wouldn't touch capital gains tax, negative gearing trusts or super, and Labor broke those promises. If you couldn't trust Labor on tax a month ago, you certainly can't trust them now. Labor's toxic taxes don't need a tweak. They don't need a carve out. They don't need another Canberra fix. They need the axe because you don't fix a bad tax by making it more complicated. You scrap it.

The so-called small business carve-out is a con. Nine out of 10 small businesses get nothing while Labor's toxic taxes still leave them worse off. Labor's idea of backing innovation is a committee in Canberra who decides who qualifies. Nothing says 'enterprise' like a permission slip from a bureaucrat. Labor's taxes are a punishment on hard work, a punishment on aspiration and a punishment on ambition at the very moment Australia needs more investment, more enterprise and more reward for effort. The coalition has a better plan. We will axe Labor's toxic taxes. We will deliver lower taxes for small business, and, through our tax-back guarantee, we will give Australians an automatic tax cut that grows every single year. Under Labor, Australians work harder, pay more and fall behind. Under the coalition, they keep more and get ahead.

Today I wear green and gold. It's the colour of our mighty Socceroos that they wear when they're repping Australia in the FIFA World Cup. It's also the colour of Medicare, that green and gold card that gives all Australians accessible, free health care. Forty-two years ago, Medicare was introduced by Labor, and today Medicare is protected by Labor. If those opposite had their way, they'd be making more cuts to Medicare—a straight red card in this match. Meanwhile, this Labor government has made the biggest ever investment in bulk-billing because only Labor knows that every Aussie deserves access to affordable health care, and it's working. The national bulk-billing rate is now sitting at over 80 per cent—right into the top corner, another goal scored.

I'm proud to report that in my community there are now 24 Medicare bulk-billing practices, up from 13 before our bulk billing changes were introduced. That means, at 75 per cent of our clinics in Gorton, you can see a doctor for free. That is massive. Just take a walk around Caroline Springs, Deer Park or Deneside and you'll see that we're full of young families building their futures. For families working hard and trying to make it work, the bills add up, but no Australian family should be putting off seeing a GP because of costs. I know that, and this Labor government knows that. We're passing the ball of quality health care onto the next generation of Aussies. Up the Socceroos!

Great War historian and Australian War Memorial founding father Charles Bean said this of the institution:

Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; and here we guard the record which they themselves made.

Tonight we will come together as a parliament to commemorate and celebrate the opening of the atrium and the new galleries in the Australian War Memorial. But the government cannot crow about doing things for veterans when at the same time it is slashing benefits to our veterans by capping the allied health services to $5,000 per annum. What this does is make $748 million of savings to the Treasurer's bottom line in the budget, in the insidious budget, in the cruel budget. This is not right. This is not fair. When our veterans, who had our backs when we sent them as a parliament to do the duty for this nation, need us to have their backs, we desert them in this way. I say to Labor: reconsider this. Just like you reconsidered the capital gains and the trusts and the Invictus Games and the Doug and Kaye Baird travel benefits, reconsider the cruel cuts to the allied health cap that you imposed in this insidious budget.

The Albanese Labor government is delivering for working families. Whether it be investments in Medicare, housing, roads, infrastructure or cost-of-living relief, we're focused on what matters. Our investments in bulk-billing have seen the number of local GP clinics that fully bulk-bill more than double to over 90 per cent since I came to this House. That's helping see over 95 per cent of all patient visits in Calwell now fully bulk-billed, and we're not stopping at the clinic. Our commitment to cheaper medicines has seen locals access over two million cheaper scripts as we cap the cost of medicines on the PBS—a bit of a Back to the Future to 2004 prices.

When it comes to cost-of-living support, we're supporting first home buyers get a foothold into the market because we see homeownership for what it is—helping families get the stability they need in attaining the security of a home. What that's meant for people in my community is an uptake of this government's five per cent deposit scheme that is amongst the highest in the country. Over 4,000 locals have bought their first home thanks to this policy alone. This Labor budget will continue to build on Labor's reforms, which are making a real impact on the lives of people right throughout my community. Rather than standing still, this budget and this government are focused on fairness for all Australians and addressing the inequalities that have held people back and left them behind for too long.

The hubris and arrogance of this prime minister is out of control. It was on display in question time yesterday, when the Prime Minister insulted every local councillor and every local council across the country, insulted them all. It was on display when the Prime Minister broke his word to the Australian people with this budget increasing taxes on all Australians. 'My word is my bond'—not with this prime minister! It's on display with this flawed and deceptive consultation process for tech startups at the same time that they're ramming this legislation through the parliament in a dodgy deal with the Greens. In what world can you ram it through and say to the tech sector that you're consulting with them? What a disgrace—hubris and arrogance on display. But I would warn the backbench. If you haven't read it, go read the Greek myth of Icarus. Hubris and arrogance can send you high, but guess what? When you get close to the sun, the fall is very quick. We know what happens when the Australian people work you out, and the Australian people have worked this prime minister out. It is a prime minister that is prepared to lie to the Australian people to get what he wants, and he will get what he deserves.

Last week, I sat down with the Bonner Future Leaders Advisory Group and asked them a simple question: what did they think about the Albanese Labor government's housing reforms? They said the changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax were not an abstract tax debate but a sign that someone is finally taking seriously the challenge of getting young Australians into a home of their own. For their generation, housing isn't an investment strategy. It means moving into a home of their own and building a future.

It is only a Labor government that is prepared to take meaningful action to make homeownership more achievable. Those opposite have fought us every step of the way, but this government is making it easier for first home buyers to enter the market through the five per cent deposit scheme and investing in new housing supply, including 20,000 new homes exclusively for first home buyers in Queensland. For too long, our tax settings have encouraged competition over existing homes rather than building new ones. Our reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax are designed to shift that balance and help first home buyers into— (Time expired)

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.

I inform the House that the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services will be absent from question time for the remainder of this week. The Treasurer will answer questions on his behalf.

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has done a dangerous deal with the Greens to ram through his toxic taxes. Prime Minister, will Australians with a self-managed super fund face higher tax bills because of your dangerous deal?

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right can take their seats and remain silent when questions are being asked. The member for Spence is warned.

The proposals, consistent with other measures that were put forward, are grandfathered, of course. But we're not prepared to sit back and accept that Australians are locked out of what is a broken housing system in this country. To say that we're going to do nothing about it—we, of course, have a majority in the House of Representatives, but in the Senate we don't have a majority. Therefore, we have to engage constructively. Those opposite, in the three right-wing parties, all choose irrelevance. They all choose irrelevance and not to debate. Although, it must be said that the member for Canning has said, in his party room, that he wouldn't bend the knee to One Nation. It's a real contrast with the bloke, the current leader of the opposition, who, when asked a question about monoculturalism four times, couldn't give an answer. He could not give an answer.

The member for Bennelong will leave the chamber under 94(a) for continual interjecting. within 30 seconds of the House—

Honourable members interjecting—

Order!

The member for Bennelong then left the chamber.

The manager on a point of order?

To relevance, the question was about whether Australians with a self-managed super fund will face higher tax bills.

He answered it.

No. You haven't answered it. The people would like a straight answer.

Order! I'd appreciate if the manager, if he's on his feet to raise a point, doesn't give extraneous material when he raises his point of order. We don't need the extra commentary. You'll get the call. The Prime Minister was asked a direct question. He has directly answered that question about the issue that was raised and that he was asked about. Within the first 30 seconds, he answered the question.

Those opposite raise a point of order about relevance when they make themselves irrelevant. Before they even see legislation, before they see proposals, they're against them. And now they've said they'll repeal the legislation—sound familiar? It's exactly what he said they would do if they were elected in May 2025, when they promised to repeal tax cuts. What this legislation provides for is less tax and a working-class tax cut for every single Australian worker. Every single Australian worker will get a tax cut. But they'll repeal it—that's what they've said. They'll repeal the legislation on day one says Senator Cash. We will continue to advance the interests of Australians, whether it's giving every worker a tax cut or whether it's giving every Australian the opportunity to aspire to own their own home—not just some Australians but every Australian.

I have a number of people who I will recognise during question time today as it's local government week. The first person I would like to recognise is Wayne Farnham, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Victoria. And I recognise the following councillors and mayors: Councillor Virginia Tachos, the mayor of Brimbank City Council; Councillor Melissa Taylor and Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff, from the Toowoomba Regional Council; and Councillor Jon Raven, the mayor of the City of Logan.

My question is to the Treasurer. How will the Albanese Labor government's tax reform and cost-of-living relief help Australians get ahead? How does that compare to other approaches?

I thank the member for Gorton for her question but also for the outstanding contribution she is already making to our team as a first-term MP.

This is a really important day for tax reform in this country. Today we make progress on the difficult but necessary reforms which have been in the too-hard basket for too long in Australia. Today we are one step closer to a fair go for first home buyers, more tax cuts for Australian workers and a fairer tax system. Economic reform and especially tax reform is never easy, but it's worth it. Every time there's major tax reform in this country, there are multiple pieces of legislation and multiple waves of consultation, and that's what we are engaged in right now. But securing the agreement of the parliament for our tax reforms means that we are now putting the core elements of those reforms in place.

We are also giving effect to the details the PM and I announced in Sydney last week, which means that every active small business now has access to concessions and carve-outs. We are strengthening the rules that limit borrowing by super funds, consistent with the recommendations of the Murray review that those opposite commissioned, and dealing with the risks identified by the financial regulators.

The three right-wing parties in this country have vacated the field on reform, and they've left first home buyers and workers hanging as a consequence. That whole three-ring circus over there share a divisive anti-worker agenda. They don't support tax cuts for workers or a fair go for first home buyers. As the PM said, Senator Cash in the other place has said that they will repeal this legislation. We've heard this story before, when the member for Hume last said that they would repeal tax cuts. That's one of the reasons why they sit over there in much fewer numbers than in the last parliamentary term. They shouldn't have listened to him then. They shouldn't be listening to him now. By repealing the legislation, they would be taking the small-business concessional threshold back from $10 million down to $2 million. What a genius! Do not listen to the member for Hume.

We are delivering cost-of-living help and we are delivering real change. We're making petrol and diesel cheaper in a temporary, targeted and tapered way. We're delivering higher wages and lower taxes for workers in an ongoing way. That's paid for by reforms which will make it easier for young people and first home buyers who have been locked out of the housing market in this country for too long. Addressing that challenge is what today is all about. It's why the agreement of the Senate is so welcome and so important.

Opposition members interjecting—

There was far too much noise during that answer. I'm not happy with the level of noise or yelling that is occurring. There can be interjections but not yelling. I've got to just take the temperature down today because it just keeps going and going, and it's in no-one's interests for that to continue.

My question is to the Treasurer. To ram through Labor's toxic taxes, the Treasurer has changed his position again and done a dangerous deal with the Greens. In May last year the Treasurer said the government had 'no intention of bowing to Greens demands to restrict self-managed superannuation funds investing in property'. How can Australian people believe or ever trust another thing the Treasurer says?

As we made clear in the press conference earlier today, we've agreed to support this amendment to reduce the risk to retirement savings and to secure the passage of these really important reforms to make the tax system fairer. We know that the member for Goldstein doesn't want to make it easier for first home buyers. We know he doesn't support our efforts to cut taxes for workers and he doesn't support our efforts to make the tax system fairer.

Multiple inquiries have raised concerns about these arrangements that we are addressing in the amendments in the Senate. David Murray was appointed by those opposite to look at these arrangements, and he said that direct borrowing by super funds is inconsistent with the objectives of superannuation to be a savings vehicle for retirement income. The Murray inquiry said that a prohibition would preserve the strengths and benefits that the super system has delivered to individuals, the financial system and the economy and would limit the risk to taxpayers.

We've made it clear that this is a relatively minor change but an important change, not the same as has been proposed in earlier elections but with a similar objective. This is all about extending the ban on borrowing, strengthening the ban on borrowing by superannuation funds but in a way that ensures that people who are doing it now will be grandfathered so that they can continue to do it. There's a responsible 45-day transition period for people who might be midstream in the process, and that's important as well. So these are responsible changes.

I was also asked about trust in what people say in this place. So I draw the House's attention to something that these—

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

On relevance: the question was very specific; it was about trusting the Treasurer. So we look forward to hearing about how we can trust the—

Resume your seat. The question was, 'How can Australians trust what the Treasurer says?'—at the end, that's correct. So the Treasurer can answer that in any way that he sees fit. It wasn't specifically—

Order! Leader of the Opposition, when you've completed your interjections, we'll continue.

This government is cutting petrol taxes. We're cutting income taxes. We're making it easier for first home buyers. We're making the tax system fairer. I'm asked about trust in what people say in this place, and I draw the House's attention to what the shadow Treasurer said earlier today: 'Cheaper prices are not flowing through to the bowser in Australia.' I want to point out to the shadow Treasurer—he's asking me about whether we can believe things people say in this place—that petrol prices in Sydney since the end of March are down by $1 per litre, in Melbourne by 99c, in Brisbane by 97c, in Perth by $1.03, in Adelaide by $1.07, in Canberra by 89c, in Hobart by 94c and in Darwin by 97c, and it is the same when it comes to diesel. So, of all the people I would take a question from about accurate statements, the shadow Treasurer would be at the very, very end of the list.

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. How is the Albanese Labor government working with our wildlife and agricultural industries, along with state and territory governments, to help respond to the detection of H5 bird flu in Western Australia?

I want to thank our member for Hasluck and the other Western Australians in this place, as well as other members, because I know a lot of people are really interested in and concerned about this H5 bird flu detection in wildlife in Western Australia. I want to reassure members that we are taking this very seriously, and, importantly, we're also acting.

As I advised here yesterday, there are now two confirmed cases of the H5 bird flu in migratory birds. Both were located in an isolated area in WA's Esperance region. I repeat, at this time, there is no evidence of any mass mortalities. There is no evidence currently of any infections in our poultry or our agricultural systems, and there is a low risk to human health.

As I have said repeatedly, with the global spread of H5 bird flu, we cannot stop migratory birds from bringing the virus to our shores. That's why we have been preparing and working around the clock with a swift and coordinated response. We've enacted our national biosecurity response arrangements, with the Western Australian government managing the on-ground response. We have enhanced surveillance activities that have been implemented in collaboration with industry, with veterinarians, with wildlife carers and with local communities. Further tests are currently being undertaken by the Western Australian government, and we'll work with them to provide an update as soon as the initial test results become available. Our technical experts continue to meet on a regular basis and will guide the next steps in our response as more information, such as testing results, becomes available.

Enacting this swift response is part of our government's significant work to bolster our preparedness, response and capabilities to the H5 bird flu, because, of course, we have seen the devastating impact that this has had globally in wildlife populations. Part of delivering over $2 billion in additional biosecurity resourcing since we've come to government has included more than $113 million specifically towards our H5 bird flu preparations. This includes investments that we've made to strengthen early detection surveillance, and we've seen that working, and to deploy rapid response equipment in every state and territory. It is work that has been recognised by both our wildlife and our agriculture industries. Doctor Carol Booth from the Invasive Species Council said,

We are pleased to see the serious and rapid government response to this detection. The preparation, planning and coordination over the past 2 years mean Australia is in a strong position to respond.

I also want to reiterate today my thanks to the Australian public. Ordinary Australians have been incredibly diligent in reporting sick birds, and they are our first line of response in our biosecurity system. If you see sick or dead birds or other animals that are dead, please do not touch them. Avoid contact, make a record of what you see and where you see it, and contact birdflu.gov.au.

My question is to the Treasurer. Mr Treasurer, some 900,000 student visa holders are now living in Australia. The number of temporary visa holders is increasing at one million a year. Clearly, within 10 or 13 years, the people who are not born in Australia will outnumber the people born in Australia. Treasurer—the cost. When one considers that 92 per cent of these people are going to Sydney and Melbourne, where there are no jobs—all industry has fled those cities—could you explain how you're going to handle the financial situation arising from these appalling numbers?

Thanks to the member for Kennedy for his question. Of course, in this country, the net overseas migration numbers have been coming down quite considerably. They were absolutely surging when we came to office. They're now down about 45 per cent from their peak. In the most recent net overseas migration numbers, which were released last week, they were down once again and are at their lowest level in a few years. Those are the facts. I know that those opposite, as they desperately try to cosy up to One Nation, dispute those facts. But those are the facts in the ABS data.

When it comes to employment, including in our major cities, this government has seen lower average unemployment than any government in the last 50 years. We're proud of that record when it comes to the labour market. Once again, those are facts. I'm not accusing the member for Kennedy of this, but if you have a look at the quite ridiculous answer, for example, that the Leader of the Opposition gave to a very simple question about the monoculture today, you can see what's going on over there. One of the reasons why the Liberal Party is dying in his arms is because his efforts to out 'One Nation' One Nation are becoming increasingly pathetic.

My point of order goes to relevance. The question was about the rise in net overseas migration under the Labor government. You should come back to that.

Anyone who listened to that question wouldn't think it's a narrow question. There was a lot in that question. If you ask a question with a lot in it, you'll get an answer with a lot. And the Treasurer is—

The Leader of the Opposition, I'm going to ask you to desist in this continual banter.

Well, whoever you're talking with, I'm going to ask you—and ministers as well—to give it a rest for a while. Everyone, I need to hear the questions. I need to hear the answers. And it'll just help the House if this continual conversation has a pause for a while at least.

I'm responding to the interjection of the Leader of the Opposition, who's chirping at me about Australian values. This side of the House understands that a key Australian value is a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. This side of the House recognises the Australian value at the core of making it easier for people to buy their first home and not their 20th home. This side of the House recognises, in Australian values, the vast and important contribution made by multicultural Australia.

Not for this side of the House is there this rubbish, playing footsie with the 'monoculture' language being pushed around by One Nation. The Leader of the Opposition was asked again and again to define and defend basic Australian values, and he is unable, unwilling and incapable of doing that. This is why the Liberal Party is dying in his arms and on his watch, because everybody knows what's going on. His efforts to out 'One Nation' One Nation are looking more and more pathetic with each passing day. That's what's going on over there. This right-wing party and that right-wing party and that right-wing party are all the same. They've all got a divisive antiworker agenda. We think workers, young people and first home buyers are absolutely essential to Australian values, and our policies reflect that.

I welcome the next batch of local government officials who are with us today. We have Councillor Russell Webb, the Mayor of Tamworth Regional Council; Councillor Shaun 'Zoro' Radnedge, the mayor of the mighty Murweh Shire Council; Councillor Robert Mustow, the Mayor of Richmond Valley Council; and Councillor Gavin Morris, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle.

My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government rewarding Australians' hard work and encouraging aspiration? How does this apply to policies, including the recent budget, and what are the alternatives—

The member for Boothby will pause. We're not having commentary, particularly from the Leader of the Opposition. When he asks questions, he expects the House to be silent, and I give him that courtesy, always. How about we do the same for the member for Boothby?

There's no point pointing. I just want you to sit there and listen to the member for Boothby. People listened to your question out of respect. Show the member for Boothby respect. It's not a hard concept. People ask the question in silence. Then people can make their decisions on the answers, but not before that. The member for Boothby will begin her question again, and I'd like everyone to show her respect.

My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government rewarding Australians' hard work and encouraging aspiration? How does this apply to policies, including the recent budget, and what are the alternatives being offered?

I thank the member for Boothby for her question. We on this side of the House stand for aspiration for all, not just for some—the opportunity that generations of Australians have fought for, including those Australians who've come from overseas not just for a better opportunity to work hard and to aspire to a better life for themselves but for better opportunities for their children and grandchildren to come as well. That is our vision for Australia, and that is what our reforms are about. Everything that we do, whether it's making the tax system fairer, rewarding hard work with tax cuts, making Medicare stronger and more accessible, giving people the opportunity to upskill through free TAFE, building our resilience by investing in Australian manufacturing and a future made here in Australia or, of course, helping young Australians who hold the aspiration of buying their first home achieve that dream.

Around the country, more and more first home buyers are getting a fair crack. In Unanderra, in Cunningham electorate, Blake Torresan, the selling agent, said this: 'The home was sold the day of the scheduled auction. It was purchased by an Illawarra first home buyer.' In the Shortland electorate of Pat Conroy, in Cardiff Heights, an auction drew seven registered bidders, all first home buyers. Paul Campbell, the estate agent, said: 'We have a lot of first home buyers looking, and they're not competing against investors right now.' In Tighes Hill, in the electorate of Newcastle, Jesse Wilton, the listing agent, said: 'We had a first home buyer, a young family and a young couple bidding on it, and it went to the first home buyer.'

The member for Gippsland is warned.

In Calwell, Nick Fernandez, the estate agent who sold the home, said: 'The owner is over the moon, and so is the first home buyer.' In South Melbourne, in the electorate of Melbourne, at one auction, the successful bidder had spent more than a year trying to buy. This is what they said, 'I think it's great to encourage younger buyers rather than investors making more money all the time. It's giving young people a shot at it,' and that is precisely what we are doing through these reforms: giving young people a shot at the stability that comes from owning a roof over your own head. For too long, the housing system has been broken; we're doing something about it. We're taking action, delivering real change and making a positive difference.

Why didn't you take that to the last election?

Before I call the member for Lindsay, the member for Lyne will leave the chamber for the uncontrollable yelling at the end of that answer. We're not going to have people screaming and yelling. Everyone, take a breath. I've got a few people on warnings, but, if that's not working, there will be no warnings. Just do better.

My question is to the Prime Minister. To ram through Labor's toxic taxes, the Prime Minister has changed his position yet again and done a dangerous deal with the Greens. Will the Prime Minister rule out agreeing—

No, we're going to start again. Just as for the member for Boothby, it's a two-way street. The member for Lindsay is going to begin her question again; the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government is warned.

Thank you, Mr Speaker—

Alright, the member for Lindsay can just get on with her question.

My question is for the Prime Minister. To ram through Labor's toxic taxes, the Prime Minister has changed his position yet again and done a dangerous deal with the Greens. Will the Prime Minister rule out agreeing to the Greens' demand to remove grandfathering on negative gearing?

I thank the member for her question; I really do. We have legislation which passed the House of Representatives—the reform that we think is appropriate. We now will have it carried by the Senate on Thursday, and, yes, we have secured a majority in the Senate because those opposite—the three right-wing parties—didn't take Dennis Shanahan's advice and actually engage in debate. What they chose to do was what they consistently do, which is to just say no before they've seen any detail, before they've seen the legislation. And now they've promised to repeal it.

Well, there is a very big difference, of course, between us and those opposite. We're building 55,000 social and affordable homes over five years through the HAFF. They built 373 over the decade they were in office. We've helped 260,000 Australians into their first home with five per cent deposits. They want to gut the scheme and said that it would only benefit the children of billionaires. Remember that? We're throwing everything at housing supply.

The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Lindsay asked a very political question that contained a lot of matter in it, but I'll give her a fair go.

On relevance—I asked the Prime Minister an important question for Australians, particularly those trying to get ahead. Will he rule out agreeing with the Greens to remove grandfathering—

Resume your seat. The Prime Minister was asked about the legislation that has been ushered through the other place and what deals have been done about a particular topic, but he's being directly relevant. When you've got a question framed like that, there's going to be some political commentary because it was a political question, which is fine. But the Prime Minister is being directly relevant.

As for negative gearing, what we support is not the same position as the Greens political party, because, unlike this Leader of the Opposition, who allows the One Nation tail to wag the Liberal and National Party dog, what we do is we stand up for our values. Our values are to make sure make sure that grandfathering is there in negative gearing and in the changes that we've made. We've made sure as well that negative gearing can still occur but what they'll be doing is investing in new homes, not existing ones.

So the examples that I just used, the examples that we're seeing right around the country on Saturdays, are that, for the first time in a long while, young Australians are getting a fair crack, because they're not competing against investors who have taxpayers supporting their bids. It has changed the whole competition there and is enabling first home buying Australians to have a fair crack. What they want is to reinstate the tax breaks for property investors across the board—that is what they've said—and take away the gains which are made.

We have a $47 billion Homes for Australia plan. They didn't even bother to have a housing minister most of the time they were in office.

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is the Albanese Labor government helping Australians with the cost of fuel and the cost of energy? What policies would increase costs on Australians?

I thank the honourable member for her question and the very powerful way she represents the constituents from her beautiful part of the world in this House. In the face of the largest energy crisis the world has ever seen, it's important that Australians know their government has got their back through this crisis. The announcement made that we will extend the fuel excise relief for another month shows Australians that we understand that this international crisis has a long tail and will have impacts for some time. We will continue to provide the support as necessary, as has been outlined by the Prime Minister and the Treasurer. That's real and valuable relief as Australians go to the bowser each and every day.

But also, when it comes to energy bills, we continue to supply support, and one of the ways we do that is through the cheaper home batteries policy, one I know the House likes to get updates on. I'm pleased to tell the House that, as of today, 448,342 Australian households have taken up an Albanese government cheaper home battery. As we've said before, this is particularly the case in the outer suburbs of Australia. I can update the House: there are now four electorates where, less than a year into this program—this program turns a year old in one week's time—more than 10 per cent of their households have a cheaper home battery.

There's the electorate of Greenway; the Attorney-General is very proud of that. The electorate of Mitchell is another one. I'm not sure how the member for Mitchell feels about that, but, given his margin is 3.8 per cent and there's 10 per cent of households with a battery, there's a bit of a conflict for him. The member for Mayo is in a similar boat, with more than 10 per cent. Also, there's the electorate of Wright. More than 10 per cent of the households in the electorate of Wright have a cheaper home battery—which, as it happens, is also more than his margin, of 7.9 per cent. But I've got better news for the member for Wright. Based on current trends, his is about to take over the member for Mayo's as the most popular electorate for cheaper home batteries in Australia. For a Queenslander, that's a great result. Queenslanders are taking up cheaper home batteries, not only reducing their bills each and every day but also reducing the bills for everyone.

The other thing we're doing is supporting Australians with their choices to buy electric vehicles, if they choose to, through the new vehicle efficiency standard and the electric vehicle tax cut. What brings all these policies together? It is that cheaper home batteries, the new vehicle efficiency standard and the electric vehicle tax cut would all be abolished by the opposition. They stand against them all. When they have a chance to stand with Australians and the choices they choose to make to reduce their energy use, to reduce their bills and to reduce their emissions, we stand with them in those choices. We support the choices they make in the electorates of Mitchell and Wright and electorates right across Australia, and those opposite just don't get it. They would stop that support for Australians cold stone dead. They would take that support away, but we will continue to provide that support. We'll continue to support Australians in the choices they make.

My question is to the Prime Minister. To ram through Labor's toxic taxes, the Prime Minister has changed his position again and done a dangerous deal with the Greens. Will the Prime Minister rule out agreeing to the Greens' demand to abolish the diesel fuel rebate?

I thank the member for his question. It strikes me as passing strange that those opposite say that the legislation that is before the Senate is so terrible that they had to rule out any support for it before they'd even seen it. Now they're asking a series of questions not about things that are in the legislation but things that aren't.

Order! The member for Goldstein is warned and has the MPI.

And then they have the hide to interject, from the chief yapper over here, that we have made sure that we have spoken to other people in the Senate besides Labor senators in order to secure support. Today, of course, we did welcome our 30th senator, Tammy Tyrrell, into the caucus, and that was a good day. What we have done and what we do is draw a very big distinction between us and other political parties. We're prepared to cooperate where people are prepared to engage, including the Greens. We're engaged in constructive discussion over this legislation. But we have a very different political view. I've fought the Greens for the last 30 years, it must be said, in my electorate—pretty successfully, it must be said.

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

It goes to relevance. The Prime Minister is taxmaxxing with the Greens, and we want to know whether—

Resume your seat. If we're going to go down that path with commentary in using points of order just to get TV grabs, we're not going to allow it. You simply get up and ask the point of order. We're not having a period with extra comments.

An opposition member interjecting—

That wasn't part of the question, and the manager knows that. I will revert back to what we started to do. I won't take points of order if they're going to be abused in such an egregious way. There just won't be points of order, and we can go through the examples of where the Speakers have done that. I don't wish to do that, but that is where this is heading if those spurious points of order continue.

As I was saying, they asked about the Greens political party. There's now one of them over there—one. There were four. We knocked out three of the four at the last election because we took a very different position from the Greens political party, as we consistently do.

My job isn't to give advice to this bloke, but my advice is how about you stand up to One Nation on something? How about you prepare to follow this bloke's leadership and not bend the knee when asked questions like, 'Do you support monoculturalism for Australia?' It's not a complex question because we've never been a monoculture. We have different people of different faiths, different ethnicities, different backgrounds that make up Australia—and, it must be said, have made up Australia forever. This is a pining for a time that has never existed in this country. The First Fleet had people who were in chains and people who were in charge; it had Protestants and Catholics; it had a multicultural society, and it continues to have one. (Time expired)

You can't even say it!

The Minister for Small Business is warned. The member for Barker will leave the chamber under 94(a) for interjecting non-stop.

The member for Barker then left the chamber.

My question is to the Minister for Housing. How is the Albanese government helping more Australians achieve the dream of homeownership? How is this approach more beneficial than others?

Opposition members interjecting—

No! We'll do this again. I don't know why this is so hard. Everyone gets treated fairly and in the same way. The member will begin his question again. We don't need people interjecting when others are asking questions. Let's do it right and do it properly. The member for Hughes now has the call.

My question is to the Minister for Housing. How is the Albanese Labor government helping more Australians achieve the dream of homeownership? How is this approach more beneficial than others?

I thank the member for Hughes for his question. We are just about to tick over 1,000 of his constituents getting into their homeownership opportunity with the support of our government. What a great moment for them. The member for Hughes and our government understand that there is no greater aspiration in our country than the aspiration to own your own home, and that's why homeownership is at the heart of our bold, ambitious Homes for Australia plan.

Today, in our country, more than half of all first home buyers in the market are getting support from the Albanese government to own their first home. We are almost at 270,000 Australians who have gotten into homeownership under our five per cent deposit program. The five per cent deposit program is all about getting first home buyers to auction sooner. Our budget reforms are about levelling the playing field when they get there and the results are starting to speak for themselves. On average, more than 115,000 first home buyers have purchased a home each year under our government. This is more than any other Australian government in our history.

I'm asked about alternatives. The coalition of the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation have spent years attacking almost every measure that our government has put in place to support first home buyers. You're not going to believe this: they want to cut Help to Buy, a program that does nothing more than help 10,000 Australians on low and median incomes get the opportunity they deserve to get into homeownership. They don't support the expansion of the five per cent deposit program and have said that they want to roll that back.

You're not going to believe this, but when it comes to our tax changes the shadow minister for housing has not only said that he wants to roll back the level playing field that we are creating but he actually wants to put investors on an even higher platform. He is talking about a new regime that actually gives a bigger CGT discount for investors. How could you come up with that idea?

It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that those opposite have declared war on our nation's aspiring first home buyers. But let's have a little look at what their constituents think.

The member for Hume, opposite me, is groaning. Well, he might be interested to know that 1,370 of his constituents have bought under the five per cent deposit program. The member for New England has decided not to show up today, but 2,292 of his constituents have bought under the five per cent deposit program. And the member for La Trobe—where's my friend the member for La Trobe?—should know we have supported 6,000 people in his electorate get into the dream of homeownership. That is far more than his margin at the last election.

It's abundantly clear now—those opposite are the only people in our country who can't see that we've got a broken housing market. To the young people of this country, I say: Labor sees you, we see your aspiration and we are giving you the support you need to get the homeownership opportunities you deserve.

I give my final welcomes for all of our wonderful mayors that are with us today: Councillor Athina Pascoe-Bell and Councillor Wayne Bayliss, the mayor and deputy mayor of the City of Palmerston; Councillor Travis Barber, the Mayor of the District Council of Streaky Bay; Councillor Jodie Swaffer, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Karratha; Councillor Naomi Fowler from the Gold Coast; Melissa Jones, the Mayor of Walkerville Council; and, finally, Mayor Scott Jeffery, the Mayor of Strathbogie Shire Council.

My question is to the Prime Minister. To ram through Labor's toxic taxes, the Prime Minister has changed his position again and done a dangerous deal with the Greens. Will the Prime Minister rule out agreeing to the Greens' demand to impose a tax on the family home?

I suspect that there might have been a change of mind from those opposite because earlier on, when the Leader of the Opposition gave a press conference and was asked on at least six occasions about monoculturalism and whether he supported it or not, he was saying that he was opposed and they were going to reverse the legislation that's before the Senate. But what they've done is come into question time and they don't seem to oppose anything that is going through the Senate. What they're doing is talking about everything but. What we want is to support first home buyers to have their own home. We want more Australians owning their own homes, not fewer. Those opposite—and it goes directly to the question asked—are opposed to more Australians owning their own homes, because the measures that we've put in place directly relate to that—not just these measures but the past measures as well. That's what Help to Buy is about—a shared equity scheme to get more Australians into homeownership. That's what the five per cent deposit is about. That has helped 260,000 Australians into their first home. That's what the change is—to take away the advantage that investors have over first home buyers at auctions around the country. It is about increasing homeownership.

We are the party of homeownership. They are the opponents of homeownership. They are the party that think it's more important that an investor get their 10th home than a first home buyer gets their first home and a roof over their head. We see it—

The member for Parkes?

A point on relevance. It was a very simple question: will you rule out the demand from the Greens to impose a tax on the family home?

Yes, that was one part of the question, but the Prime Minister has answered that part of the question early in the answer. I know the member would like a yes or no answer. The Prime Minister needs to be directly relevant. I can't make him answer the question you'd like him to, but as long as he's being directly relevant, he's within the standing orders.

I'm being directly relevant because not only do we on this side think the first home and the family home is sacrosanct but also we want more Australians to have it. That's the point that you're opposed to. In Balmain, in the electorate of Sydney, a young family just recently got into a home on Saturday in the electorate of Cook. Luke Lombardi, a sales agent, has seen an uptick in interest from first home buyers this week. He said: 'I've had a few properties on the market for an extended time. I've seen multiple offers this week.' That is what is happening right around the country—Labor supporting people into their own home, which is so important. Those opposite are just opposed to it.

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government's investment in defence providing critical capability for Australia's defence force as well as creating export opportunities for well-paid, secure jobs? Why is this better than the other approaches for Australia's defence?

I thank the member for her question and acknowledge her service in the Australian Army. The Jindalee Operational Radar Network is an incredible technology. It relies on bouncing a signal off the ionosphere, the ceiling of our atmosphere, to detect objects beyond the curvature of the Earth's surface—a radar which can literally see over the horizon. It's a technology which was developed back in the 1980s by defence science in combination with BAE, at a time when there was not the same system of satellites as exists today. But, in a world where those same satellites can now be targeted, this is a technology which is coming back into its own.

As the best long-range radar in the world, it is the envy of the world, and that is why Canada has agreed to partner with Australia in its future use by building its own radar to surveil the vast areas of Canada's Arctic north. This is a $2.5 billion deal. It is the biggest defence export in Australia's history, and it's an example of successful defence policy—focusing on the detail, meticulously building our relationships and having a clear sense of the strategic objectives of our partners so that we can properly engage.

That stands in stark contrast to how we know the Liberals do defence. For the Liberals, defence policy is just about a single figure—a percentage of GDP—but at the same time not having an ability to articulate a single military platform upon which the defence budget would be spent. We've known for some time that the Liberals are defence dilettantes, but last week we also learnt that One Nation is no better. They did promise to cut health and education to fund defence, but, when it came to defence, there was again just a focus on a single number, leaning into the vibe of the thing and then hoping for the best. The Liberals and One Nation are the Dennis Denutos of defence policy.

This government is very different. We are getting on with business. The two biggest defence exports in our country's history have happened under us, and the latest deal with Canada will support 1,000 direct and indirect jobs across South Australia and Victoria. These are deals which are building high-tech industry in Australia. They are deals which are increasing our national security. They are deals which are helping to keep Australians safe.

My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management. The 1997-2010 millennium drought bruised. The 2017-19 tinderbox wounded Australia. Is Australia's irrigated water capacity post the Murray-Darling buybacks strong enough to secure Australia's food supply for both human and stock operations during the next prolonged drought, and have you negotiated a water allocation from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder for food production during the next periods of drought?

I thank you for your question. Whilst emergency management takes into account rapid-onset events, it doesn't actually take into account drought events, so I will hand over to the minister responsible for water in the House to answer the question.

The question goes as well to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, and the question goes to what happens to water allocations during times of drought and obviously, as the member would be more aware than most people in the chamber, the different sorts of water security. For example, in the southern areas of his electorate, there are areas which have very low water security, whereas the licences in a place like Griffith on the Murrumbidgee tend to have high water security. That affects what is planted. You're more likely to have opportunity crops like rice in areas where the water security levels change radically, and you'll have permanent plantings like oranges, for example, in areas such as the Riverina and around Griffith, where the water security levels are much higher. What the Murray Darling Plan did was—

The minister will pause. The member for Farrer, on a point of order? The minister has concluded his answer. We'll move to the next question. Thank you, Member for Farrer.

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering better outcomes for working Australians? And what could put this progress at risk?

I'd like to thank the member for Lalor for her question and her ongoing advocacy for hardworking Australians in her electorate and right around the country. Of course, the Albanese Labor government has introduced significant reforms to support Australian workers and get wages moving.

Our government has passed laws to improve enterprise bargaining, bringing employers and workers back to the table. As a result, we've seen a record number of employees benefiting from higher wages. We're also backing workers through our same job, same pay reforms. Before these reforms were in place, labour hire workers were doing the same work, wearing the same uniform, turning up to the same shifts and getting paid less than direct employees. I, along with the member for Paterson, recently met with Scott, a coalminer in the Hunter. He told me that at his site labour hire workers are now receiving $40,000 a year more because of this government. These workers are some of the thousands across Australia receiving pay increases and, importantly, now being treated fairly.

Of course, this Labor government has advocated each and every year to the Fair Work Commission to boost the pay of low-paid workers. From next week, minimum award workers will receive a wage increase of 4.75 per cent in their pay packets. This represents a real wage increase and important cost-of-living relief. Critically, the lowest paid workers that rely on the national minimum wage will receive a six per cent pay increase from next week.

We're not only backing workers by supporting higher wages; we're backing them to get a fair go in the tax system. This Labor government is delivering tax cuts, with the average worker benefiting by up to $2,800 a year.

I'm asked what could put this progress at risk. Well, the biggest risk to working Australians is the three right-wing parties over on that side: the Liberal Party, the National Party and One Nation. All three of them voted against same job, same pay, which is delivering higher pay and fairer conditions. All three railed against our reforms to reinvigorate enterprise bargaining, which is now delivering higher wages and better conditions. And, of course, in the last few weeks, all three failed to back a wage increase for our lowest paid workers in this country. It is only a Labor government that can be trusted to be on the side of working Australians.

My question is to the Prime Minister. In March last year, the Prime Minister said, 'I don't negotiate with the Greens.' When will you stop lying?

I'm going to demand that be withdrawn immediately. I'm tempted to take further action because this cannot—

No, you're not going to be able to rephrase or withdraw. I made it crystal clear yesterday and the time before. You are demeaning the dignity of this House. For 125 years those sorts of descriptors have not been used. Traditions and conventions are important in this House of Representatives, and I will uphold them every single day of my time as Speaker.

An opposition member: Telling the truth's important too.

Order! I'm going to get the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw, to assist the House.

I withdraw.

We'll move to the next question.

An opposition member: Make him answer.

Out of respect for the Leader of the Opposition, he's not being named, but if this continues, I'll be left with no other choice. This is a deliberate defiance of the conventions and traditions of this House. I believe in traditions and conventions, and I want this House to uphold its principles and dignity. Language matters. Every Speaker has followed this tradition. I don't know why those on the opposite benches cannot follow what every other person in this House has done.

My question is to the Minister for Communications. How is the Albanese Labor government finishing the job of rolling out a reliable and futureproof national broadband network? What other approaches has the government been asked to consider?

I thank the member for Cunningham for her question and acknowledge her relentless advocacy for improved telecommunications in her community. The Albanese Labor government is getting on with the job of providing every Australian with reliable high-speed broadband by ripping up coalition copper and installing futureproof fibre. Our vision is absolutely clear: making Australia the most connected continent on the face of the earth. No matter where you live or what you do, you deserve the ability to connect, whether it's so you can work from home, run a business or stay in touch with those you love.

In July last year, I updated the House on the Albanese Labor government's investment in the NBN. Since then, I'm pleased to report that 90 per cent of the NBN's fixed-line network is now able to access gigabit speeds. That's over 10 million homes and businesses. This was possible because of our 2022 investment to upgrade 1.5 million premises from coalition copper to full fibre. That work was completed on time and on budget by NBN Co.

Their dedicated work continues, with tens of thousands of homes and businesses making the switch to full fibre every month. More customers are also taking up higher speed tiers, helped by NBN's Accelerate Great program, which has given speed increases at no additional wholesale cost. Work is also complete on NBN's Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrade Program, which, thanks to the Commonwealth's investment of $480 million, is now providing up to five times faster speeds over fixed wireless. These upgrades have also expanded the fixed wireless footprint to some premises that were on satellite services. This in turn allowed for an increase in the performance of the existing satellite service. Last year I also spoke about finishing the job and upgrading the final 622,000 premises on coalition copper to faster technologies, predominantly full fibre, with the Albanese government investing up to $3 billion.

One thing that hasn't changed since last year is our belief—Labor's belief—that the NBN should always remain in public hands. Unfortunately, one other thing that hasn't changed since last year is the views of those opposite. In 2024, the coalition opposed the commitment to public ownership bill—

The member for Bowman will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

The member for Bowman then left the chamber.

leaving the door open to privatising the NBN if they are returned to government. Let me be clear: Labor will make no apology for fixing the coalition's mess and delivering equitable access to high-speed broadband.

My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. Minister, the Kooyong community recently mourned the loss of Neale Daniher. Neil bore motor neurone disease with dignity and strength. I have another community member, Graham Crossan, also living with MND. Graham's 80. He's ventilator dependent, and he needs 24-hour care. But your integrated assessment tool says he doesn't qualify for the highest level of support. It's a disgrace. Minister, how can you possibly justify your integrated assessment tool to Australians like Graham?

I thank the member for Kooyong for her question, and I thank her for her engagements with me and my office in regard to aged-care matters. I'm very familiar with Mr Crossan's case. It is indeed a very difficult situation that he and his family face. I also acknowledge his wife, Mrs Crossan, and the care that she provides and the advocacy that she's provided on his behalf throughout this difficult period for their family. Out of respect for their privacy, I'm not going to go into the specific details of their case in the chamber, although, as his representative—

The member for Kooyong on a point of order.

The Crossans would very much appreciate if you could deal with the specifics of Mr Crossan's case in the House.

The minister has made clear how he's going to handle the situation, but I thank the member for Kooyong for allowing the House to consider that. The minister is entitled to answer, making sure he's directly relevant.

As I was saying, out of respect for the privacy for the Crossan family, as I would have for any older person across our country, I'm not going to outline the specifics of their case in this chamber. I'm most happy to meet with you in a more appropriate setting—and with the Crossan family, if necessary—to work through the specifics. Nevertheless, I am remaining constantly briefed on the situation of Mr Crossan and the circumstances that he faces. In a more general sense, I want to make some comments about motor neurone disease and how it's dealt with within the aged-care system, because that is relevant to this particular case amongst others.

As everyone in this chamber would know, MND is a rare, incurable and fatal condition, and one of its main devastating characteristics is its rapid deterioration in physical function. As you point out, earlier this month, we lost Neale Daniher, who was a giant of the AFL but more importantly an absolute legend when it came to advocating for awareness and for a cure for this cruel disease. Because of the speed at which the condition of people with MND can change, the government has amended the aged-care rules to recognise MND as a discrete specific condition warranting urgent priority under our aged-care system and specifically under Support at Home. This change will give all older Australians with MND priority access to the Support at Home program.

The change applies retrospectively, meaning that older Australians with MND who have already been assessed and were waiting for a Support at Home place, as well as those approved in the future, will be prioritised for urgent access to their funding. This reflects our government's willingness to listen and adjust where the evidence tells us to. We're guided by people's experiences of the aged-care system, and we'll keep refining to ensure that the system is one that people can trust. I reiterate to the member for Kooyong my willingness to immediately meet with her and discuss in greater detail the situation facing Mr Crossan and the Crossan family and to continue to work to get the very best outcome for Mr Crossan and for all sufferers of this horrible disease.

My question is to the Minister for Education. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to make quality early education and care more affordable and accessible? What has been the response?

Can I thank my friend the totally awesome dolphin-training member for Tangney for his question? Child care isn't a nice to have for more than a million mums and dads across the country; it's an essential service, and we're rolling out five big reforms to make it better, to make it fairer and to make it safer. The first of those are our cheaper childcare laws, and you'll remember they were opposed by the Liberal Party. They were also opposed by the Liberal Party with the orange logo up the back. I can tell the House that, after three years, those cheaper childcare laws have saved the average family more than $11,000. That's the first. The second is the 3 Day Guarantee. It's been in place for about six months, and that's already helping tens of thousands of kids from poor families to get access to early education that were denied that before—again, opposed by the Liberal Party and opposed by the orange Liberal Party up the back.

The third is building childcare centres where they don't exist at the moment, including in primary schools. If you're a mum or a dad and you've got a kid at school and you've got a kid at child care, that means one drop-off not two, once again opposed by the blue Liberal Party and opposed by the orange Liberal Party. Fourth is the biggest safety reforms that have ever been made to child care. That includes banning mobile phones. That includes the CCTV trial. That includes mandatory safety training, and that's supported by everyone across the chamber. The fifth is the 15 per cent pay rise. I told the House yesterday that, when we came to office, childcare workers were leaving the system in droves, not because they didn't love the job but because love doesn't pay the bills, and they could earn more money stacking shelves than they could educating our kids.

That's now changed. Because of that 15 per cent pay rise, we now have 20,000 more workers in our childcare centres today than before that pay rise, something the Liberal Party never did and something One Nation would never do—something this Labor government has done. It means more money in the pockets of workers across the country. But it's not just that, because you've got to apply and you've got to commit to two conditions to get this funding. First is a cap on your fees. That means parents pay less than they otherwise would. Parents will save about $1,500 over the next two years. Second, you need to meet the national safety standard. There is nothing more important than the safety of our kids. I think all members of parliament would agree making centres meet that standard is important. So this is the trifecta—more pay for workers, prices down for parents and more work to keep our kids safe.

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

Later this afternoon, parliament will adjourn to allow members of the House of Representatives to attend the opening of the Anzac Hall and Anzac Atrium in the Australian War Memorial. The adjournment is a significant step that befits an important moment in the life of our nation, one that honours a central part of the spirit on which our nation is built. The Anzac Hall and atrium enhance the institution of which they are now part. They are an act of profound respect from our nation to all who have served in our name and all who serve now. At the opening of the Australian War Memorial in 1941, Prime Minister Curtin said it would bring our nation closer to the meaning of Australian courage, sacrifice and faith. Even as the decades between us and so many of those conflicts grow and multiply, the Australian War Memorial keeps us close to that meaning. What we are opening this evening will keep us even closer. Lest we forget.

I associate the coalition with the words of the Prime Minister. Of course we will participate in this important event this evening. I pay tribute to the extraordinary work that's been done by the Australian War Memorial and successive governments. I should say this did start under a coalition government but has been continued under the current government. It's an important piece of work to pay tribute to our war fighters and those who have served our country over many, many generations, many of whom who have paid the ultimate price. These are extraordinary people, extraordinary Australians, and I look forward to paying tribute to them and the great work that's been done for a long time by the Australian War Memorial.

These documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to the honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.

I have received a letter from the honourable member for Goldstein proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely:

The economic harm caused by the G overnment ' s plan for higher taxes.

I call upon those honourable members who approve of the proposed discussion to rise in their places.

More than the number of members required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

Another day, another question time of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer continuing and perpetuating the myths that they took to the last election—they're somehow honouring the policies that they took to the Australian people. The brutal reality is, around the country right now, the self-starters of Australia, the small businesses, the family businesses, those who are seeking hard to get ahead, the investors, those who are backing themselves through their hard work and sacrifice and now the retirees of Australia are wondering 'what is the government going to do to attack us next?'

On budget night of this year, there were so many Australians who tuned in thinking that they were simply going to be watching another budget handed down about the finances of the nation. Instead, they saw a direct assault on the aspiration and ambition of Australians. What they witnessed was a treasurer and a prime minister whose focus was on how they could raid the piggy banks of the nation, targeting young Australians saving for a home deposit and doubling the tax rate. To those who rent simply to be able to put a roof on top of their head, the Prime Minister and the Treasurer have turned around and said in their own budget papers that there are going to be increases to the costs of rent. The government goes on and deceives and says to the Australian people that, through their higher taxes, they're somehow going to lower the price of housing, yet concurrently they go around and in their own budget papers clearly articulate—while they overshoot their migration target by 90,000 over the next two years—that, under this budget, the Australian government is going to be responsible for building fewer homes.

Since that budget night, Australians have read story after story of how they're directly assaulted by the Treasurer and the Prime Minister's budget measures—higher taxes, higher costs—making it harder for them to get ahead. It's quite clear now, and we see the consequences starkly in the consumer confidence data: record low consumer confidence across Australia and, in the small-business confidence data, record small-business confidence in this nation's history. And we have another metric: record small-business insolvencies. That is the lived reality Australians are having to experience under this government. They are living with the biggest deterioration that we have ever seen in our economic circumstances and our economic confidence, and it's all perpetuated by the Albanese government.

And just when the Australian people thought, 'Time's up; maybe they'll stop coming after us, assaulting us and targeting us with higher taxes,' the government has today struck a dangerous, dishonest and dirty deal with the Australian Greens in the Senate and is now targeting Australia's retirees. Well, Australians are sick of it. They're saying very clearly that the Albanese government does not have the best interests of Australians at heart. And this is what is so shocking and distressing: Australians wake up every morning, working hard to get ahead to make sure they can afford food and they can afford what they're putting in their red basket or their trolley. Australians wake up and they work hard so they can go on and do things like pay their mortgage. They want to educate themselves, they want to be able to get ahead, they want to save for a better future or for a rainy day and, most importantly, they one day want retirement security so that, in the latter stage of life, when they're vulnerable, they don't have to worry about their future or their financial security.

At every single stage of life, the Albanese government has targeted Australians directly on their financial security, so they won't be able to put themselves in the best position to be able to decide how to live their best lives. It's now incredibly clear that this is the worst budget in Australian history, and that takes an incredible mark of achievement. Think about it—think about all the wreckage that was left behind by the Whitlam government in years past. Now, we know that the Treasurer loves to wax lyrical and pretend that he's the modern-age Keating, but what we actually watch, not just in question time but when we go out of the chamber and to anywhere else, is a Treasurer who doesn't even have the courage to stand up and make the case for the reforms or the introduction of the measures that they've put in this budget and refuse to take to the Australian people. Paul Keating would have the courage to take those measures to an election, make the case at the election and make the case afterwards. Instead, what we have is a prime minister and a treasurer who say one thing before an election then do the exact opposite after because they think they can sneak it past the Australian people and get away with it.

The Australian people and their aspiration are just collateral damage in the process, and it hasn't ended. The tax measures—the tax hikes—that were introduced in this budget may have been glaringly obvious to the Australian people on budget night, but, as detail continues to be revealed, there is no-one off this government's hitlist. You see the consultation paper they've now issued is like a footnote because they clearly didn't understand the economic consequences of their budget. It was a footnote.

At the last minute, as people slowly realise that the measures—the tax hikes—being taken in the budget were not just going to be targeted to property, all of a sudden, the people are involved in venture capital, startups and those building new businesses to grow out the economic opportunity said: 'Hang on, I think this applies to us. Hang on, they're directly assaulting our business, our opportunity and our capacity to employ Australians too.' In a rushed scurry at the last minute, the Treasurer inserted a footnote in the budget saying: 'We'll do some sort of consultation. Don't come after us; it's okay.'

What's been revealed, step after step, just like the small businesses of the nation, is that they have been on Labor's hit list too. Now we have a consultation paper out there trying to describe what an innovative business is. Yesterday, we heard from the Treasurer mocking disdain of businesses that innovate in incremental ways, no matter what their history. This is one of the most disgraceful things I think I've ever seen a Treasurer do. Let's face it, there's a fair list of them at the moment. But, to have the Treasurer standing on the other side of the dispatch box, mocking hairdressers, ridiculing brickies and attacking people who earn a decent living and who are trying to get ahead to support themselves and their families, it makes one wonder what sort of government this is. Their only solution is to attack Australians, tax Australians and inflate Australians out of a better future. They ridicule those people who want to get ahead, all because of the arrogance of this government. They think they know how to live people's lives and decide their fortunes better than the people do.

There's a reason Australians are so angry. They fundamentally believe that they should be in control of their own lives. Australians fundamentally believe that hard work should pay off. Australians fundamentally believe that we should have honest government. Australians fundamentally believe that we should have open government, and Australians fundamentally believe that we should have a system where they're in control of their own lives and where they feel a basic sense of respect from the government that's supposed to be there to serve them. This is where this Labor government has got it the wrong way round. They think that people are there to conform to them. Actually, the Australian government's job is to serve the Australian people.

What we have seen from this government is punching down every step of the way every time somebody stands up or speaks out about the ruinous consequences of that budget. But there is hope. There is a way forward. While we've got Labor trying to divide the Australian people on the left and we've got other parties trying to divide Australians on the far right, we believe, in the coalition, in a way forward that unites our country, where we make sure hard work pays off, where people are in control of their own lives and where they feel a basic sense of honesty and respect from their government, as well as a culture built on respect where people are able to get ahead.

We believe that because we do not believe the government continues to stoke inflation, tax inflation and spend inflation that continues to take away the incomes of real Australians and increase the costs that are applied to households as they try to just keep their heads above financial water. We believe that people should keep the money that they earn, and that's why we put forward our Tax Back Guarantee, which explicitly says, when the government to continues to inflate the costs of wages and as people's incomes rise but are overcome by inflation, that they're able to get that money back and keep it in their hip pocket to be able to decide their own futures. That's why we backed small business, unapologetically. If you are in a small business in this country, the Australian government should be cheering you on. And it's why we support an instant asset write-off of up to $50,000, and making it permanent.

But, more than anything, we have faith in the Australian people. We believe in the Australian people—their power and their potential. The tragedy is that they're witnessing attacks on them by the Albanese government. (Time expired)

'Hyperbole'—I looked up the definition in the dictionary: 'a figure of speech or a statement that uses extreme, deliberate exaggeration to make a point, emphasise emotion or create humour'. Now, far be it from me to accuse the shadow Treasurer of hyperbole or of being a hyperbolic person, so I won't do that, because it could be unparliamentary. But let's look at his MPI and how it stacks up against the facts. There are claims around harm; I'm going to talk about the economic support. There are claims around higher taxes; I'm going to talk about facts: there are lower taxes and cuts in taxes. In fact, we're reforming the tax system for workers, for small businesses and for future generations through a very significant set of reforms—probably the most significant in a quarter of a century.

We've delivered this because we're focusing on relief, resilience and reform. Those things make it easier for Australians. Let's talk about the support side of things. There are tax cuts and tax relief for 13.3 million Australians. That's just a fact. It butts up against some of the rhetorical flourishes we've just been subjected to over 10 minutes, but the fact is that there are cuts in taxes for 13 million Australian workers. In fact, the reforms also go to making it easier—that's relief, not harm; it's support, not harm—for 75,000 Australians to buy their first home. That's a fact. All of this has been something we've been debating, and I haven't really heard many facts being put forward by the shadow Treasurer. There's been a lot of hyperbole, a lot of rhetorical flourish, but no facts.

This means something to those 13 million Australian workers we've talked about. It's relieving the tax burden for so many Australians. It's giving support to 75,000 more homeowners to get into the housing market. That's support; it's not harm. And, to be fair, the shadow Treasurer talked a lot about small business—very passionately, very aggressively—and how much he loves small business. Well, let's have a look at the tax reforms around small business. We're delivering $3.8 billion in new business tax relief measures. That's a fact as well. And they are designed to support resilience and investment growth, particularly among small businesses.

So let's go to the facts and the numbers: 20,000 permanent instant asset write-offs to give businesses more certainty to invest. That's going to deliver around $890 million in cashflow support over the next five years. It's going to slash compliance costs for small businesses by around $32 million a year and save them 366,600 hours on record keeping. Anyone who runs a small business knows how important cash flow is. Cash flow is king—or queen, depending on who you are. But the point is that cash flow is critical. Having run two small businesses myself before politics, I understand that, and how difficult it is. So, that is real relief for those small businesses. There's also a permanent two-year loss carry back for companies that have a turnover of up to $1 billion, from 1 July 2026, so that small businesses can return to profitability faster and can have the confidence to invest earlier and withstand volatility.

We're introducing loss refundability to help startups grow in their first two years. And we're expanding tax incentives for venture capital to help unlock more investment in young and expanding businesses. That one is critical. The culture here—and it has been exacerbated by changes made by previous governments, and I speak specifically of the coalition government, around what they did to some of these tax treatments—has been that it was more difficult for startups in this country to get that venture capital and that investment in those new ideas. If you're a new business, if you're a startup, if you've got an idea and you want to transform that idea into something productive for the economy, we're making sure that we help unlock investors through those tax incentives to change that culture so people are willing and incentivised to invest in those new small businesses. We're ensuring about 1.5 million sole traders benefit from our $250 tax offset as well as part of our plan to reduce the tax burden on all working Australians. We've very clearly included those 1.5 million sole traders, who often are small-business owners and run small businesses.

I've given a couple of facts and numbers. They're not very exciting. I haven't shouted. I haven't ranted. I haven't raved. I haven't jumped up and down. I haven't even used hyperbole. I could do a dance. I could get myself up on social media with a bit of a jig or whatever. I'm not going to do that. I'm sticking to the facts about what these tax reforms mean for the Australian people. When we talk about hyperbole, one of the points of it is to create humour. It's quite funny that the MPI says 'the government's plan for higher taxes'. Actually, it's the opposite. It's lower taxes. It's tax cuts for 13 million Australians.

Let me set out the facts for you. There's a $250 tax offset for every working Australian taxpayer. That's a fact. That goes into their pockets. That's a fact. That's a reality. It's going to automatically reduce workers' tax liability on the income earned from working from the year 2027-28. There's an instant tax deduction that we're introducing. It's a $1,000 instant tax deduction to allow workers to deduct up to $1,000 of their taxable income without providing receipts. That's a fact. That's going to go into their pockets as well. These are real, tangible budget reforms that are being made that are reducing tax, that are lowering taxes, which belies the hyperbole that we've heard from those opposite.

The reason it's so important to support small businesses is that we do care about their views. As I said, there are so many opportunities for young people and people of all ages, frankly, to create small businesses, to take ideas and transform them into something special that is productive in the economy. That's why we've made these changes and have his support.

Overall, the government amendments to our tax legislation will mean—and this is another fact; it might be a bit boring again—2.7 million active small businesses—

Thank you to the member from Wagga Wagga—I haven't got the same hyperbolic excitement as some of your colleagues, but I'll take that interjection. I appreciate that it's not boring to the small-business owners. So 2.7 million small businesses and 98 per cent of all active businesses will be eligible for generous capital gains tax concessions. You wouldn't think so with all the jumping up and down that we've seen from those opposite, all of the misinformation and all of the ranting and raving, hyperbole and misinformation that's been put out there. We're not allowed to use the other word. But the fact is that 2.7 million businesses and 98 per cent of all businesses will be eligible for generous capital gains tax concessions. Why? Because these reforms are all about helping businesses invest, innovate and grow. That is because they are the backbone of our economy. We know that. We need to support the incredible work and services they provide our country.

In conclusion, where is the real harm? I reckon there's a fair bit of harm coming from the ranting and raving from the opposite side, because they're not dealing in facts. That's where the real harm is coming from. They're not talking about what the actual budget measures are. There's a lot of carry-on that's going on. But, over here, we're about making sure that we deliver these tax cuts for the vast majority of Australian workers—13.3 million. All of them are going to get a tax cut. We're about delivering tax cuts for small businesses. We're about supporting those small businesses as well.

But here's the real harm on the other side. All of those opposite voted against the tax cuts. They voted against the tax cuts in this House, and they're likely to vote against them in the Senate. So all of the detail and facts that I've just given, they're voting against that. That's where the real harm is. They can jump up and down all they want and create all sorts of smoke and mirrors to hide that fact, but the real harm comes from the fact that they are voting against tax cuts for the Australian people. They are voting against tax relief for small businesses. They are voting against all of the support and economic relief that we are providing in this budget, and they're likely to do so again in the other place. That's where the real harm is. Those opposite voting against it are voting against the Australian people. They haven't really learnt anything from the last election. This is why it's so important to lay out the facts today.

Back in 1976, AC/DC, one of my favourite bands, released a song called 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap'. Today, in the Senate, we saw a sequel to 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' when Labor sided with the Greens, their old friends. As much as Labor try to deny that they are best mates with the Greens, we see it writ large all of the time, and again today in the Senate with Labor trying to get through their bad budget and getting help from their old friends the Greens.

I've been in this place long enough to remember Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister—I don't think she really wanted to, but she had to do a deal with Bob Brown and the Greens. What did we see after that? The carbon tax. 'There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead,' she said as Prime Minister. Unfortunately, she had to go down that path to get the numbers to form government.

That's going to cause hardship. That's going to cause higher taxes. The budget is going to be responsible for $77 billion of increased taxes for everyday ordinary, hardworking Australians. This matter of public importance, 'The economic harm caused by the government's plan for higher taxes,' moved by the shadow treasurer, the member for Goldstein, is correct because at the nub of it is higher taxes.

If you had said 10, 15 or 20 years ago that in Australia we'd be talking about the sorts of issues that we are in this House now, they would look at you and think that you were stark raving mad. But in Australia today we have a government facing $1 trillion worth of debt and what are they doing? They're spending $430 million buying productive water from farmers and flushing it down the mouth of the Murray—the equivalent of 34,400 Olympic sized swimming pools. Eighty-six gigalitres of water—to do what? Well, it's not to grow food! Growing food and feeding a hungry world is the moral challenge of our times. Don't worry about anything else, forget everything else that you have been told, that is the greatest moral challenge of our times because many people in Australia, and other nations besides, who rely on our farmers go to bed hungry every night. That's wrong. It's morally wrong. It's morally bankrupt.

This budget does nothing to address the issues besetting our farmers, our regional Australians. Yes, the government has extended the fuel tax relief, and so they should. We called for it. The government were finally dragged to the table, kicking and screaming, and agreed to it. And then you look at the capital gains and the trust changes that the government has finally relented on, finally reneged on, and yet the veterans are being slugged. It's not higher taxes as such, but it is a cruel cut to the benefits that they once—I won't use the word 'enjoyed'—deserved. The $5,000 cap per year on their allied health is just wrong, and I would implore the government to revisit that. It is a cruel cut to our veterans who had this nation's back when we called upon them, and now, when they need us to have their backs, we're turning our backs on them. That's what the government are doing.

No, Member for McEwen; you be quiet. That's what the government is doing. I had a forum last week where I listened to service providers and families in the National Disability Insurance Scheme space. They are some of Australia's most vulnerable. They have also had cutbacks to their services. Yes, a full audit of the NDIS needs to be done—no question. There are spivs and shonks and shady operators in that space. But the cuts that Labor has brought about in its budget are going to affect Australia's most vulnerable. There were heart-rending and heart-wrenching stories from these people, who are now going to be forced to go without and won't have quality of life. It's just plain wrong, and so are many of the measures in the budget.

Labor will crow about making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent. It should've been permanent. It was unlimited under us. There are so many areas of endeavour that this Labor government has failed the nation on. People are hurting, and it's up to the government to fix these problems.

I have to say that this MPI is quite the own goal for the member for Goldstein, the shadow treasurer. I'll just start with this quote:

Today it's time to be honest: the tax system is screwing over young Australians. Instead, it favours well-off, established interests against those trying to get ahead.

I wholeheartedly agree. As we've heard in this place time and time again, that is the view of the shadow treasurer, the member for Goldstein.

On 12 February 2018, in this very chamber, the member for Goldstein stood and admitted that the tax system, as it was, was unfair. He said that the tax burden fell 'mostly on young and working Australians'. He said:

… people who can predominantly live off of income from their assets can pay very little tax and get discounts on capital gains from increases in asset values.

I wholeheartedly agree, and so does this side of the House. That is a quote taken directly from Hansard, yet the shadow treasurer stands here today and cries the opposite.

Let's get something straight: we are cutting taxes for working Australians—cutting them—and we are evening the playing field for working Australians. Why should working Aussies be paying a higher percentage of tax than investors? The member for Goldstein talks about hairdressers and brickies. Why should they pay a higher tax rate than investors? Why should investors pay an effective rate of 23.5 per cent on their earnings while nurses, cleaners and teachers pay 32 per cent? I've yet to hear a coherent answer on that from those opposite.

Our working Australians tax offset, announced in the budget, will put $250 back into the pockets of millions of working Australians every single year. We've also introduced a $1,000 instant tax deduction, which will kick in on 1 July. On top of that, the tax cuts we've already legislated will land on 1 July this year and again next year. Add it up and the average worker will have about $2,800 back in their pocket by 2028. Those opposite voted against all of that.

You lecture us as though you actually support tax cuts, but we all know that those opposite went to the last election promising higher taxes. The designer of that genius plan was the former shadow treasurer, now the Leader of the Opposition. When it comes to backing a tax cut for working Australians, for weeks those opposite have pushed misinformation about our tax changes.

Let's talk about real economic harm. During COVID, those opposite funnelled billions of taxpayer dollars into big corporations that actually saw turnover increases and went on to post record profits. It left us with nearly $1 trillion in debt—debt Labor is now paying down. As a share of the economy, debt is now lower than what we inherited from those opposite. Those opposite allowed manufacturing to collapse in this country, to the point that manufacturing self-sufficiency was at the lowest level in the OECD. That is real and lasting economic vandalism.

And who could forget the early superannuation access scheme, which drained $38 billion from the retirement system? An economist described this as an absolute disaster. The third-largest spending category of that scheme was gambling. A lot of super went into poker machines and online gambling.

The real harm is pretending that homes are affordable when they're not. The real harm is having our nurses and teachers—hardworking Aussies—paying a higher tax rate than investors. We could choose to ignore them. We could do that. We could take the easy way out. We could pretend that the tax system is just fine as it is. But then we would be the coalition. No thanks. We are here to even the playing field for working Australians. We are delivering exactly what the member for Goldstein asked for all the way back in 2018—a fairer tax system. You should be celebrating that.

The MPI today is the economic harm caused by the government's plan for higher taxes. While we hear members opposite saying, 'No, we're lowering taxes,' how can you increase the tax pool by $77 billion and actually lower taxes? That does not compute. I'm not really a mathematician, but that honestly does not work.

I want to give you a tale of two Peters in my electorate, one from Swan Hill and one from Horsham. I note the Minister for Education is sitting here, and I know he likes stories about people. Peter from Swan Hill is a self-funded retiree. He wrote to me. He said: 'Thank you for the opportunity to express the extreme frustration self-funded retirees face with this overwhelming and abject failure of a budget. We have paid taxes all our lives, and now there is no reward or incentive to fund our own retirement. Why are self-funded retirees being slugged, slapped around the face, when they are not any sort of burden on the taxpayer? We self-funded retirees do not get any assistance from the Commonwealth government or any other agencies in return for actually assisting the government of the day through our sacrifice of saving money for the country. The Labor government has more than doubled down on self-funded retirees by attacking us on trusts and CGT. Self-funded retirees, mind you, are not getting any younger and would greatly appreciate, for example, assistance on PBS scripts, lessening the CGT, trust funds being untouched and doctor's consultations.' And so Peter from Swan Hill goes on.

Then I have Peter from Horsham. These are both towns in my electorate. He is also a self-funded retiree. He asks: if he earns a modest income through work and accesses the tax-free threshold up to $18,200, but Labor says that if he earns less than the threshold through modest share investments he will pay a minimum 30 per cent on what he earns, even if it's just $100, how is that fair? That is what Peter asks. These are two self-funded retirees who are wondering what is going on.

In my mind, as I've heard the Labor government, the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and other ministers rave about how fabulous the budget is and how much better off people are, particularly young people, the reality is that the Labor government itself has become an aspiration drainpipe. It is incredibly damaging to people. I just briefly want to mention Vince. I spoke about Vince yesterday. Vince is 19 years old. He lives in Stawell in my electorate. I met up with Vince last week. He wrote me an email, and the reason I wanted to meet him face to face was because I couldn't believe how much sense he had. He has come from a foster home. He got his first job at 14 years old. He is now putting himself through university, which again the Minister for Education would be very pleased to know, doing law and commerce. He's working in a timber yard to get himself through. This is a young man with incredible aspiration. He's a young man who is determined to make his way. He has been putting some money away in shares, hoping that in 10 to 15 years time he might be able to have a deposit for his own home, which is something that I believe would be incredibly important to Vince.

What has this government done? Well, they've ripped the heart out of every one of Vince's friends who is in the same boat. They have been squirrelling away. Some share funding to buy into shares so they could get a deposit, be independent and actually look after themselves, not rely on the government. I would have thought that this government would have been very proud of these young men, but instead they're being slapped around the head just like self-funded retirees Peter from Horsham and Peter from Swan Hill. This is an absolutely shameful budget, and it is dragging another $77 billion out of taxpayers' pockets.

I wish I could make this MPI today make sense, because, on the very same day that the government has announced that the parliament will pass legislation which will deliver tax cuts for every worker, a fairer tax system for first home buyers and $3½ billion in new tax arrangements for small businesses and announced that we will extend the capital gains tax exemptions for each and every small business in the country—despite all that and despite that we announced all of this just this morning, we are sitting here listening to this absolute rubbish from those opposite, opposing each and every one of those changes. But should we really be surprised? This has been their modus operandi for four years now since the Liberals and Nationals were voted out of office. Now they've got a new friend under their blue, green and orange umbrella, joining them to vote against tax cuts, to vote against support for small business, to vote against tax reform which will help 75,000 Australians buy their first home. They are teaming up, the three right wing parties, to ensure that Aussie workers don't get the tax cuts that they deserve, and they're teaming up to say: 'Look, everything's fine in the way our system works. Everything's fine when young people are locked out of the housing market for a generation.' They do not want to change a thing. Well, we're not like them, so let's set the record straight.

Labor knows that Australians are facing real cost-of-living pressures. We know that this has been a challenge not only here in Australia but for people right across the world. Instead of fanning the flames of division, on this side we are working with Australian workers and with industry to change things for the better, particularly for young people. We're doing this by delivering yet another round of permanent tax relief with the $250 working Australians tax offset. On top of this, we're introducing a brand new $1,000 instant tax deduction, which will help people save around $200 to $300 on their tax bill each and every year. If you add that up, over the four years since we've come to office, we have cut income taxes in many different ways. On average, that's nearly $2,800 back in the pockets of someone on average income by the time they're all done in 2028, and each and every tax cut we've brought to this place and into the Senate the Liberals and Nationals have voted against. Let's not forget that they went to the last election saying that they were going to increase taxes. We're here today saying that we're going to reduce taxes for Australian workers. Contrast their position on increasing taxes with what we've announced, which will pass the parliament this week.

Our budget will make it easier for people to own their first home. It will help level the playing field and better align the tax treatment on income from work to income earned from other very legitimate ways. And we will improve productivity by encouraging innovation and investment, particularly for small business. Now, I want to say here that I came out early and said publicly that we needed to get our consultation with small businesses right. Despite from the crows of those opposite, we've landed that consultation, and I'm proud to stand here and back them in, because, on top of the four existing concessions that were kept for small business and conveniently ignored by those opposite, we'll also extend the eligibility of the 50 per cent active asset reduction to more businesses by vastly increasing that threshold. It's sat at $2 million since about 2007. It hasn't been changed by successive government, including those opposite.

It has taken a Labor government to listen to small business, to listen to COSBOA and to listen to members of our Labor caucus and come up with a concession of increasing that $2 million threshold to $10 million. That means that every active small business in the country will have that CGT exemption, and they should. This is a budget that is pro worker, pro aspiration and pro investment and that reduces tax cuts for every Australian.

I rise to support the member for Goldstein's MPI because, in the last four years under Anthony Albanese, Australians have endured immense financial pressure.

Use correct titles, please.

Yes. The bad news is that it is only going to get worse because of this government's higher taxes. The reality is that Australians are facing the highest tax burden in Commonwealth history under this government. Today, Labor and the Greens made a dirty deal in the Senate, and we all know how this ends: more tax, more complexity and more attacks on aspiration with higher taxes on self-managed super funds. It was aspiration that our country was built on, making it one of the most prosperous nations in the world, and I am proud of that. Yet, to Labor and the Greens, aspiration is a dirty word and is simply something to be taxed.

Young Australians are doing as we told them to do: work hard, invest wisely, buy a home and build a better future. But today they are being told to expect less. They're being told, 'You don't deserve to get ahead.' They're being told, 'The government wants you to stay right where you are.' They're being told to forget their potential, to forget their ambitions and to just tread water because they don't deserve to get ahead. Labor's toxic taxes mean fewer homes will be available and rents will be higher, pushing the dream of home ownership even further away. If a young Australian wants to build their deposit through investing, they're being punished for that as well.

Nearly half of all investors on CommSec are under 40 years of age. If you are a young Australian taking a risk, building a portfolio and trying to set yourself up for a better future, Labor wants to tax you more on these investments. The Financial Services Council data confirms that aggressive investors, typically Australians around 35 years of age, will be the hardest hit by the capital gains tax changes—not the ultra wealthy, as the Prime Minister wants us to believe. They're just ambitious, hardworking young Australians with huge potential. Gen Z and millennials are investing more than three times the share of their income than baby boomers. The government's response to this ambition? Just tax it.

Small businesses have been smashed by Labor in the last four years, and they are not exempt from the budget of broken promises. Labor's spin machine claims that their new carve-outs will make small businesses better off, but here is the truth: this so-called carve-out is a con. Nine out of 10 small businesses will still get nothing while Labor feasts on their hard work. That's the local sparky, the local hairdresser, the butcher or the mechanic—all still worse off. Labor's idea of backing innovation is a committee in Canberra deciding whether they are innovative or not. Is it just me, or does anyone else see the irony in that? The whole point of innovation is that it cannot be written up neatly in a rulebook. It is born out of courage, hard work and good ideas that no-one has had before. It can't be written down in a rulebook.

Every day, our trust in this Prime Minister decreases. He misled the Australian people at the last election, telling us over 50 times that he would not touch capital gains tax or negative gearing, just to do the complete opposite as soon as he got a chance. We have consistently asked the Prime Minister to rule out the tax on the family home. He has yet to rule that out. In fact, it was only in question time today that he again refused to rule out the taxing of the family home. Why is that? Why isn't our Prime Minister being straight with the Australian public? Why can't he answer that question? Well, I don't know. But he has got form. Today showed the government is prepared to be held hostage by the Greens party. If the Greens call for a tax on the family home, will Labor follow?

The attacks don't end there. Labor have vowed to continue to go after senior Australians by cutting the private health tax rebate for over 65s, effectively putting a 21 per cent increase on private health for over 65s. These are proud, hardworking Australians who have saved diligently and sought to reduce pressure on the public health system by maintaining private cover. While the government neglects aspiration in Australia and the needs of our proud senior Australians, the coalition will back aspiration and hard work every day until we get rid of this terrible government.

I'm really pleased to have the opportunity to speak on our government's economic record and the work we're doing to build a strong future for all Australians and to foster aspiration and give young people a fair go. We're reforming the tax system for workers, for businesses and for future generations, delivering a new round of tax cuts, including more tax cuts for every taxpayer from next week. We're helping more Australians realise the dream of homeownership and supporting investment and innovation. We've got another round of permanent tax cuts with the $250 working Australians tax offset and a $1,000 instant tax deduction. That means every Australian worker, including every taxpayer in my electorate of Chisholm, will benefit from Labor's tax cuts.

Frankly, I'm a bit sick and tired of hearing those opposite talk our country down. I really can't believe some of the ridiculous statements we've heard in this debate so far. But those opposite quite simply seem absolutely incapable of participating in a sensible conversation about anything at this moment in history, which is pretty disgraceful.

Our reforms in this tax and economic space have three goals: to level the playing field and better align the tax treatment of income from work with income earned in other ways; to help more Australians recognise the dream of homeownership and get a toehold in the property market; and to improve productivity by encouraging innovation and investment. Our tax package is firmly pro aspiration, pro worker and pro investment. Our reforms will build a better, fairer, simpler tax system by reducing the tax burden for over 13 million workers, supporting 75,000 more homeowners into the housing market, delivering over $3.8 billion in new measures that will lower taxes for businesses and startups, and reducing compliance costs by $540 million a year.

Our budget has been all about tax relief and tax reform to make our economy work in the interests of all Australians, businesses and future generations. This is also building on our reforms to date. Our focus on this area is not anything new. We've had three rounds of tax cuts. We've made super fairer and more sustainable. We're making sure multinationals pay their fair share of tax, which I know is really important to people in my community in Chisholm. Those opposite tried to increase income taxes and now they're defending a status quo which punishes workers and locks far too many people out of housing. Our reforms are about helping people—helping workers, helping first home buyers and helping businesses—so more Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn, so that they can get into the housing market and get ahead, so they can put down roots in our community and so they can do the things that I think we as members of parliament all enjoy seeing people in our community do, like participating in the local footy club, sending their kids to local schools and supporting those local schools. It is impossible for young people and young families to do that if we as a government don't support them here to put down roots in communities. This is really important for the future of this country.

We know, of course, that Australians are facing real cost-of-living pressures because of the crisis in the Middle East. This budget delivers more tax cuts despite that, delivering for workers, taking the sting out of petrol prices and helping people into a home. We're also funding public hospitals and cheaper medicines while backing higher wages. We're helping Australians. We're helping people right across communities in this country, including in my community of Chisholm. As I said, we've cut income taxes already a number of times in different ways, which means about $3,000 more into the pockets of an average worker by 2028. We're also giving the ACCC more powers to crack down on price gouging, which I know, again, really matters to people in my community of Chisholm. We're also cracking down on scammers and unfair trading. The package of reforms that our government has made is having an impact on people's lives in a positive way. It is disappointing that those opposite come here and use the MPI to inflame discord in community rather than support the people across Australia to have a better life.

After this week's antics, it is now pretty obvious what Labor's favourite party trick is. It has to be the old-fashioned backflip. In fact, I could see the Prime Minister and the Treasurer in the 10-metre synchro in LA 2028. They've flipped so many times on taxes, the Australian public are getting dizzy. The least they can do is bring home some gold for the nation.

Just a month after the Treasurer handed down his budget, it is already in tatters. The Prime Minister told us these tax hikes were so important that he had to break his promise. Now he's poking so many holes in their own failed policies that the budget is starting to look like a piece of Swiss cheese. Australians were clearly told Labor would not touch capital gains, negative gearing, trusts, super or stage 3 tax cuts. Labor broke those promises. If you could not trust Labor on tax a month ago, you certainly can't trust them now.

The fake small business carve-out is a sham. Nine out of 10 small businesses will get nothing, with Labor now wanting Canberra bureaucrats to decide which businesses are innovative and which ones are not. Does that include a sparkie, or a hairdresser? I don't think so. It is impressively vague and gives the government dangerous powers to pick winners and punish everyone else. The truth is that small businesses innovate every day just to survive.

More complexity does not fix bad policy; an axe does. Make no mistake, Labor is putting handcuffs on those who aspire to get ahead. They are putting a ceiling on ambition when what Australia really needs is more investment, more productivity and reward for effort. By increasing capital gains tax, Labor will chill investment in startups, with cash likely to funnel into large companies that do not need it. Investors, savers, tradies, farmers and families trying to build a nest egg or buy a home will all suffer. By taking away earnings, we reduce the amount of liquid capital these people will have available to spend in our economy. It is that simple.

Even the budget papers show that these taxes will suppress housing supply, meaning fewer homes built and higher rents. If that is not enough, the Prime Minister is now bargaining with the Greens to make these toxic taxes even worse. And we all know how deals with the Greens are done—with more tax, more complexity and much more pain during a brutal cost-of-living crisis.

The Greens are now demanding new changes to stop people buying investment properties through self-managed super funds. This is absolutely absurd. This is not fixing a mess; it is adding another tax to everyday Australians who simply want to save, invest and plan for their own future. These taxes were bad enough, but if Labor does this deal it will be completely disastrous. Labor should stop negotiating with the Greens. These taxes need an axe, not a deal. If these taxes are bad enough for Labor to run away from, they are bad enough to scrap right now.

But there is an alternative. The coalition has a credible plan for real change with no backflips, no flip-flops, no changed positions and no broken promises. We would never deliver lower taxes for smaller businesses, and we will give Australians automatic tax cuts every year.

Our plan is for a freer, fairer and better Australia. We will restore standards of living, protect the Australian way of life and firmly fix migration to the number of homes built, because that is common sense. The answer is lower interest rates, lower inflation, rising real wages and more opportunity for all, not more tax. We believe in Australia where hard work is rewarded. Australians deserve affordable homes, a stronger economy and a true tax relief, but Labor has failed on every single front. To borrow a now infamous line from the Prime Minister, 'For the 50th time, stop playing politics and axe these toxic taxes.'

There are 13 million workers in Australia, 13 million Australians who get up early, work hard, support their families and help keep our country moving. They are nurses, teachers, truck drivers, warehouse workers, tradies, small-business owners, and every one of them deserves a fair go. They deserve the chance to get ahead, to keep more of what they earn and a tax system that rewards hard work. This is what our budget is fighting for and this is what our tax changes are about. I don't expect those opposite to understand that, because they don't fight for the 13 million workers in Australia—a Labor government does. It's why we're giving all 13 million Aussie workers a tax cut with the working Australians tax offset and the $1,000 instant tax deduction, as well as better pay for workers and a fair go for first home buyers. Combined, we've cut income taxes five times in three different ways, putting nearly $3,000 a year into the pockets of the average worker by 2028.

I've seen the need for this in my electorate of Gorton. We're from Melbourne's western suburbs, and we're one of the fastest-growing electorates in the country. My community has new families moving in every week, buying homes and building their futures. These are hardworking Aussies we're speaking about. I had the honour of meeting a young first home buyer from my electorate. I met Ishaan at his brand new home in Deanside in Melbourne's west, and he was able to buy that home as a direct result of our five per cent deposit scheme. He was over the moon to get his keys and own a home of his own, a home where he can put paint on the walls, paint them a different colour if he wants to—a home he can build his life in. He is one of the more than 3,000 people in my electorate of Gorton who have secured their first home with the Albanese Labor government's five per cent deposit scheme. This is absolutely life-changing. This program cuts years off the time it takes to save for a deposit. It'll help people get into their first homes sooner, meaning they'll be able to pay off their own mortgages, not their landlords'. This is about fairness, because young Aussies should be going to auctions to buy their own homes, not to get outbid by property investors standing right next to them. We're also backing small businesses, making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent, giving small businesses certainty and helping them invest with confidence. We're also delivering tax reforms that improve cashflow and support businesses during difficult times, because when small businesses succeed, our communities succeed and our economy succeeds as well.

It's no surprise that the three right-wing parties all voted against our tax cuts. They talk about helping workers, but when push comes to shove, they vote against it on the floor of the parliament. Every time they have the opportunity to vote for higher wages and lower taxes, the right-wing parties opposite, instead of voting the way the workers of this country need them to, vote the way that Gina Rinehart tells them to. The member for Goldstein says that Australians wake up so they can work hard, afford food, pay their mortgage and get ahead. Well, then, I ask the member for Goldstein why he, along with the three right-wing parties of Australia, have time and time again voted against tax cuts for Aussie workers.

Tax cuts put more money in the pockets of everyday Australians. When we came to government we inherited $1 trillion of debt, bigger deficits and stagnant wage growth from the coalition, and in every budget since, we have found savings. This budget is our most responsible yet. The member for Goldstein has asked in this House today what kind of a government we are. I'll tell you: we are a government who is delivering real change to ease the cost of living. We're a government who helps Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn—whether it's slashing the fuel tax, better pay, tax cuts or a fair go for first home buyers. The three right-wing parties over there are doing nothing but standing in the way of our tax cuts, better pay and a fair go for first home buyers in this country.

This discussion has now concluded.

Fuel security is economic security and fuel security is national security. Recent events have exposed how vulnerable Australia remains. We are one of the world's great energy producing nations, yet we remain heavily dependent on imported liquid fuels. We've allowed refining capacity to decline, and we've failed to build sufficient storage capacity. We continue to rely on international supply chains for a resource that underpins almost every aspect of modern life. No fuel means no freight and no food, and no food means empty shelves. Regional Australia sits at the front line of that vulnerability.

The lesson from this crisis is clear. Australia needs more than temporary tax relief. Australia needs a long-term fuel security strategy. We need stronger fuel reserves. We need greater storage capacity. We need stronger sovereign capability, and we need more resilient supply chains. We need governments willing to think beyond the next headline and beyond the next election cycle.

What Australians want is not another temporary fix. They want a government that understands what is happening to their country, and, increasingly, Australians are concluding that this government does not, because, after four years of the Albanese Labor government, Australians are paying more for almost everything and getting less in return. There are higher power bills, higher grocery bills, higher fuel bills, higher insurance costs, higher housing costs and higher taxes.

This government likes to blame global events for Australia's problems. It blames wars. It blames supply chains. It blames international markets. But Australians know better. The cost-of-living crisis did not begin in the Middle East. The housing crisis did not begin in the Middle East. The energy crisis did not begin in the Middle East. Australia's fuel security vulnerabilities did not begin in the Middle East. These problems were foreseeable. They were identifiable, and they required leadership. Instead, Australians have received a government obsessed with managing politics rather than managing the country, a government that governs according to focus groups, a government that follows opinion polls instead of leading public opinion and a government more interested in announcements than outcomes. Again and again, this government has demonstrated that its priority is the next news cycle rather than the next generation. That is why inflation became embedded in the economy. That's why housing affordability continues to deteriorate. That is why Australia's fuel security remains vulnerable, and that is why Australians are increasingly losing confidence in Labor's ability to manage the economy.

The clearest example is energy. This government has become ideologically committed to a renewables dominated energy system, while dismissing the important role that coal, gas and nuclear can play in delivering affordable and reliable power. Australia is blessed with some of the world's largest reserves of coal, gas and uranium. We should have some of the cheapest and most reliable energy in the developed world. Instead, households and businesses are paying more, while reliability concerns continue to grow. Any serious government would pursue an energy mix focused on affordability, reliability and security. Any serious government would recognise that manufacturers, farmers and regional communities cannot run on ideology. Yet Labor continues to pursue policies that are driving costs higher across the economy.

Labor's problem is not that it lacks ambition. Its problem is that it lacks realism. It has become so committed to its ideological agenda that it increasingly ignores evidence that contradicts it. The result is that Australia is becoming less competitive, less productive, less affordable and less resilient. At a time when the world is becoming more dangerous and more uncertain, Australia should be strengthening its economic foundations. Instead, this government is weakening them. Instead, this government is weakening them. It should be building fuel security and it should be strengthening energy security. It should be encouraging investment and it should be driving productivity. And it should be preparing Australia for the challenges of the next 20 years. Instead, it is governing from one opinion poll to the next. That is not leadership; that is just political management, and Australians are paying the price.

This is where the Nationals bring a different perspective to this parliament. We remain the only political party whose sole purpose is to represent regional, rural and remote Australians. That has always been our mission and it remains our mission today. The Nationals are not grounded in anger. We are grounded in the values of the communities we represent: responsibility; self-reliance; family; community; reward for effort; respect for those who build, produce, create and contribute; and the belief that, if you work hard, take risks and play by the rules, you should be able to build a better future for yourself and your family. Political movements built around anger can be effective at identifying problems. They can even win seats. But anger is a poor foundation for governing. Good government requires patience, long-term thinking, practical problem solving and a willingness to make decisions that strengthen the nation over decades, not just days. That is what regional Australians expect and that is what the Nationals continue to stand for.

The people I represent are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for common sense. They are asking for honesty. They are asking for governments that understand the pressures they face every day. They are asking for governments that plan for the future. They are asking for governments that reward aspiration. And they are asking for governments that remember regional Australia matters. This bill provides some temporary relief, and the coalition supports that, but Australians deserve more. They deserve lower inflation. They deserve stronger fuel security. They deserve affordable energy. They deserve a stronger economy. And they deserve governments willing to make the long-term decisions necessary to secure Australia's future.

The people I represent have not given up on Australia. Many are worried and frustrated and many feel they are losing the country they grew up in. As the member for Lyne and as a proud member of the Nationals, I'm listening and I'll continue fighting to ensure they get their country back—a country where hard work is rewarded, aspiration is encouraged and, most importantly, governments keep their promises.

I move:

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the temporary fuel excise cut has delivered welcome cost-of-living relief for Australian consumers; and

(b) the Government continues to permanently cut the entire fuel excise for Australia's largest and most profitable mining companies, through the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme; and

(2) calls on the Government to cap the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme by introducing a transition tax incentive with the following elements:

(a) a cap of $50 million annually, per consolidated corporate entity, so that it will not apply to small users of the Scheme such as farmers and small businesses; and

(b) permit receipts by consolidated corporate entities above $50 million to be retained for capital expenditure in eligible electrification infrastructure and technology investments and to enable an orderly phase-out of fuels eligible for the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme".

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 bill seeks to extend the cost-of-living relief provided by the fuel excise cut, and I rise to speak on it today because I will support that relief. I think this parliament, though, needs to have a more honest conversation about the topic and what is really fair for Australians. The fuel excise cut has provided welcome relief to Australians right across the country. Fuel prices have been hurting people everywhere, across my electorate and across every single electorate represented in this chamber.

These price spikes were driven by a conflict in the Middle East—a conflict that sent oil markets into turmoil and pushed petrol and diesel prices to levels that put serious pressure on family budgets. These are real human costs of this fuel shock. I've heard from families and businesses in my community about their struggle to make ends meet. I heard from the frontline services like the Village Chef, our local Meals on Wheels service, which cooks and delivers thousands of fresh meals to those in need every single week. When the war hit, the Village Chef began to struggle to meet the rising fuel costs and maintain its valuable delivery service, impacting vulnerable people right across my community. In that context, it is appropriate that the government steps in and helps cushion the blow, and I know that, in my own community, people have been really relieved to see the prices come down from those astronomical heights that they reached in the early days of the conflict. So I do sincerely welcome the government's decision to extend this measure for another month even at a reduced level.

But there is something deeply unfair lying out of sight. The government is reducing the fuel excise discount for ordinary Australians by half, but at the same time it is retaining the fuel tax concessions for big mining companies in full. That fuel tax cut has been in place for decades. It's called the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme, and it's the largest fossil fuel subsidy in the country: $10.8 billion this year and rising to $47 billion over the next four years. The scheme works by refunding fuel excise to big mining companies on all the diesel they burn.

Most people haven't heard of this scheme, so let me be very clear about what it means. Ordinary Australians pay more tax on their fuel than some of the most profitable mining companies in this country. Companies like BHP, Rio Tinto and Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting pay effectively no fuel tax on the hundreds of millions of litres of diesel that they burn every single year—and they use enormous quantities of diesel. Mining companies use about a quarter of the diesel in Australia—eight billion litres. That's enough to fill every big ute in Australia 30 times. It's 3.4 times more than the farming and agricultural sector uses.

The fuel excise discount for consumers has given relief to Aussies: nurses, tradies, parents doing the school run, pensioners, people on fixed incomes and farmers. But it's lasted only three months, and it's working, and it is now being wound back to half strength, whereas the fuel tax credit is permanent and far more generous than this temporary fuel excise cut for Aussie consumers. I understand why the consumer relief was designed to be temporary. It was in response to a specific shock—fuel price hikes because of conflicts overseas. But, as that relief is phased out, I just have to ask the government: why? Why are you willing to bring the fuel tax back for ordinary Australians while continuing to let the country's biggest mining companies off the hook? Those companies don't need cost-of-living relief; they continue to make huge profits. BHP made more than $15 billion in profit last year, yet, under the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme, BHP received $622 million in fuel tax credits.

This money would otherwise have been paid in tax—tax that could pay for hospitals, schools and public transport. Instead, it was simply handed back, and we learned in recent months, through files leaked to the media, that BHP chose to scale back its plans to electrify its fleet and instead spent hundreds of millions of dollars buying new diesel trucks. And why wouldn't it? Why wouldn't it buy new diesel trucks and machinery, when the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme means they can buy that diesel so cheaply?

Now the same applies to other big mining companies. The 18 largest companies benefiting from the scheme are all involved in the resources sector. Together they received more than $3 billion in fuel tax credits. Rio Tinto received $432 million in credits, and Glencore received $349 million. These are some of the wealthiest, most profitable resources companies in the country, if not the world. Shouldn't we at the very least be asking these companies to pay their fair share? Instead, they simply don't have to pay the fuel excise year after year, while ordinary Australians are told their reprieve at the bowser is coming to an end.

That's why I'm bringing an amendment to this bill to endorse a proposal to cap the fuel tax credit scheme at $50 million per company. This $50 million cap would mean that farmers and small businesses could receive fuel tax credits because they receive credits totalling less than $50 million—no changes to those groups. This $50 million cap would affect only the largest resources companies in the country, who, frankly, don't need it, because they're already swimming in profits.

The proposal would also allow companies to keep receiving that fuel tax credit above $50 million, but only if they put that money towards electrifying and decarbonising their businesses and their supply chains—to buy electric trucks, diggers and rolling stock and to implement all the technologies and supply chain adjustments that are available to companies but that they are not currently incentivised to make because the fuel tax credit scheme means they can buy diesel so cheaply. This will build resilient transport systems and will bolster energy security.

Capping the fuel tax credit is fair. Keeping it is unfair. It's unfair that right now a family filling up a car pays the fuel excise, that a small business running a delivery van pays it, that a tradie driving to job sites across the city pays it and that a volunteer driving hot meals to seniors pays it. But a multinational mining company burning hundreds of millions of litres of diesel pretty much pays nothing. The government's deliberately choosing to keep this unfair status quo, and it's made this choice for decades, regardless of which party has been in office.

Today, I'm asking the government to look more broadly at extending this one-month half-strength discount. I'm asking the government to ask whether it makes sense in 2026 for ordinary Australians to be paying more tax at the pump than BHP, Rio Tinto and Gina Rinehart. If this government is serious about cost-of-living relief not just for one month but as a matter of principle, then fairness has to be part of that conversation. It cannot ask Australian families to return to the fuel tax status quo, while giving the country's largest and most profitable companies a free pass on the same tax.

I support this bill because cost-of-living relief for Aussies is important, but I want the record to show this parliament has a choice about who pays fuel tax, and right now it's choosing to ask the least of those who can afford to pay the most. I urge the government to cap the fuel tax credit scheme with the same urgency it has shown in introducing this bill today.

Is the amendment seconded?

I second the amendment and reserve my right to speak.

We speak in thousands, millions and billions and percentages in this House. But at home it looks like something much smaller and much more human. It looks like a mum in Cabramatta at six in the morning filling up her car before the school run, the drive to her own mother's medical appointment and then work. It looks like a young apprentice in Canley Vale watching the fuel light come on, working out whether he can make it to payday. It looks like a small-business owner in Wetherill Park with two vans on the road watching the bowser and deciding whether this is a good month or a hard one. That is who I'm speaking for today.

When the government announced in March that it would halve the fuel excise for three months, I welcomed it and so did my community. The cut from 1 April to 30 June made a real and immediate difference at the bowser. I was glad that the government finally listened to what I and the people of Fowler had been calling for. Prices dropped almost straightaway, and workers, families, truck drivers and tradies right across western and south-western Sydney got some breathing room on a cost they simply cannot avoid.

I do not take the relief for granted and won't play politics with something that helps my community pay their bills, but I want this House to understand why it matters so much more in an electorate like mine. In Fowler, the car is not a luxury; it is survival. People in my community drive because there's no real alternative. They drive to work, often to jobs that start before the sun comes up or finish long after it goes down. They drive to university and to TAFE, and they drive to care for the people they love. That is something we do not talk about enough in this place—the amount of unpaid care that happens in households across Fowler is absolutely dependent on those carers being able to continue to fill up their car. It is the daughter driving her elderly parents to the doctor. It is the family getting a relative with disability to their services. It is one household holding up three generations. And almost all of that care happens behind the wheel of a car.

For these families, public transport is not a real choice. In my community a reliable public transport system is close to non-existent. Whether we are talking about buses, trains or metro, the services are too far apart. The routes do not go where people actually need to go, and a shift worker cannot build their life around a bus that might not come. So my community drives, and then it pays again. They pay tolls, they pay registration and they pay insurance. Put it all together, and families in electorates like mine are spending thousands of dollars a year just to get to work, to study and to look after their own families, not because they're doing anything wrong but because, in practice, there is no option.

Mine is also a community where the majority of us speak a language other than English at home. It is a community built by migrants and refugees who arrived with very little, built businesses, raised families and asked for nothing more than a fair go. They work hard, and they simply want a country and a government that works as hard for them.

Let me turn to what this bill actually does, in plain terms. The three-month halving of the fuel excise is coming to an end. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 manages what happens next. Instead of letting the fuel excise snap back overnight, it reduces the excise and the equivalent customs duty on most fuels by 30.4 per cent below the normal rate. That relief runs from 1 July 2026 until the day before the next indexation date, which is currently expected to be 2 August 2026. For petrol and diesel, that works out to about 16c a litre off the excise during that period. Now, 16c a litre might sound modest in this building, but, for a family filling up once or twice a week, it adds up quickly. And for a small business running vans, trucks or utes, it can be the difference between holding their prices steady or passing the cost on to customers who are already doing it tough. I know that many businesses are trying so hard to hold back on passing on those costs to a lot of families who are their customers.

I support this bill. It continues some of the relief that started with the halving. It softens the next step, instead of letting families fall off a cliff edge. I will be glad to support it. But this bill is a bandaid. It is a bandaid my community needs right now, and I recognise that. But it sits on top of a problem we have ignored for far too long. My community is asking me a simple question: is there a plan, or are we going to be right back here in a year's time doing all of this again?

Let me explain why we keep ending up here. People deserve to understand that. We cannot control everything. We cannot stop a conflict on the other side of the world or control what happens to the ships that carry our fuel across the ocean. That is true. Here is what we can control. We can decide how exposed our country and economy are when those shocks hit. Right now, we are far more exposed than we should be. We are the only country in the International Energy Agency that has never held the 90 days of fuel reserves we are supposed to. So, when something goes wrong far away, the price at the bowser in Cabramatta moves almost straightaway, with very little standing between my community and that shock. The government has put aside $3.2 billion for an emergency fuel reserve. That is sensible, and I welcome it. But it has put just $10 million into even studying whether we could rebuild our ability to make more of our own fuel—$10 million to study a weakness that has been growing for 20 years. That tells me we are still managing the symptom. We are not yet curing the cause.

I'll try and be constructive. I don't think it's enough to always point to a problem. My hope is that my solutions are considered and taken on board by the government. There are two that I'm asking this government to take seriously. First, give us regular local buses—not a promise for 10 years from now but buses people can actually rely on soon. Give us a service that runs often enough so that a mum can, hopefully, leave the car at home or a student can get to TAFE without begging for a lift. The Commonwealth already helps fund transport across Western Sydney through the Western Sydney City Deal and the projects around the new airport. I'm asking this government to sit down with the New South Wales government and fund frequent local bus services for the suburbs that people already live in. Buses can be running in months, not decades. Every family that can leave their car at home is a family that can stop being held hostage by the price of petrol and, hopefully, can contribute to a cleaner environment.

Second, give us an east-west rail connection. The Commonwealth is helping to fund an $11 billion metro to the new Western Sydney airport. It runs from St Marys to the airport and to the new city of Bradfield, and that is welcome. But that line serves the new growth areas. It does not run through the suburbs my community already lives in—places like Liverpool, Warwick Farm, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Wetherill Park or Fairfield. Our rail network was built to run one way—into the city and back out again. It was never built to connect our suburbs to each other or to the new jobs out west. The case for an east-west rail link is not new. It was identified years ago in the very studies that built the case for the city deal as one of the connections our region would need, linking the new airport through to Parramatta. But it has never been funded. It has been left as a line on a map and a 'some day' project while my community waits.

I will keep pushing for the New South Wales government and this government to stop treating an east-west connection as something for some day and to commit to it, because connecting people to jobs, to study and to each other is not a luxury. It is how a community gets ahead, grows and thrives. So I will press this government to make fairness for Western Sydney and south-western Sydney part of the deal every single time it puts money on the table.

Let me finish where I started, with my community. For too long, my community was treated as a seat that could be taken for granted. We were promised the buses, the trains and the investment. It went somewhere else. So let me be clear about what the people of Fowler want. They want the same fair go that the rest of New South Wales already enjoys, to get to work without going broke, to care for their families without counting every kilometre and to know that the country they helped build is planning for their future, not just patching over their present. I will vote for this bill and support it because my community needs the relief and I will never stand in its way, but I will keep asking the question it sent me here to ask: where is the long-term plan? The people of Fowler have fought hard for every cent of help they have ever received. They have earned more than another bandaid. They need a government that will build them something lasting, a future that is more secure, more affordable and more connected. So I will not stop pushing until my community gets it, and I will keep fighting for that longer term plan.

We are supporting the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 mainly because the idea of giving fuel excise relief was the coalition's. We went out, we announced it and we made sure that we put pressure on the government, and the government followed. It goes to show that, when the government follows the opposition, when the government follows the coalition, the government actually gets it right. They should do it more often because, whenever they follow their own noses on things, they get it so terribly wrong.

The budget is the latest case in point. When they listen to the coalition, they get things right. This is the clearest case in point that you will see. How did we get here? We got here because the government was asleep at the wheel when it came to what was happening with the fuel crisis. It's always highly, highly amusing when the Minister for Climate Change and Energy gets up and he quotes that I and other members here kept calling on him to get serious about this national fuel crisis because he was asleep at the wheel and that we were going to have trouble by the end of March, by the end of April, by the end of May or by the end of June. You name it, there were problems. It was because he was doing absolutely nothing about it, and he wasn't interested in doing anything about price either. What happened in the end—and we all remember this—is that the minister for climate change was left behind. The Prime Minister went overseas with his begging bowl because the Prime Minister all of a sudden understood that there was a real problem here. So he headed off overseas with his begging bowl to make sure that we had diesel, jet fuel, unleaded petrol, urea, and fertiliser—all critically important.

I don't think we'll ever forget that, just as the Prime Minister was heading off to Asia to make sure we had all those things, we had the minister for climate change saying, 'None of my counterparts is talking to me about fossil fuels.' So here's the Prime Minister out begging for fossil fuels in our region, and the minister for climate change is there saying, 'Oh, no-one wants to talk to me about fossil fuels.' Of all the bizarre things that he's done and said, that was the best of them all. His own prime minister, his own leader, is out there begging for fossil fuels, and he's saying, 'None of them wants to talk to me about it.' It's just bizarre. Anyway, the whole way he does everything, sadly, would be funny if it wasn't so serious what he's doing to the cost of energy in this country and what that's doing to households and industry.

But I turn back to this point here. The other lesson from this is: have we learnt a lesson? Because we are going to continue to need fossil fuels into the future, and we are seeing a lack of interest in actually making sure that we can produce those fossil fuels ourselves. We have to make sure that we can produce the oil that we need. We have to make sure that we can produce the gas that we need. We've got to make sure that we can refine that oil to make sure that we can become much more self-sufficient again when it comes to the key drivers of our economy.

I think that many Australians but, in particular, the government failed to understand very early on how important diesel, in particular, is to our economy. It still drives our mining sector, our agriculture sector and our land transport sector. It absolutely drives them. Without diesel, we're in a world of pain. I say this to the government that not only do we have to make sure that we can refine and that we've got enough supply of diesel, fertiliser, jet fuel and other fuels; we've also got to understand that you've got to make sure they're affordable. That's what the excise relief does. It makes sure they are affordable.

I say this as a word of warning, because it never goes away that the government with the Greens are always looking to do things together—we've seen them do a very dangerous deal with the Greens on the budget—and the diesel fuel rebate, sadly, is always in their sights. What we should be doing—

Come on! It's not even spoken about.

There's a bit of an interjection from those opposite, but I must say that, in the lead-up to the budget, there was a lot of serious concern. Those serious concerns were judged and made on serious leaks from the government that they were considering doing this. It was there for all to see. So we do have to be very, very careful and watch this prodigiously, because those inner city Labor MPs especially have their desires and their designs on the diesel fuel rebate. They do.

They have different desires.

They have their desires on it, don't worry. There might be members who represent the Hunter Valley and the coal-producing areas in the Hunter Valley who hopefully will stand up in the party room on the Labor side and make sure that never happens. It would be good if they could stand up even in the parliament and say, 'Over my dead body will this happen.' We'll wait and see whether they're prepared to do it. It might actually be seat saving if they were prepared to do it. I think it might be seat saving if they were prepared to do it.

Making sure that we've got the fuel that we need to drive our economy forward is absolutely essential. Making sure that that fuel is affordable is absolutely essential, and that's why we support this fuel excise relief. We must say, the coalition led on this, and we want to make sure that the government continues the job. What they're proposing here is actually a sensible dismount. We've just got to continue to watch what happens in the Strait of Hormuz. When the Labor Party follows the coalition, it's amazing how they can get their policy right. When they go off on their own, it's amazing how they get it wrong. I say to this to the Labor Party with the best intentions: if you listen to us and follow our lead more, then you will get yourself in a much better place rather than following the Greens like you have done on the budget.

It's an absolute pleasure to follow the member for Wannon on this conversation, and I've got a few things I'll get to there on what he had to say. Every Aussie knows the feeling. You pull into the servo. You look at the numbers on the bowser and hope the tank doesn't need quite as much as you thought. For a lot of families, a lot of tradies, a lot of truckies and a lot of small businesses, fuel prices aren't some economic statistic; they're a weekly bill. They're part of the household budget, they're part of the cost of running a business and they're part of the reason people are still feeling pressure, even though we've made real progress on inflation. That's why I'm pleased to support the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026.

When people in places like Wyee, West Wallsend, Kurri Kurri, Cessnock, Broke and Singleton pull into a servo, they are not talking about excise rates or international oil markets. They're thinking about whether they can afford to fill the tank before dropping the kids off at school; whether they can go to work and back before payday; whether they can take the kids to the footy, the netball or the basketball that weekend; and whether they can keep the family budget afloat for just another week. In communities like those in the Hunter—where many people travel significant distances for work, where shift workers are on the road before dawn and home long after dark, and where public transport doesn't always get people to where they need to go when they need to get there—the car is often not a luxury but a necessity. It's how people earn a living. It's how families function. That's why fuel costs hit so hard.

This bill tells those beautiful Aussies, 'We understand the pressure, and we're taking practical action to help.' This bill extends fuel excise relief from 1 July to 2 August 2026. It means petrol and diesel excise will remain at 16c per litre, lower than it otherwise would have been during that period. Without this legislation, the original temporary fuel excise reduction would expire on 30 June and motorists would have to face the full increase immediately. Instead, this bill provides a much smoother transition into that. It tapers the support rather than ending it overnight.

For a family filling a standard 65-litre fuel tank, it means a saving of around $11 every trip. Every time they fill up, every time they go to that servo and fill that tank, that's $11. Now, $11 might not sound like much to a lot of people. But, for plenty of Aussies, $11 does matter. That's milk and bread. That's school lunches. That's helping cover the electricity bill. That's money staying in the household budget rather than disappearing at the bowser. When you're filling up every week, those savings certainly add up.

I think it's important to be clear about what this bill actually is. This isn't a permanent change. It's not a blank cheque, and it's not pretending that global events do not have consequences. It is a targeted and temporary measure designed to help Australians while fuel markets continue to stabilise. It's practical support at a practical time. Aussies have been dealing with the consequences of events far beyond our shores. The conflict in the Middle East created significant disruption to global fuel markets. Oil prices rose sharply, supply chains came under pressure, and motorists, families and businesses felt those impacts right here at home. Australians didn't create these problems, but they've had to pay for them, unfortunately.

The Albanese Labor government recognised that reality and acted. Earlier this year we introduced a temporary 32c per litre reduction in fuel excise for three months. That provided immediate relief when global fuel prices were at their absolute highest. Since then, conditions have improved. Petrol prices have come down significantly from their peak. Diesel prices have also eased, and that's extremely welcome news for the area of the Hunter. But, while conditions have improved, the pressure hasn't disappeared. People are still doing it tough. Families are still carefully managing their household budgets. Businesses are still watching every dollar, and truckies are still facing substantial operating costs.

That's why this bill matters. It recognises that recovery takes time. It avoids a cliff edge, and it provides a gradual return to normal settings rather than an abrupt change. That is simply better policy. It is better for households, it is better for businesses and it is better for economic stability. For communities right across the Hunter and this country, the smoother transition will make a real difference. Think about the disability support worker driving between clients across Teralba and Cooranbong. Think about the aged-care worker travelling between shifts. Think about the apprentice who's been driving from Edgeworth to the job site on the other side of Singleton. Think about the cleaner finishing a night shift and heading home before sunrise. These are all people that depend on their vehicles every single day, and fuel isn't an option for them. That's why we're doing this. That's why we're working on this cost-of-living relief and helping with fuel.

I also want to touch on a couple of points that the member for Wannon and those opposite brought up through the whole time we were going through this. I'm in the Hunter, and it is an absolutely beautiful area that people visit every day of the week. We're the second-largest tourism destination outside of Sydney in New South Wales. Unfortunately, because of some of those tactics used by those opposite—the scaremongering, the fear campaigning—they destroyed tourism in our area over Easter. We had businesses that were crying out to us, telling us, 'We're not getting the people through.' People were too scared to drive from Sydney to the Hunter because they were scared about getting fuel. There's more fuel in Australia now than there was before this conflict even started. This was a scare campaign; you guys were scaring motorists and travellers from coming up to the Hunter. That's what you guys opposite were doing.

Because you tried to take their roof racks off.

Member for Maranoa, I'll take this interjection and I'll take it well. There are so many people that don't understand. They don't live in the areas that we live in. They live in cities and don't understand that the roof racks make a difference to your fuel. They don't understand that checking the pressure in the tyres of your car genuinely makes a difference to how much fuel you use. So actually putting out sensible information—which some people laughed at, and that's okay. Some people know that, but so many people don't know it.

They don't know that, Member for Maranoa, so we've got to have these conversations.

Order! The member for Maranoa will cease interjecting.

I'll continue to take the interjection, because this is what caused people to not come to the Hunter. This is why us bringing down this excise now, with the 16c that we're cutting, is a good move and a move that will genuinely make a difference for the people in the Hunter.

We need to make sure that we continue to look after not only the people of the Hunter but also those all around this beautiful country. We can argue till we're blue in the face, but you know what? The people in the Hunter don't care about that, nor do the people in the Hunter care about what you're saying here. But do you know what they do care about? They care about being able to get fuel at a price that they can actually pay for. They care about getting their kids to the sport that they've got on the weekend. That's what they do care about.

In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier, the time allotted for this debate has expired. I will put the question immediately. The original question was that this bill be now read a second time. To this, the honourable member for Bradfield has moved as an amendment that all words after 'That' be omitted, with a view to substituting other words. The immediate question is that the amendment be agreed to.

The question is that the amendment moved by the honourable member for Bradfield be agreed to.

The question is that the bill be now read a third time.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

I note today that the government has secured the passage of the tax bills through the Senate. I think that this is a significant day and that this really marks a turning point in what we have seen over the last 20 years, where housing has become more of an investment than a place to live and a place for a family to call its home. I think, like Paul Keating said, when you change the government you change the country, and what you've seen from the Albanese Labor government is a commitment to change and to keep changing to fix the mess that we've seen created largely over the last 30 years of mainly coalition government, where we've seen housing really collapse, we've seen our healthcare services collapse and we've seen our infrastructure—and by that I mean our foundational industries, like manufacturing and textiles—collapse. It's those three things that I'd like to talk about in this adjournment speech tonight and on this really quite significant day.

On housing, we have really seen an abrogation from coalition governments over the last 30 years, as they completely failed to invest in public housing. I think we saw, over the 10 years that they were in government, something like 373 public social and affordable houses built. That was over those nine years that they were in government. That stands in stark contrast to the more than 200—I think it's something like 206—houses which are being built in one term in one electorate, in the electorate of Forde alone, and those are just the houses which are coming from the Housing Australia Future Fund.

What the government is doing around housing is multipronged. One of them is supply. It's supporting local governments through another $2 billion, taking our total spend to somewhere around $6.3 billion, to support the infrastructure that is needed for new housing. It is in building social and affordable housing. It is in supporting build to rent.

It is also tackling the other equation. We have seen the multiples of wages to house prices increase from somewhere around one to four, which is what it was in 2000 after the Howard government introduced these capital gains tax arrangements in 1999, to one to eight or sometimes one to 10. These tax measures, as we are already starting to see at auctions around the country, have now opened up the market to give first home buyers that edge—to give first home buyers the opportunity to buy that home and not compete against an investor who is using taxpayer funds in their pockets to help boost their bid at an auction.

The other side of the equation, that one-to-four equation, is wages. Because of the federal government continuing to support pay rises through the commission, we've seen just recently a 4.75 per cent increase in wages, which means that the minimum wage has basically increased by more than $12,000 a year. That is not only handy in a cost-of-living crisis; it is also handy when it comes to buying a home.

I think the philosophy of this government is about changing things for the better and not resting on your laurels but continuing to change, like continuing to change in health care, where we saw a complete and utter deterioration of Medicare and bulk-billing over the decade of the previous government because they froze the rebate. A slow and a methodical approach to raising the rebate for pensioners and for children worked to the point where the government was able to then scale it up by providing that tripling of that rebate to everybody who bulk-bills. Again, in just one electorate, we saw the number of bulk-billing clinics more than double over that one night in November when that rebate was tripled. We have seen a concerted attempt to change Australia and to fix the problems that we were left with. Today is a special day, and I mark that accordingly.

I seek leave of the House to table a petition.

Leave not granted.

I'm disappointed that leave is not granted, but I rise today to present a petition which I'm not able to table from Allied Health Professions Australia with more than 43,000 people calling on this government to expand Commonwealth prac payments to all allied health and medical students. Every Australian relies on doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and numerous other health professionals, but not everybody knows that these people had to do hundreds—and, in some cases, thousands—of hours of unpaid placement to get their degrees.

Placement is like an apprenticeship. It's where the students learn the practical skills they use for the rest of their careers. It's an essential part of their training, no two ways about it, but the way we expect many students to complete these placements is neither fair nor sustainable. We've heard stories of students skipping meals, sleeping in swags or cars and wondering whether they can afford to finish their degrees. This is known as placement poverty, and it's happening during a cost-of-living crisis, when rising costs of groceries, utilities and petrol are making it even harder for students to get by. In regional and rural areas, where placements can be far from home, these costs are even greater.

New data shows how serious this is. A Charles Sturt University survey found that almost half of all undergraduate students said that financial pressures could force them to withdraw before completing their degree. A similar survey from La Trobe University found that 65 per cent of students reported that cost-of-living pressures were impacting their studies. Transport and fuel costs were the most commonly identified pressure point, and I hear that concern time and time again. Chloe, a fourth-year occupational therapy student, told me that she travelled just short of 3,500 kilometres in her own car for placement related activities over nine weeks, costing more than $500 in petrol, just to complete her compulsory prac. For many students, $500 is a heck of a lot of money to fork out on top of their daily living expenses when they're on placement and unable to earn.

These financial impacts are also felt by families. I recently heard from Lou, a farmer in Cudgewa in my electorate. Her daughters, Grace and Genevieve, are studying medicine and radiography, which is exactly what we want from rural students. We know that when rural students study the health sciences they come and work in regional Australia as health professionals. Both these young women work to make ends meet. Next year, Genevieve will undertake eight months of unpaid placement in Melbourne to complete her degree—eight months! Lou wants to support her daughters and is doing all she can to help them through uni, but Lou's farm was burnt in the Victorian bushfires earlier this year, the second time after being burnt out in the 2019 Black Summer bushfires, and, while recovering from this disaster, there is only so much financial help she can give. All parents want to help their kids succeed. Of course they do. But completing a medical or allied health degree should not depend on your family's money.

The solution is clear: expand the Commonwealth prac payments to include medical and allied health students. This proposal has been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office and is backed by the more than 43,000 people who've signed this petition. It is targeted. It's non-inflationary cost-of-living relief for students who need it most. And, most of all, it's an investment in the students who will become the health professionals our communities desperately need, especially in regional and rural Australia. With the rising cost of living, high fuel prices and growing demand for allied health professionals to deliver Thriving Kids, we can't afford to wait. We must do this now.

I call on this House to join me and to join along with Senator David Pocock, who's also tabling this petition in the other place. I elevate the strong voices of the 43,000-plus people. Together, we call on the government to expand Commonwealth prac placement payments to include all allied health and medical students, because no student should be forced to drop out simply because they can't afford mandatory unpaid placement. No community should miss out on care because future health workers were priced out of their training. It's time to get this done.

I rise today somewhat aghast at the debate I have seen around the small business tax incentives. We have seen catastrophising, alliteration in amounts that I haven't heard since I was reading children's books to kids and a level of debate that seems more focused on theatrics than facts. The truth is that tax debates are complicated. They impact the businesses that we are proud to represent in our electorates and the people who rely on them as well. The Australian people deserve a debate based on facts.

I'm not going to get up and present myself as some kind of fact checker. Obviously, I'm an advocate for the government's policies but it's important that we avoid misinformation and have a calm, rational debate about these reforms. The sad reality in this House is that, instead of engaging in that complexity, instead of giving genuine feedback and having discussions about details of policy, we've had: 'It's all bad. I can't deal with it anymore. It's too hard.' Basically, it's a campaign that could be summarised as, 'Wah.'

And then we have a government that is pursuing legitimate taxation changes that are focused on ensuring that there is equitable treatment between income earned from capital and from labour, believing that both risk and also hard work ought to be rewarded. We have a government that has an understanding of the CGT system, bearing in mind that it sits in a system that has discounts embedded into it already through division 152 of the Income Tax Assessment Act, the small business exemptions. And we have, through this tax package, an important development—expanding those discounts from around 91 per cent of active businesses to about 98 per cent of active businesses. All small businesses continue to receive considerable CGT discounts within the package put through the budget.

This is an important note deliberately omitted by those opposite who prefer to go through the theatrics of a scare campaign. Really the tactic is simple. They want to make it look like something that is averse to a small number of people is an absolute disaster for everyone. If they were actually making an argument that was proportionate to the issues they were raising, it would be even more boring than usual. So what do we see? Cheap theatrics. We see yelling; we see screaming; we see insults. It's worthy of a playground.

We are talking about the future of our economy. We are talking about important incentives for small businesses. And so much is good for business in this budget. There is investment of billions. We have, embedded and permanent, the $20,000 instant asset write-off—not a comparison to be had with the pixie-dust hypothetical policy from the political equivalent of Blockbuster Video, but real tangible reform in the legislation. It's there for the future, for the benefit of small business everywhere. We have got the tax loss carryback for businesses up to $1 billion. That is a huge reform. It essentially means, rather than waiting on capital losses and having a whole complex regime, if you have a good year and you pay tax and then you have bad years and you lose a lot of money then you can reclaim some of that tax back in future years. It's really assisting with the cash flow of businesses. It's also supporting those innovators taking a risk by introducing a new incentive, which we are still in genuine consultation on.

There have been a lot of attacks today about the details of the reform, about innovative businesses and things like that, but the thing about consultation is it's not something you do after you've made a final decision. Consultation is there to inform the process, so it is with a genuine ear that we consult with the business community and get their insights to ensure that we get this right for the businesses that will benefit from it. We want to create an ecosystem where innovation is encouraged, where new starts are given the chance, because we know that so much of the innovation and so many new jobs in this country come from those new-start businesses. And so those that risk putting the capital in from day dot, those upstarts that get in and try something new, deserve the support of the tax system.

This calibration of the tax incentives embedded into our system should focus on those things that improve our productivity, which will encourage the things that will take our economy forward, rather than a subsidy for inflating the price of existing housing. The reality is that the housing system has not served its key purpose—providing shelter and homes for people.

It is important to ensure that the distortions that exist in our tax system are ended once and for all, but that it is done in a way that is considerate of all those who legitimately did the right thing. That is why grandfathering is an important part of this bill. It is essential to ensure fairness at the same time as not getting in the way of important reforms to the system. I only wish we had an opposition that could engage with the detail, that could talk about reform in a real, serious, adult and professional way so that we could actually enhance the policy rather than just have this series of white noise and repetitious alliteration, which, frankly, is unworthy of the parliament.

As World Cup fever grips our nation and, indeed, the globe, I'm reminded of sport's rate power to transcend borders, ideology and the differences in our community. It unites us in moments of joy and despair, and, believe me, as a Dockers man, I have known my fair share of the latter. While we rally behind the Socceroos, there remains one question that divides households, friendships and workplaces alike—Messi or Ronaldo? It's a question of immense magnitude, a question argued in schoolyards, pubs and dining rooms across Australia right now and in every corner of the world. It's a question that, at least initially, might seem trivial but perhaps implies something deeper because new research out of Singapore suggests exactly that—that this debate is not merely about football but is about the essence of our character. Across 26 countries, researchers found a clear pattern: those of a more conservative persuasion tend to favour Ronaldo, while those of the left-wing inclination lean toward Messi. I'm here with the Assistant Minister for Defence who confirms that is the case tonight!

What is more, the Australian public shows a propensity for Ronaldo. Now, I think that tells us something because Ronaldo represents something unmistakable. He presents discipline, drive, the relentless pursuit of results, and the belief that hard work, ambition and self-confidence are the path to success. That resonates with Australian. It resonates with a country that believes in aspiration. It resonates with a people who understand that effort must lead to reward. It resonates with those who put their head down and have a crack. In short, it resonates with Australians. That's the Australia that I want to believe in.

The study went on to say that those who favour Ronaldo report higher levels of self-esteem and, most importantly, higher levels of ambition. That is the point because ambition matters. Aspiration matters. The belief that your blood, sweat and tears will be rewarded matters. When this Prime Minister pushes the false pretence of ambition, Australians see right through that because they know what ambition truly is. They live it, they embody is, and they long for a government that will reward it. That's the Australia that I want to fight for in this place and the Australia we mustn't forget.

That is exactly why the coalition has unveiled its policies across the economy. Aspiration must be backed by practical policy. Take our Tax Back Guarantee. Right now, Australians are being pushed into higher tax brackets due to inflation, and they're simply not getting ahead. That punishes effort; that punishes ambition. The inflation is crippling that reward for effort for Australians. Our plan to index those tax thresholds ensures that Australians keep more of what they earn and is putting more money into their pocket each and every year rather than into the Treasurer's coffers.

Look at housing. For too many young Australians, the dream of homeownership is drifting out of reach, so we'll align housing completions with population growth and migration. We'll invest some $5 billion into the infrastructure that's required to unlock housing lots and get new homes built in this country. We'll also cut red tape because building homes and, indeed, businesses, workshops, factories and new mines should be encouraged in this country. We should be ambitious for our future.

We're committed to allowing aspiration to once again flourish in this nation, and that starts with our policies. It would be wrong to forget the real engine room of our economy. Small businesses or family businesses each day are taking risks, employing Australians and driving growth. Our permanent instant asset write-off for $50,000 gives them the confidence to invest, expand, take risks and create opportunities for other Australians. When you support small business, you are supporting Australian aspiration—the very thing that this country is built on. All of this is underpinned by an economic management plan to stop our spiralling national debt. It's no coincidence that our nation backs Ronaldo. It backs discipline, effort, hard work and ambition. We need a government that matches that ambition, and that is what the coalition is offering.

In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier, the House stands adjourned until 9 am tomorrow.

Question agreed to.

House adjourned at 17:29

Almost two years ago, I stood in this place and delivered something of an integrity scorecard—an assessment of the Albanese government's performance in its first term of government. Today, I'd like to provide an update. With a couple of years and an election in between, how would I rate the government now?

In 2024, I called out the government's inaction on whistleblower reforms. At that time, it had been five years since the Prime Minister, as then opposition leader, highlighted the need for a culture of disclosure and to expand whistleblower protections. Well, it's now been seven years, and we're still waiting for comprehensive whistleblower reforms. It seemed like we were getting somewhere in the second half of last year when the government released an exposure draft of amendments to the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The draft legislation was promising, with positive developments including the establishment of a whistleblower ombudsman and the introduction of a 'no wrong door' approach. Of course, there were a few missed opportunities. Many people and organisations did a lot of work to provide detailed, actionable feedback in an almost unworkably short three-week consultation period. And then, suddenly, just as it appeared, the draft legislation seemed to disappear in a puff of smoke. It's not clear whether it will be introduced, or when, or even whether the government has considered the feedback it urgently sought out.

I know the Treasury is currently consulting on whistleblower protections under tax and corporations law, but it's not clear how that ties into the kind of comprehensive, system-wide reform that's so sorely needed. And, if there's any doubt about that need, just take a look at the recent revelations about KPMG. The anonymous employee who bravely spoke up about the misuse of confidential material has said that they would not have made a disclosure if they had understood the inadequacy of legal protections for whistleblowers. It took a senator using parliamentary privilege for the allegations to even come to light. What a shameful indictment on our system.

In 2024, I gave the government credit for strengthening the Commonwealth grants framework but said I had continuing concerns about non-transparent election commitment funding and whether it would address pork-barrelling. I was right to be concerned. The government has not acted to end pork-barrelling. In fact, the government continues to rely on invitation-only noncompetitive grants to fund pre-election sweeteners in selected seats. These include the $350 million Investing in Our Communities program, the $1 billion Priority Community Infrastructure program and, most recently, the $561 million Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program. These pork-barrelled handouts are unfair, and, frankly, they're bad value. They create winners and losers along arbitrary electoral boundaries, and they create a system where resources are distributed on political strategy rather than need, merit or taxpayer benefit.

Perhaps the most concerning development since I last spoke is the government's ill-conceived, indefensible Freedom of Information Amendment Bill. The FOI system does need amendment, to make it simpler, faster and easier to use. But, instead, the government sought to entrench secrecy by making it harder to access information and easier to hide it. It was a disgraceful attack on transparency that the government eventually conceded was completely and utterly friendless. With the bill having been withdrawn, it's easy to think we're out of the woods. But a recent audit of FOI administration by the Australian National Audit Office identified a range of shortcomings inconsistent with a pro-disclosure regime. Of the more than 25,000 FOI decisions reviewed by the ANAO, 79 per cent refused access to information in part or in full. Decision-making is inconsistent and departments are not meeting their obligations, and the government has signalled—or perhaps warned—that FOI legislation isn't off the table for good.

At the time I spoke in 2024, the government had been sitting on Lynelle Briggs's review of public sector board appointments for a year. The 'jobs for mates' report was finally released in December alongside a new appointments framework that fell well short of what was recommended. To be fair, the Briggs report made clear that handing out jobs as favours or rewards is an entrenched issue not unique to any government or side of politics. I give praise to the Albanese government; they deserve recognition for implementing a transparent, merit based selection process for appointments to the Administrative Review Tribunal. It goes to show it can be done. It needs to be done consistently.

The ANAO is absolutely crucial as part of our integrity landscape. But it's getting by on a shoestring. The ANAO has operated in a continuous deficit for eight years, with both the Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit and the Auditor-General herself warning that its financial situation is unsustainable. The government failed to provide adequate resourcing in the most recent budget, but, to be honest, a funding boost from year to year is only a temporary solution to the underlying structural problem. Our central integrity body should not have to go cap in hand to the very executive it seeks to scrutinise.

Finally, I need to touch on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, but this time with some cautious optimism. The establishment of the NACC was a watershed development. Like many Australians, I had high hopes and great expectations of our federal integrity body, and I've spoken at length about my disappointment where I've seen it falling short. With the resignation of the commissioner and a deputy commissioner, the NACC is at a critical juncture. I see this as an opportunity for a reset, and I'm pleased that the Attorney-General agrees. Yesterday's announcement about the process to fill the vacancies was a welcome step in the right direction. There's more to be done, but I'm encouraged by the Attorney-General's approach and her engagement with me so far. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the NACC is currently undertaking an inquiry that I hope will deliver constructive, evidence based recommendations to facilitate a reset and to strengthen the NACC's performance of its functions; watch this space on that one.

So what's the conclusion on my report card? Well, to be honest, it's probably not a passing grade. There have been a few bright spots but, really, many letdowns. It's particularly disappointing at a time of declining trust in politics, because trust and integrity go hand in hand. The public have a sharp nose for what they think is shifty, whether it's inaction on gambling advertising, failure to protect whistleblowers, electoral stitch-ups or pork barrelling. Our integrity mechanisms should strengthen people's trust in political institutions, and at the moment I'm worried that they're doing the opposite.

Last year's McKinnon index revealed that, while Australians still have faith in democracy, they're increasingly dissatisfied with how they see it working in practice. Regional Australians in particular had lower trust in government, were less satisfied with public services and were less likely to think that the political system allows them to have a say. Australians will not put blind faith in our political institutions, and trust is an end-to-end proposition. I don't believe people have given up on democracy, but they're certainly making a loud demand for it to work better.

Grievance never feels particularly great to me as a standalone, because problems have solutions, even if they're hard to identify and harder to implement. I'm committed to doing the work of finding those solutions and putting them forward. That's why I developed a gold-standard design for the National Anti-Corruption Commission. It's why I put forward reforms to end pork barrelling and protect whistleblowers. It's why I stood up against FOI amendments that would have protected government secrecy and punished those seeking answers. I'll keep doing that work, and I'll work together with anyone in this place who wants to join me.

I may have given the government a failing grade, but the term isn't over. There's still time to turn things around. Back whistleblowers, end pork barrelling, and restore trust in our institutions and in our processes. Integrity is a choice, and it's a choice for the government to make.

I rise today to air a profound grievance on behalf of the people in my electorate of Bullwinkel and indeed right across Western Australia. My grievance is that of the legacy of housing—the housing neglect that was left behind by the previous coalition government after a decade-long failure that stripped dignity away from aspiring homeowners and renters alike.

For 10 long years, those opposite treated housing not as a fundamental human right or a cornerstone of community security but as an afterthought. They looked the other way while the dream of homeownership drifted further and further out of reach, particularly for the younger generation. Too many Australians grew up feeling that the entire housing market was stacked against them. But housing is central to the security and dignity of all Australians. It is the foundation on which families are built, careers are launched and communities thrive. I'm proud to stand here today as part of the Albanese Labor government that hasn't just recognised the crisis but met it head on, with the most ambitious national housing agenda that we've seen in generations.

We don't just talk about housing in this building; we are actually delivering it on the ground, where it matters. Just last week, I had the immense privilege of being part of a major housing forum held in collaboration with my WA federal caucus members and colleagues. This wasn't a closed-door meeting. It was a massive collaboration, a powerhouse of action. We brought together the federal minister for housing, Minister Clare O'Neil, alongside our WA state housing minister, Mr John Carey, and hundreds of vital stakeholders. We included local government, mayors, presidents, CEOs, community housing providers, local builders, eager investors and the tireless not-for-profit sector, and we were all in one room and completely aligned on one single mission: building more homes for Western Australians.

To see exactly what that sort of collaboration yields, the very next day I visited 19 brand-new social and affordable homes in my electorate, in High Wycombe. Minister O'Neil accompanied me there so we could see these 19 safe havens. They're more than just bricks and mortar. They're places that provide security for people. These 19 social and affordable homes were directly funded by our landmark Housing Australia Future Fund, the HAFF. I'm looking forward to going back there in a few weeks and meeting the new residents as they unpack their boxes and get settled into their new lives with a secure roof over their heads. This is what Labor delivery looks like. It is local, it is tangible and it changes lives.

But let's look at why the HAFF was so desperately needed. Let's look at the record of the opposition. During their entire decade in office, how many social and affordable homes did they build? They built 373. Not 300,000 or 37,000—just 373 social and affordable homes across the nation over nine years. It is an absolute disgrace. They presided over a decade of systematic and purposeful neglect, leaving a crater in our national housing supply. And, when the Albanese Labor government introduced the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund to fix that mess, what did the coalition do? They teamed up with the Greens to block it, stall it and delay it in parliament for months. They played cheap political games with the roofs that are literally needed over people's heads. Even worse, they have committed to cutting this vital funding if they're ever re-elected.

The opposition have shown time and time again that they are only interested in saying one word: no—no to Help to Buy, no to social and affordable housing, no to tax cuts, no to build-to-rent and no to helping everyday Australians buy a home. Our $47 billion total national investment is almost 10 times what the coalition invested when they were in office. The contrast could not be starker.

We know the only sustainable long-term fix, the only answer, to the housing crisis is to build more homes. Supply is the key. That's why we've set a bold, ambitious national target under Minister O'Neil to build 1.2 million homes over five years. We are actively delivering 55,000 social and affordable rental homes. We're reserving 100,000 homes specifically for first home buyers. To unlock these builds, we're not just writing cheques; we're unblocking the system. We're training a new generation of tradies through free TAFE, we're building the vital neighbourhood infrastructure required and we're aggressively cutting red tape.

But building homes is only half the battle. We need to make sure that everyday Australians can actually buy them. On 1 October last year, this government delivered on its commitment to expand the five per cent deposit scheme to all first home buyers, allowing people to start paying off their own mortgage instead of somebody else's—and we did it three months ahead of schedule. Then, in December 2025, we launched our revolutionary Help to Buy scheme, helping eligible first-time buyers walk through their front door with a mortgage that was up to 40 per cent smaller.

We didn't stop there. In this budget, the 2026-27 budget, we took the brave but necessary steps to level the playing field. From the 2027-28 financial year, we are limiting negative gearing on residential property so that it can only be used for new builds. That means negative gearing is grandfathered for existing properties, but, going forward, it is only on new builds. As of 1 July 2027, we're also replacing the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount with inflation adjusted indexation, restoring fairness to the taxation of real gains.

Finally, we have not forgotten the millions of Australians who rent. We have introduced powerful new incentives for projects that offer secure long-term leases, and we have worked constructively with state and territory governments to make renting fairer. Because of Labor's leadership, most states have now successfully banned no-grounds evictions and implemented strict minimum living standards. Crucially, we have delivered back-to-back increases in Commonwealth rent assistance. Under this Albanese Labor government, rent assistance is now 50 per cent higher, providing immediate, targeted cost-of-living relief directly to renters who need it most.

Safe and affordable housing is central to the security and dignity of all Australians. Despite the endless obstruction and delays from the coalition, our Housing Australia Future Fund is up and running. As of June last year, contracts have already been signed to support 18,650 homes under the first two rounds of HAFF. More than 1,400 homes are completely finished, and hundreds of Australians are already sleeping soundly under those roofs. Now HAFF round 3 has opened. It is our largest round to date, set to deliver more than 21,000 more social and affordable homes. This builds beautifully on our $2 billion social housing accelerator payment and our $1 billion HAFF crisis and transitional program.

The momentum is real. You can see it nationally in the budget figures, and you can also see it locally in places like High Wycombe in the seat of Bullwinkel. We are fixing the foundations of our housing system, we are backing first home buyers, we're supporting renters and we're building the homes that Australia needs. I commend this magnificent Labor housing agenda to the House.

Today I wish to raise the issue of infrastructure projects in La Trobe. For those who don't know, La Trobe is in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne and is one of the fastest growing growth corridors in Australia.

Thank you very much. Yes, it is, Member for Aston. The only issue when it comes to infrastructure out there is you always have to keep pace with the area's growth because it obviously becomes very tough for residents moving around.

There were a number of road projects under the former Liberal government that I announced, working with local residents. One was actually the Clyde Road and Kangan Drive extension. This is actually an extra lane from the train line going over the Monash Freeway. At the time the local Casey council and their engineers—obviously Casey council is not a little council; it's got a lot of engineers—came to me with the road package project, which was going to be $70 million. We committed to doing that. Then, under state Labor—obviously this comes down to the CFMEU and their input of corruption and everything else—it blew out to $250 million.

This was actually announced with the former prime minister and myself: we had the Racecourse Road and McGregor Road upgrades in Pakenham at $82 million. That's a lot of money, $82 million. Again, state Labor blew this out to $398 million.

To go back to Clyde Road, it's only 900 metres of road. I basically worked out that every metre is costing $250,000. I understand that going over the Monash Freeway is a lot of engineering work, but the rest of it is just widening the road.

Then we come to others, like the Berwick train station car park. I compare this to when council—I think it was Maroondah council—upgraded the Mitcham train station car parks. That was done for under $15 million. The Berwick train station car park—I do note it actually has bus turn lanes et cetera—has gone to $64 million. Again, that's state Labor putting their extra costs and burden on the taxpayer when it comes to the CFMEU. Driving along around Berwick and Pakenham, you see the CFMEU proudly displaying their flag, letting all the residents know that, in actual fact, it's their project and they're getting the most benefit from it, which is very, very sad.

When it comes to road projects locally now in La Trobe—again, one of the fastest growing growth corridors in the state—there are no major projects going on except the ones which were previously announced by the Liberal government. Under the former Liberal government, we upgraded the Monash Freeway. That was an extra lane from Warrigal Road right down to Cardinia Road for 36 kilometres. I note the state government in Victoria did actually match half the funding. That was a good project with state and federal working together.

We also delivered the Beaconsfield interchange, a very important project. There was also the extension of O'Shea Road, linking up Clyde Road to the Beaconsfield interchange. When I talk about Racecourse Road upgrades, they're now in the final stages, with major work completed in 2026. The project includes adding an extra lane between Peet Street and Henry Street, removing the roundabout and replacing it with traffic lights and installing new signals at Railway Avenue and Campbell Street intersection.

Pedestrians' and cyclists' safety will also be improved through the construction of new walking and shared-use paths, completing the missing link between the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road and New Pakenham Station. Can I say also that the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup upgrades were a very, very important joint project. In fact, I drove down there on the weekend to take my daughter to a swimming competition, and that road is a great road. It was a very dangerous road. What was one lane is now dual lane. It's good to see residents using that road, which is a hell of a lot safer now.

Also, under the former Liberal government, we upgraded dangerous intersections across Latrobe—this was brought to me in particular by Cardinia Shire Council, and I give them their credit—between McGregor Road, and going further down, Cardinia Road. As I mentioned, those were very important upgrades along there. Then I come to eight dangerous intersections which were funded. O'Neil Road, Glismann Road, Bayview Avenue and Tivendale Road are being completed.

This was the old Princes Highway. It was very dangerous. I remember once speaking to a lady who was trying to cross this with two children in the car, and, sadly, the lady behind her was beeping the horn and ended up forcing this lady to go forward, making a very bad decision. They ended up having a T-bone, but, luckily, the children ended up being okay after that accident. Again, it's those smaller, dangerous intersections we've upgraded.

The Officer South ramps have now been completed. But one of the projects, very disappointingly, was stopped by the Albanese government when it came into power. Can I say, when Bill Shorten was the former Labor candidate, when we announced this program, they actually matched that sealing of the Hills program. I again commend CRAG21.

Like a local group up in Cockatoo who said, it's unfair that all these residents have been living up in the hills for years, and the roads are unsealed. They've got potholes. In summer there's dust; in winter water goes into the potholes. They damage their cars. We secured $150 million to seal 110 kilometres of road for 164 local roads, and the program just started. It actually had already committed and sealed 38 roads. Then Labor got in, and they cancelled all the funding, which is really upsetting for those local residents.

The other one I was very passionate about was Wellington Road. Going from Clematis down to Lysterfield Road, Wellington Road is very important. It's a single-lane road in both directions, and sadly, over the years, there have been fatalities and serious accidents. I've twice committed funding to this project, first in 2007. That's when we announced the funding prior to the election. I must blame Yarra Ranges Council, who mucked about trying to work out where they were going to put overtaking lanes.

My last letter was to the then transport minister, who's now Prime Minister, Albanese. I said, 'Don't allow this funding to be diverted.' So what did he do? He added the funding to be diverted on the council's request—a bad move. So we recommitted the funding again for Wellington Road back in 2019, and the commitment was working with local councils. City of Casey, Cardinia Shire Council, Yarra Ranges Council and Knox City Council all gave me submissions of the costing.

The highest amount was $220 million for probably 20 or 30 kilometres of road duplication, and we decided to go with what was fair. We got the state Labor government to pay half, so we committed $110 million. We were hoping state Labor would commit to the remainder instead. That didn't occur at all. What happened is that the Albanese government got in power, along with state Labor, and said, 'This project is now blown out to $900 million,' and they diverted the funding to the Suburban Rail Loop. So the Suburban Rail Loop ended up getting the funding from Wellington Road that we committed under the Liberal government, and for sealing the roads in the Dandenong Ranges.

The south-east and, in particular, La Trobe have really missed out when it comes to road funding. I know the Labor Party have their hearts set on the Suburban Rail Loop, but you're really hurting local residents when you divert funding from smaller projects to the SRL, which has been impacted by major corruption in the CFMEU.

We all know the type—the people from local organisations that put on a feed for people who are having a hard time feeding themselves; those in a community group that support women and children fleeing family and domestic violence; the club presidents and coaches who give up their evenings and weekends to ensure local sporting clubs run smoothly, the team members' skills are sharply honed and their spirits inspired; the teacher who goes above and beyond to support their students' learning; the volunteer at the barbecue who makes the best snags and keeps the community connected; and the parents and carers in their kids' community theatre group, who don't just direct and inspire young talent but build their confidence, sew costumes and create incredible sets. These are the quiet achievers in our communities. They don't ask for recognition and they don't seek the spotlight, but, without them, our communities simply would not function the way they do.

These people and organisations are the very reason why the Tilly Aston Community Awards were created a couple of years ago. These awards recognise and celebrate the individuals and groups in the Aston electorate who go above and beyond: those who show exceptional dedication, leadership, selflessness and care for others. The awards commemorate a truly remarkable woman, Matilda Aston, who was known as Tilly. Tilly was a blind writer, a teacher, a poet and a very fierce disability activist—arguably one of this country's first. The federal electorate of Aston is named after this incredible woman, who was born in December 1873, nearly 153 years ago.

These awards honour a legacy of service and community spirit that continues to inspire today. Nominations are now open to anyone living or working in the electorate of Aston, and I especially encourage self-nominations. Sometimes the people doing the most meaningful work do not realise just how much of a difference they are making. In Aston, volunteers are the backbone of our community. They give their time freely, driven not by profit but by a genuine desire to help others. As the representative for the electorate of Aston, I recognise that contribution, I respect it and I will always support it.

Supporting our communities also means backing the workers who keep those communities running every single day. On this side of the chamber we stand firmly with workers and their families. We back workers on the minimum wage and those on modern awards. We welcome the decision by the Fair Work Commission to increase the minimum wage by 5.97 per cent to $26.44 per hour, alongside a 4.75 per cent increase to award wages from 1 July this year. This is a positive outcome for around three million low-paid workers across Australia. These are the workers who keep our economy moving and our communities functioning: cleaners, retail workers, fast-food workers, hospitality staff and so many others. They work hard, often in challenging conditions, and they deserve to be paid fairly for the contributions they make. The Albanese Labor government has consistently advocated for fair wage increases because we believe in one simple principle: if you work hard, you should be able to get ahead.

In my electorate of Aston, this decision will make a real difference to households. It means more money in the pockets of working people at the end of the week and a little less pressure when it comes to paying the bills. Labor has always been the party of working people. It is part of our history, part of our identity and part of our ongoing commitment to fairness.

The contrast right now could not be clearer. While we support higher wages and better conditions for workers, there are some who have consistently opposed measures that would lift the incomes of low-paid Australians. Time after time, members of the three-ring circus, the 'Liberal One National party', have voted against workers rights and supporting those who need it the most. On this side of the chamber, we will always back workers, we will always support fair pay and we will always put the interests of everyday Australians ahead of the interests of billionaires and vested interests.

Supporting workers also means recognising the value of some of the most important jobs in our communities. Recently I had the pleasure of visiting two outstanding early learning centres in my electorate, Goodstart Early Learning Wantirna South on Cathies Lane and Little Stars Early Learning and Kindergarten in Ferntree Gully. At Goodstart, I met with dedicated educators and enthusiastic children who reminded me just how important those early years are. At Little Stars, I spoke with Mark and Annette about the incredible work they are doing for local families, and I even had the chance to meet their cute little chook called Bingo and their adorable and highly excitable turtle called Dougie. These visits are always a joy, but they are also a powerful reminder: early childhood educators play a vital role in shaping the next generation. They help children learn, grow and develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Being an early childhood educator is one of the most important jobs in the country, and they should be paid fairly for that work. That's why the Albanese government funded a 15 per cent pay rise for early education and care workers. The Albanese government is investing a further $3.6 billion over the next two years to lock in this historic 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators. This investment will be tied to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases. We want to make sure workers can be paid fairly without the costs being passed on to families. When combined with our support for minimum wage rises, this will mean $255 more per week for a typical full-time educator and $410 more per week for early childhood educators, compared to December 2024, when the government first implemented the pay rise.

Our government understands that strong communities rely on volunteers who give their time and heart and on workers who give their skill and effort. Whether it is recognising volunteers through the Tilly Aston Community Awards or delivering fair wage increases for millions of workers, our government is focused on what matters to people in my community. We are building stronger communities, we are supporting working people and we are ensuring that no-one is left behind, because at the end of the day, when we back workers and we support volunteers, we strengthen the very fabric of our society, and that is something worth standing up for.

We learnt this afternoon that the Labor Party and the Greens have done a grubby, dishonest, dirty deal with each other to get these tax changes through the parliament. If anybody needed any further proof of where this government is going, today is a classic example. The government needed the assistance of the Greens, the party that is on the far left of politics, to pass these taxation laws. The Australian people didn't vote for a Labor-Greens coalition; they voted for a Labor government—unfortunately, but we respect the will of the people. But they didn't vote for some kind of coalition between these two parties.

Let's talk about the Greens for a moment. The Greens had a choice. The Greens had a choice of working with the Liberal-National coalition by providing a longer, more detailed examination of the NDIS bill and looking at how the NDIS could more properly be reformed. The Greens talked the big talk about looking after people with disabilities. But when the opportunity came to whack more Australians with higher taxes—$280 billion worth of additional taxes—the Greens jumped at that opportunity and dropped their aspirations to fix up what has been a disastrous NDIS under this government. The Greens talk the talk; they never walk the walk.

The Greens had this opportunity to provide greater scrutiny of the government's NDIS bill, and they've just ducked it. They have chosen to stand for higher taxes with this government. They do so at their own peril, because, for Australians, I've got to tell you: as I make my way around my electorate, this government is on the nose.

In some recent surveying that I did of my community, 70 per cent of those surveyed said that they believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction—70 per cent. If that doesn't send shivers down the spine of the government, I don't know what will. But, you see, this is the thing: the government is sitting on a 94 per cent massive mega-majority, but they have become complacent. They have become arrogant—full of hubris. They think they are untouchable. They think that Australians are—actually, I don't think that even the most ardent Labor member would think that they've got the support of the Australian people, because they know that the Australian people will be coming after them with pitchforks at the next election on these taxation policies.

Well, we will soon find out. I will take that interjection. I'd encourage the member for Isaacs, when he next wants to come on a holiday, to come up to the beautiful Sunshine Coast, enjoy our warmth in wintertime, and just see how angry people are. And they are angry. They are angry at this government. Australians will cop a lot of things, but we won't cop it when our governments are dishonest with us. This prime minister told us that he would not introduce changes to the capital gains tax, to negative gearing, to superannuation or to trusts. And these are exactly the sorts of changes that the government wants to introduce.

Madam Deputy Speaker Payne, you should be in no doubt, and nor should any of those members opposite, that Australians are very, very upset with this government. Although it has a 94-seat majority, there are a lot of those members opposite who are—if I can channel my Monty Python—on wafer-thin majorities!

In England we saw Keir Starmer win in a landslide, just two years ago, and then we saw, just last night, that Keir Starmer had resigned and is now filling the spot until UK Labour find a replacement. Just two years ago, UK Labour won in a landslide, and I think they won on a very similar majority primary vote to what we saw here in Australia just 12 months ago in 2025. There are very salient lessons for those members opposite out of this, because the UK and Australia are obviously very similar with our systems of government.

Australians will not cop dishonesty from their governments, just as in the UK, where there have been all sorts of problems with their immigration, all sorts of problems with their energy policies, all sorts of problems with their living standards—does that ring any bells to you, Madam Deputy Speaker? They are the sorts of challenges that we are experiencing in this country today.

We were promised, in this country, by this government, that we would all be enjoying a $275 reduction in our energy prices, and we're paying 40 per cent more for our energy now, under this government. And Australians have had enough. So, when this government comes in and says—when even the Prime Minister, in his own words, says: 'How many times have I got to tell you? Fifty times,' that he is not going to introduce these new taxes, but then does, and then refuses to acknowledge that he has been anything other than dishonest with the Australian people, then Australians have a right to be very upset with this prime minister. Once upon a time in this country, when politicians, even in the Labor Party, if I can draw upon Peter Beattie, a former Queensland Labor premier—Peter Beattie was the master of mea culpa. When he stuffed something up, he stood up in front of the cameras and said, 'I got this wrong.' But not this prime minister—he won't even admit that he's breaking promises. He just says, 'We've changed our position.' Australians are all over this. They know, and they will not cop it.

When I make my way around my electorate of Fisher, Australians are telling me, particularly small businesses—these are the same small businesses that are feeling like this government is crunching down on them at every step of the way. These are the same people who are paying $29,000 on average for the mortgage repayments for their homes. Unlike everyday, average mums and dads that don't have a small business, these small-business people are not only paying $29,000 a year more on their home loans than they were under a coalition government, after tax; they're also paying commensurately higher interest rates on their business loans. And, for every home energy bill they get, they're paying a lot more as well on the energy bills for their businesses. So small businesses have never done it tougher than what they are experiencing right now under this government. That's why—and it pains me to say this, as someone who was in small business for 30-odd years before coming into this place—we have never seen a higher rate of small-business insolvency than what we are experiencing under this Albanese government.

For those members opposite, who might chortle and think, 'We're sitting on a 94-seat majority; we can withstand just about anything that comes our way'—I've got news for them. I'm sure that Keir Starmer also had similar views to what I'm hearing from those members opposite. Two years ago, Keir Starmer won in a landslide. One year ago, Labor won in a landslide. Members opposite should not think that they are immune to those same sorts of pressures that we are seeing in the UK happening here, because the same sorts of pressures are very real. Mums and dads are hurting. Our homelessness is off the Richter scale. So many people are doing it tough. This government is letting down people left, right and centre. They've had enough, they want a change, and they'll get it with a Liberal-National coalition government.

I rise today to speak about the importance of civics education and why it's important to make sure that young Australians understand how our democracy works and why it matters. Our democratic system is often taken for granted. It's stable, familiar and deeply embedded in our national life. But that stability depends on each generation developing an understanding of how our system functions and the responsibilities that come with it.

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Dingley Primary School in my electorate of Isaacs along with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Milton Dick MP, as part of the Speaker's Parliament in Schools program and the Australian Parliament House National Flag Roadshow. This was the first time that the Speaker of the House of Representatives had visited south-east Melbourne in 125 years, making it a significant occasion for the school and the local community.

What stood out most was the energy in the room. The students were curious, thoughtful and full of questions. They wanted to know how laws are made, how parliament works and what members of parliament can do for their communities. A highlight of the visit was helping the students to unfurl one of the Australian flags that's flown from the 81-metre flagpole above this parliament. More than 100 students joined in, which sounds like a lot until you see a flag measuring 12.8 metres by 6.4 metres unfurled. Watching the students work together in that moment was powerful to me. It was about not only a national symbol but also cooperation and shared responsibility. It gave students a real connection to parliament and the institutions that belong to all Australians.

I also recently visited St Brigid's Primary School in Mordialloc to speak with grade 5 and 6 students about civics and citizenship. We discussed how parliament works, how laws are made and why democratic participation matters. On that visit, I brought a replica of the parliamentary mace. The students were fascinated by its design and history and by the role that it plays in the traditions of the House of Representatives. For many students, it was the first time they'd seen such a direct link to the traditions of parliament. Visits like this bring our parliament a little closer to the classroom, giving students a chance to understand the symbols, history and meaning of our democracy. The mace and the flag are more than ceremonial objects. They're reminders of the institutions and traditions that allow our democracy to function. These visits remind us of something important about Australia and our democracy. We're fortunate to live in a country where disagreement is resolved through debate, elections, laws and parliament, not through conflict or intimidation. When Australians want change, they can vote, speak up, campaign and take their case to their elected representatives. That is not something we should ever take for granted. It's something that young Australians should learn, value and carry forward.

Democracy relies on trust, participation and understanding. People need to know how to vote, why their vote matters and how decisions are made on their behalf. That's why getting young people involved is so important. At both Dingley Primary School and St Brigid's Primary School, I opened the floor to questions. In what has now become something of a tradition when I visit schools in Melbourne, the first question was the most important one, which was: 'Which AFL team do you support?' As a long-suffering Saints supporter, I gave them an honest answer, and, of course, I was immediately heckled! We also put democracy to the test, with a vote and a division to show how parliament works. I asked the students one of the most contentious questions in public life, 'Should we put pineapple on pizza?' The room divided on this question with laughter, raised eyebrows and the expressions of students who could not believe that their classmates had such bad taste, on both sides. While pineapple on pizza can produce very strong opinions, democracy took its course, and I can report, to my astonishment, that the 'no' vote prevailed at both schools. Apparently, pineapple on pizza is a stretch too far! These experiences reinforce the importance of civics education in and beyond the classroom. It's one thing to learn about parliament in theory. It's another to see its processes and symbols come to life.

Civics education teaches students how laws are made, how parliament works and why democracy matters. It helps young Australians understand participation, accountability, respect for the rule of law and engagement in public life. It also helps young people make sense of the world around them. Digital technology and social media mean young people are able to see more information than ever before. But not all of it is reliable. Learning how to think critically, check information and engage respectfully is essential. It's also about ensuring that young people see themselves as part of Australia's democratic story. When parliament feels real and accessible, students are more likely to remain engaged in civic life as adults. Visits to Dingley Primary School and to St Brigid's Primary School help bring parliament closer to the community. For many students, those experiences can stay with them. They show that democracy is not something distant or separate from their lives. It's something they are part of and help shape. The students I've met have given me immense confidence in the future of our democracy. Their engagement shows that young Australians are ready to participate when given the opportunity. We should not underestimate the importance of early engagement. A question asked in a primary school classroom today can be the first step towards a lifelong interest in community, leadership or public service.

I firmly believe that civics education matters immensely to the strength of our democracy. Civics, how our democracy works, should be taught in every Australian school. Young Australians should understand the institutions that serve them, the rights and responsibilities they hold and the role that they can play in their communities and in our national life.

There being no further grievances, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Sitting suspended from 13:25 to 15:58

Recently, a constituent of mine asked me a question: why is it that if a bank is robbed of a million dollars there'd be a major investigation and a criminal would be sent to jail, but if a scammer steals a million dollars from someone's bank account the consequences are far less certain? Unfortunately, this wasn't a hypothetical. This constituent was the victim of an investment scam, and he lost almost $1 million—that's life-changing money—but there were minimal consequences for those responsible.

Scammers prey on vulnerable people who often aren't tech literate or may not be fluent English speakers, but we're all at risk. Everyday life, including many government services, relies on us transacting online, and scams affect far too many people. Australians reported a staggering $2.18 billion in scam losses in 2025 alone, and in my community across Bradfield, from Wahroonga to Northbridge, the figure is in the millions of dollars every single week. But let me be clear: the costs are not just financial. Many victims are deeply ashamed and fearful, hiding their identity to avoid family pressure or social repercussions. With AI, it's becoming even harder to identify a hoax. We are now in a frightening world where AI voice agents can replicate your family members or friends asking for money.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing and responding to scams—the banks, the telco providers, digital platforms—and government needs to ensure the right protection framework and penalties are in place, which appropriately shares responsibilities and consequences among those with the power to act. It's great to have the government continuing to develop its Scams Prevention Framework. The framework seeks to prevent, detect and disrupt scams, prevent scammers from using a service in the first place and actively look for scams and then disrupt them once they've been found. The draft rules are a big step forward, but we can do better.

I've made a submission this week on how to strengthen the rules, and I'm calling for stronger reimbursements to ensure people are appropriately compensated. The average scam is worth roughly $7½ thousand, so the automatic reimbursement cap should be raised to that level from the proposed $3,000. I'm also calling for obligations on digital platforms to proactively identify and block repeat scammers rather than just react to reported scams. I'm calling for strong obligations on banks and telcos to prevent scams from occurring through disrupting scam emails and messages and to create effective and timely scam reporting mechanisms. I'll keep pushing to ensure that my community is protected from scams and scammers.

A few months ago I was holding a community event on stuff for youth to do on the northern beaches of Cairns. A young man who was working with Thrive and Connect had come along. He had a lot to say. He was an interesting young fellow. I asked him to intern with me, and he came in for a week. As I do with all my interns and work experience people, I got him to write me a speech. These the words of Ngong Arou, a Sudanese refugee based in Box Hill but up in Cairns playing footy:

A letter to the government .

One of my earliest memories is sitting in an airport in Egypt with my brothers, watching planes through the window while my parents were being questioned before travelling back to Australia. We were too young to understand what was happening, but looking back, I often think about that moment.

What if my parents had been told no?

What if we had never boarded that plane?

When we arrived in Australia, I couldn't speak English. I remember hearing it for the first time and not understanding a single word. Everything was new and unfamiliar. But what I quickly came to understand was kindness.

My family settled in Box Hill, Melbourne, where we were welcomed by a community that cared. Neighbours looked after one another, schools supported families, and people made us feel like we belonged. They didn't see us as strangers; they saw us as part of the community.

Growing up, I was protected by my family and guided by the values they taught me. Like many young people, I made mistakes along the way, but those experiences taught me the importance of responsibility, gratitude and making the right choices.

Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my life and have led me to where I am today. I now live in Cairns and work with Thrive and Connect, supporting young people who are often misunderstood, overlooked, or struggling to find their place in the world. Through that work, I have the privilege of helping young people find their voice, discover their purpose, and realise their potential. In many ways, I see parts of my younger self in them, and I hope to give them the same support, guidance and sense of belonging that was given to me.

Today, I simply want to say thank you. Thank you to Australia, and thank you to the communities that welcomed my family and gave us the opportunity to build a better future.

Australia is better because Ngong is here. He works hard in Cairns. He's a role model to young people. He worked hard in my office. I am so proud to have been able to read his words today, I'm so proud of what his family has brought to this country and I thank him for being here.

I recently had the honour of opening the 50th Henry Lawson festival in the historic goldfields town of Gulgong. Honouring one of Australia's most iconic writers, the festival brought together locals and visitors to recognise Henry Lawson's enduring contribution to poetry and storytelling. He spent his formative years in the Gulgong area.

The festival drew a massive crowd, and the ongoing success of the festival is a testament to the power of the Gulgong community. Some of the highlights included helping to present our young artists with their medals—congratulations, Sierra, on your first place; taking my 1962 Falcon ute in the huge street parade; and watching old Henry Lawson cut his 159th birthday cake!

I'd like to thank and recognise Bill Murphy and his hardworking team of volunteers for bringing us this wonderful celebration of our history and 50 years of magic. They included Simone Grundy, and also Heath Atchison, Stephen Hunter, Craig Ryan, Brigid Glover, Simone Sheridan, Margi Jackson, Corey Andrews, Christina Thomlinson, Janelle Hasler and Alan Walker.

During the Henry Lawson festival, we also celebrated 100 years of the Gulgong Country Women's Association. It's been a remarkable century of service, resilience and community connection. Founded to support women in rural and regional areas, the CWA has long played a vital role in strengthening communities through advocacy, friendship and practical support. In Gulgong's CWA Hall, there was a wonderful centenary display, which reflected both the organisation's rich history and its contribution to the community.

Gulgong CWA are a small but mighty group of women, hosting a market on the fourth Saturday of each month and providing catering for coach tours and other key tourism activities. In the words of President Robyn Jones:

The proceeds from these activities helps keep the hall open and keeps us on our toes! Gulgong is our main priority and so is keeping our CWA going for another 100 years!

Congratulations to the Gulgong CWA members: President Robyn Jones, who is an outstanding leader; Treasurer Penny Pinnock; Secretary Lorraine Richards; Margaret Reid; Janette Lewis; Natalie Buckle; Liz Rowden and Linda Howard.

Happy birthday, Gulgong CWA! We wish you many, many more years of wonderful community service and thank you all for your extraordinary contribution to Gulgong, our region and our country. We cannot do without our CWA.

I'm pleased to share that construction on the new Rouse Hill Hospital is underway. This milestone reflects years of advocacy, by my community in Greenway and Labor governments committed to delivery. Working together, the Albanese and Minns Labor governments are building the world-class hospital that north-west Sydney needs. Excavation and earthworks for the hospital footprint are taking place right now, and I look forward to the project continuing to make great progress.

For growing communities like ours, better health services must be matched with strong infrastructure. That's why we're also investing in road upgrades across north-west Sydney. We're progressing works to widen Windsor Road near the hospital site, addressing a significant bottleneck on this vital road. Construction is also underway to upgrade Richmond Road. This $720 million project will cut travel times, ease congestion and support future growth across Greenway. After years of neglect, we're delivering the practical infrastructure investments that our community needs and deserves.

Access to reliable mobile connectivity is an important concern in my electorate. In 2022, I worked with residents in The Ponds to address longstanding mobile black spots and was successful in securing land for a new tower at Jonas Bradley Park. I'm pleased that that tower is now built and connecting my community in Greenway. While this is real progress, more work remains. I will continue to bring together network operators, Blacktown council and locals to find practical solutions.

Through ongoing engagements, we have now secured ministerial consent from the New South Wales government for the lease at Douglas Reserve, allowing this project to proceed. I am also pleased that the lease for the Ken Birdsey Park in Schofields has been referred to the New South Wales government for approval. These locations were identified by locals in my community, and I'm so pleased to be able to deliver for them. I will continue to fight to ensure that every resident across Greenway has access to reliable mobile coverage.

Constituents have welcomed the extension of fuel excise relief for another month. This will make petrol and diesel 16c per litre cheaper for another month. For local families, tradies and small businesses, this is vital cost-of-living relief for those who need it most. The Albanese government will continue to shield Australians from the impacts of global pressures, including conflict in the Middle East.

There are two big issues in the electorate of La Trobe. One is the cost of living. People are really hurting. Recently I'm hearing on the ground that, when it comes to insurance premiums, amazingly they're going up 20 or 30 per cent again. I know sometimes there are factors when it comes to where people live. Up in the Dandenong Ranges, because of bushfires and other issues, they are going up by 20 or 30 per cent. That's really hurting people. Again, when it comes to energy bills, they're going up and up again in Melbourne. Obviously, we're here in parliament in Canberra, but it's a lot colder down there. So power bills are going up. People were promised by the Prime Minister, prior to the previous election, a discount of $275. That hasn't happened.

One of the things I'm hearing from small business and people who put trust in the Prime Minister when he made comments like 'my word is my bond' is that they took him at face value when it came to not changing capital gains tax or unit trusts. This actually really hurts a lot of people. A lot of tradies have established a trust. They've gone to an accountant, and the accountant said, 'Hey, a good way of minimising tax is to put money in a trust,' and then, if one of the partners—it could be a husband or a wife—isn't working, they can get a discount on that. Now they're going to be hit, as money goes into that trust, by a 30 per cent tax. That's a huge whack.

When I talk to my friends in the multicultural communities, a lot of my Indian friends, to use them as an example, are going to their accountants at the moment. They were advised to set up a trust through their small business. It could be a landscaping business, it could be a post office—whatever it is. They've already gone once to get advice on what's occurring with the government's changes. Now we're seeing all these changes the government's made again.

Obviously, they're copping a backlash. I warn the Labor members. You know what? If you don't stand up and speak out about this, it'll cost you your seats, because people are really hurting on the ground, especially when it comes to people who put their faith in the government, especially multicultural communities, when they've set up trusts, and they've also planned for the future when it comes to capital gains discounts. It was 50 per cent under the Howard government. Now that's all going to be changed, with indexation.

So it's a really tough time for people trying to get ahead in life, especially when it comes to cost-of-living pressures. The government are not making life easier; they're making it more difficult, especially for small businesses.

The Order of Australia is one of the highest recognitions of service in this nation, and it's one of the most honourable ways we can recognise everyday people and their contributions that have made a lasting mark on this nation and the people around them. It does not come from a government or a boardroom. It comes from the community. Any one of us can put a name forward, and any one of us could be put forward. These awards are about much more than the letters added after someone's name. They're about neighbours and colleagues taking the time to say that someone's work matters and that it deserves national recognition. Today I'd like to recognise the people in my electorate of Swan who have received that honour.

There's Professor Emeritus Trevor Redgrave AM, for significant service to physiology and molecular biology research at the University of Western Australia. Trevor's work has helped establish how the body processes fats after a meal and how the liver clears these particles. There's Mr James Walker AM, for significant service to the mining sector, to historical preservation organisations and to the community. There's Ms Elizabeth Woods AM, for significant service to the law, to people with disability and to basketball administration. Elizabeth is the longest serving female judicial officer and was the first resident magistrate of Kalgoorlie, which is my birth town. There's Ms Elspeth Hensler OAM, for service to the law. Elspeth has a longstanding legacy of continued pro bono work and providing free legal assistance to help the disadvantaged in our society. There's Dr Brian Moon OAM, for service to tertiary education. Brian is a teacher, an author and a researcher in the field of literacy studies and teaches at Edith Cowan University in the School of Education. We need teachers for tomorrow.

There is also Dr Sean Stevens OAM, for service to general practice medicine. Sean has practised as a GP for over 25 years and served as the chair of the Royal Australian College of GPs during the COVID pandemic. Thank you for your service. There's Ms Evelyn Vicker OAM, for service to the law. Evelyn was the former WA deputy state coroner. While in office, her inquest work included the long-term missing persons project, which dealt with historical disappearances across WA.

Every one of these Western Australians has spent a lifetime giving to others. On behalf of the people of Swan, I congratulate them on this honour and thank them for all the work they've done for our community.

Regional Victorians are sick of being treated as an afterthought. That is the clear, strong message that I've received across the Monash electorate, especially last week at my mobile office in San Remo, which I jointly hosted with the Liberal candidate for Bass, Rochelle Halstead. Across our community, local clubs, volunteers and families are doing the heavy lifting while state and federal Labor governments continue to leave regions in Victoria behind.

A perfect example is the Phillip Island sports hub—something I'm particularly passionate about. Before the election, I secured a $10 million commitment by the coalition to support the Phillip Island sports hub. It's a project that would support local sporting clubs, including the Phillip Island Football Netball Club, and help deliver facilities a growing community like Bass Coast desperately needs. Anyone who has visited the club knows it is bursting at the seams. Participation continues to grow, volunteers continue to step up, and the demand on facilities continues to increase. Yet, when the opportunity came to back this project, Labor refused to match the commitment and refused to properly acknowledge the needs of local clubs and the communities in which they serve. Regional communities should not have to beg for the infrastructure that metropolitan areas and capital cities take for granted.

What makes this even more frustrating is that Victorians are carrying record levels of state debt which is now being visited upon volunteer and community organisations. The Allan Labor government's debt clock is ticking so fast that, while families spend an afternoon watching a couple of games of football, Victoria's debt increases by enough money to build the very clubrooms, change rooms and community facilities that local organisations are crying out for. The money is being borrowed. The debt is being accumulated. Yet regional communities are still waiting for the infrastructure that they desperately need.

That's why I want to acknowledge the state Liberal candidate for Bass, Rochelle Halstead, who I've been working very closely with right across the Bass Coast community and particularly last week in Phillip Island. Rochelle isn't a fly-in fly-out politician. She's a genuine local who's built and run a family small business in the Bass community. She cares passionately about the local area and has dedicated countless hours to it as mayor and as a local sporting community champion. I know she'll stand up for the Bass Coast community, and, as a state and federal Liberal team, we will fight to get things done for Bass Coast. Rochelle's doing a great job on the ground, and I look forward to working with her to get the investment our region needs.

Every time I visit Blue Gum Park Tennis Club in Brentwood, it's always full of players, junior players and a dedicated team of volunteers who have helped make this club a success for more than 50 years. Most recently, I was happy to see that the club completed its solar power upgrades with federal funding. The club installed solar panels, three-phase inverters, a battery storage system, a concrete platform for external battery stacks and a smart metre. This new system supplies the entire club of nearly 450 members and almost 1,000 players. This new system improves the club's sustainability and energy efficiency. The club told me that last month they already saved $1,000 off their electricity bill. The work was in collaboration with the City of Melville, and this project shows the importance of renewable energy adoption at Tangney community sport facilities. A special thanks to Bill, a volunteer from the club who spearheaded this project.

Two weeks ago in Booragoon I was delighted to attend the opening of the upgraded change room at Karoonda Reserve, home to the Brentwood Karoonda Sporting Association and other community groups who regularly use Karoonda Reserve. The change room now provides modern, safe and accessible facilities for all genders, to help with the growth of female participation in sport. I have been working closely with the local clubs and the City of Melville on this project for a few years, and it received a federal grant from our government. I want to thank the volunteers from the clubs who advocated to me for these upgrades many years ago. You all saw important needs in our community, and I'm happy that these necessary changes have been materialised.

This builds on the commitment I delivered to Tingara Netball Club to resurface their netball court and the basketball court and install new multi-use goalposts at Karoonda to improve the courts for the many women and girls playing netball. Projects like these are so important for our community's sporting infrastructure, and it was great to see all the players and volunteers at the opening event.

This week I have launched Hinkler's Biggest Survey. Following the success of my small-business survey in May, I'm now inviting everyone across the great Hinkler electorate to have their say. It's a privilege to serve my community, and, after my first year in this role, I'm keen to hear directly from as many locals as possible. People are facing real pressures and rising costs, and I want to bring their concerns to this place, stand up for what matters and ensure my community gets a fair go. Hinkler's Biggest Survey covers issues relating to energy, taxation, health, the cost of living, transport, welfare, seniors, veterans, the environment and much more. The coalition are putting forward our plan to restore Australians' standard of living and protect our way of life, and the feedback through surveys like this help us form the right priorities for regional Australia.

When it comes to tourism, more than 60 per cent of those in the tourism sector on the Fraser Coast are reporting to be under some level of pressure, and 40 per cent of respondents in recent tourism surveys have reported an increase in cancellations. Wages, insurance and the cloud over fuel costs are among the main factors, and that's why the coalition is committed to encouraging people to travel to our region and not deter them.

While times are tough ahead of another whale season, I'm pleased to share some great news and report that Fraser Coast Tourism & Events has a new CEO. Simon O'Callaghan is the former boss of Yarra Ranges Tourism, in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. He helped grow their visitor economy to a staggering $1 billion annually. He's swapping chardonnay for humpbacks, and I've had the fortune to meet with Simon to discuss the challenges and indeed the opportunities for local tourism. I'll continue to work with Simon and all the stakeholders to ensure destination Fraser Coast is at the top of the list for potential holiday-makers.

While local tourism is thriving, so is our community, and one of the most important strengths of any great community is connection. Coinciding with Men's Health Week, I had the pleasure of joining the Men's Walk & Talk Hervey Bay at walk No. 545. Led by Shane Bradbury, this group of blokes from all walks of life and all ages meet on the esplanade and Hervey Bay for a walk and talk every Tuesday afternoon at sunset and as the day breaks on a Thursday morning. The Men's Walk & Talk provides a positive, supportive and inclusive space, where there's no pressure and no barriers to entry; just an opportunity to walk, talk and support. As a trained mental health first aid officer myself, I truly appreciate the value in projects like this. I thank Shane and his team of volunteers for making a real difference.

In Eden-Monaro, 19.3 per cent of people volunteer through a local organisation—that is much higher than the national average of 14.1 per cent. Today I rise to acknowledge and to thank them.

As part of Volunteer Week this year, I presented over 100 certificates of appreciation to volunteers who had been nominated by their peers. I'd like to table the list of this year's nominees from every corner of the mighty Eden-Monaro. I'd also like to take this opportunity to mention a few of them here today.

It was a delight to meet Marulan local Lorraine Lorkovic, along with members of the Marulan and District Historical Society and the Marulan Football Club. Born and bred in Marulan, Lorraine has been supporting the community for as long as anyone can remember. Lorraine's friends and colleagues describe her as 'a quiet achiever who just comes along, joins in and gets things done'. Lorraine, your contribution to the Marulan community is truly valued.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Sonja Simmons, who was nominated for her tireless efforts with the Lions Club of Bungendore & Districts and Bungendore Seniors Association. Sonia is a volunteer powerhouse. She volunteers for the Lions Club through weekly school breakfast clubs, organising events such as Paws Around the Pond and working on the Lions' barbecue. She volunteers as a committee member for the Bungendore Seniors Association, where they appreciate her smile and generous nature. I saw this firsthand when I visited for a bootscoot morning in Bungendore recently. We are incredibly lucky to have Sonja in our community.

On Anzac Day, it was a privilege to recognise lifelong Bredbo resident Ken Bowerman, named the Cooma-Monaro RSL sub-branch Anzac of the Year. Ken's decades of dedication to the Snowy Monaro community are truly inspiring. His volunteer contributions span the Rural Fire Service, the local cemetery committee, the P&C, the progress association and a host of other organisations as well. Ken was also a finalist for the Snowy Monaro Senior Citizen of the Year this year. Thank you so much for everything you do in our community, Ken.

I have a shout-out for Cooma legend Pat Thompson, who regularly makes scones and sweet treats for events at the Cooma Car Club. This is a simple but powerful reflection of the spirit of community volunteering. Pat is the kind of volunteer every community dreams of. She gives her time, energy and her kindness to the Cooma Car Club every week without asking for any recognition or reward. While many know Pat for her delicious homemade scones—and I can confirm they are delicious—she provides something far greater to our community: it's the warmth, the generosity and a sense of belonging for anyone who comes through those car club doors. Pat's contributions may seem simple on the surface, but she is an irreplaceable member of the car club family.

This is a big shout-out to all those volunteers across Eden-Monaro. Thank you for the work that you do. We don't often get to acknowledge it, but when we do, we want to say thank you.

The Australian War Memorial stands as the most important building in our nation because it lies at the heart of our commitment to remember the 103,000 Australian Defence Force personnel who have died wearing the uniform of our Army, Navy or Air Force.

It reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today came at a very heavy price. Those who were killed, those who were physically wounded and those who never recovered from the mental scars and the families who supported them in their service—they are the ones who paid the price for the freedoms that we enjoy. We must never forget that sacrifice. That is the key reason why the coalition funded the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial while we were in government. It was to tell the stories of contemporary service in the Australian Defence Force in a timely and appropriate manner.

Over the past 30 years, more than 100,000 Australians have served in war, conflict and peacekeeping missions. Today, their stories remain mostly untold. The Australian War Memorial's redevelopment project is modernising and expanding the galleries and the stories we tell of Australian service and Australian sacrifice. For the first time, the memorial will have displays dedicated to Australia's efforts to prevent war and to contribute to peace. Our contemporary veterans and their families are some of the strongest supporters of the redevelopment. This is a national endeavour that Australians can be proud of. Lest we forget.

In November this year, Victorians have the opportunity to change their government and get rid of a Labor Party which has allowed rorts and corruption on building sites to waste $15 billion of taxpayers' money—$15 billion of taxpayers' money wasted on union thugs and bikie heavies. I'll be campaigning alongside my state colleagues to help deliver a fair share of funding to regional communities, with the Nationals' fair share guarantee, where 25 per cent of infrastructure funding will be returned to our regional communities if the coalition wins government.

In the seat of Gippsland East, we will be aiming to make history at the November election. We'll be aiming to have the first female member of parliament for that seat in the history of Gippsland East. The Nationals candidate is a teacher, she's a farmer and she understands our community. Gemma Rendell is a born-and-bred East Gippslander who is passionate about the future of our community and has the lived experience to make a difference as she represents us in state parliament after November. Gemma will be focused on delivering a fair share of government funding for the region and improving essential services for people of all ages across townships such as Maffra, Heyfield, Stratford, Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Paynesville, right through to Mallacoota and into the high country towns like Dargo and Omeo. The Nationals stand for a stronger, safer and better regional Australia where everyone can get ahead, and Gemma Rendell will be an outstanding advocate for Gippsland East after the November state election.

For 60 years, NBN has been part of daily life on the Central Coast, broadcasting into the homes of local families and helping bring our community together. Through natural disasters, global pandemics and the everyday stories that matter, dedicated journalists and camera crews have worked tirelessly to keep coasties informed.

Today I rise with deep concern—a concern shared right across the region—about WIN News's decision to significantly scale back the operations of NBN on the Central Coast. The decision is not just a so-called corporate adjustment; it has real consequences. It means the loss of local jobs, skilled journalists, producers and camera operators who understand our community and are part of it. It means a diminished ability to tell the stories of the Central Coast by the Central Coast for the Central Coast.

For decades, NBN has been a cornerstone of regional life, not only as an employer but as a trusted voice. Local journalism is essential. It matters. It keeps communities informed. It holds decision-makers to account. It means that regional voices are heard. When local newsrooms are scaled back, communities lose more than jobs; they lose representation. I urge WIN to reconsider this decision and to explore every possible option to maintain a strong local presence on the Central Coast because this is about more than a business model; it is about protecting jobs, preserving trusted regional journalism and making sure that our community continues to have a voice.

I rise today to speak about something close to my heart, something making a real practical difference to the people of Dobell. I'm talking about Labor's Medicare urgent care clinics delivered right across the country. I acknowledge health minister Mark Butler for seeing this through—all 137 clinics—and helping Australians get care when and where they need it.

Behind every clinic is a story. One of them is Graeme's. Graeme is a stroke survivor living with a lifelong disability and is also a passionate AC/DC fan. Last year, at a concert in Accor Stadium, he rocked a little too hard and badly gashed his shin. While paramedics treated him on the spot, his recovery meant weeks of follow-up care. In the past, that would have meant repeated hospital visits in busy emergency departments—something especially challenging for someone living with a disability. Instead, Graeme went to the Lake Haven Medicare urgent care clinic. He told me it was easier, more welcoming and far less stressful. The staff, he said, were fantastic and empathetic. He told me:

This is the best thing that a government has done for Lake Haven.

That says it all. This is about dignity, access and making sure people get care when they need it. When we invest in healthcare like this, we're easing pressure on hospitals and we're improving people's lives, and that's what a good government should do.

This week we have the privilege of hosting local government leaders from around the country. While the Prime Minister might not appreciate our councils after his bizarre question time insinuation yesterday that council members are not serious people, I don't share that view. I'm very lucky to represent an electorate with five local government jurisdictions within it: Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey shire, Nambucca Valley shire and Port Macquarie-Hastings—each with a passionate mayor and councillors intent on delivering the services and infrastructure that their regional residents deserve, each needing the federal and state governments to step up and recognise the potential when it comes to solving broader national issues like housing and the cost of living. Regional councils are crying out for regional funding, and they've done the hard work when it comes to the costings and what is required to maintain their current standards and expand responsibly into the future.

The beautiful Mid North Coast electorate that we represent has seen an influx of population like never before in the wake of COVID migration, and our demographics have evolved along with it as we've welcomed more and more young families looking to purchase their forever homes in a coastal region that offers a quality of life beyond that of the cities. The regions are ready to shoulder some of the burden when it comes to solving the country's housing crisis. We have the land and we have the demand. We want to be attracting a working-age population to fill the gaps in our critical sectors, like health, aged care, child care, policing and manufacturing. We need them as much as they need us.

But, at the moment, our collective infrastructure is at capacity and, in some cases, beyond capacity. Every one of my LGAs—every single one of them—is in desperate need of water and sewerage upgrades, and we cannot be unique in this need. Without adequate water and sewerage networks, we cannot build. We cannot introduce higher density housing in key areas—including social housing, which this government espouses that it focuses on. We cannot keep up with the demand while providing enough supply to keep house prices within reach for our current residents. And, without adequate funding, councils will be forced to pass on the cost to residents already at their limits when it comes to rate payments. While we are rich in so many ways—like natural beauty, close community ties, education and employment opportunities—our average residents are far from wealthy.

So I say to this government please listen. Please consider carefully what these local government representatives are telling you, and please allow our regions to reach their true potential.

I rise today to speak on the opening of the Manayingkarirra public health centre in Maningrida in my electorate. It was great to be there last week for the official opening of what is an amazing facility. I'm proud that our government contributed $14 million for the design and construction of this vital centre, which will go a long way in helping healthcare outcomes in the Top End. The centre includes new clinical and consultation rooms dedicated to rheumatic heart disease and upgraded care rooms for training, cancer and, in particular, tuberculosis. The opening of this centre is a real milestone for Maningrida and the surrounding homelands. I want to say a big thank you to the Mala'la Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, who'll operate the centre. Mala'la delivers so many important services in the Top End, particularly in Maningrida, and their work with rheumatic heart disease and tuberculosis is essential in keeping that community healthy and safe.

Improving the delivery of community controlled remote health services is something that our government is particularly passionate about. It is an area that I've been working in for many years, both inside this place and on the ground across the Northern Territory. Remote areas, which are hardest hit by chronic disease and illness, face so many challenges in accessing health care. Our government has a proud record in making sure that ACCHOs in those communities have been funded and resourced.

I want to say thank you and congratulations to the CEO of Mala'la, Ray Matthews, and the manager of primary health services, Jessica Gatti, who've fought so hard for this facility on behalf of their community. To Charlie Gunaburra—who's been an Aboriginal health practitioner for nearly 40 years in that community and is still involved in trying to combat tuberculosis and rheumatic heart disease—to Reggie Wurridjal, to Lesley Woolf and to Dr Melanie Matthews: I want to say thank you for your work in getting this centre up and running. It is a massive achievement and wouldn't have happened without them. It was attended by Christine Connors, who was the Chief Health Officer in the Northern Territory government, and it was great to see Dr Paul Burgess, who is currently the Chief Health Officer in the Northern Territory. I'm looking forward to seeing this facility serve the Maningrida region in coming years and help our locals go from strength to strength.

I thank everyone involved, because there are increasing numbers of rheumatic heart disease and also tuberculosis, which we thought had been eradicated but which has come back, and we've seen recently, in Central Australia, diphtheria also coming back. We do have to deal with these chronic diseases.

I come from a regional and rural electorate where, when you shake someone's hand, the deal is all but done. Your word is your bond. Commerce gets traded on a daily basis, and has been done for many years, on the strength of a handshake and a commitment.

Today I am joined in this chamber by two fine young Australians: Hugh and Harry Littleproud. They are the sons of a great friend of mine, the member for Maranoa. I was very fortunate to host these two young gentlemen last night for dinner. We were having a conversation, and young Harry reminded me that, the last time we caught up, he said was going to be participating in the school athletics carnival and that I had said to him, 'If you win, I will dedicate a speech in the parliament to you.' Not only did he win the 100 and come second in the 200, but, because of his places, he was able then to go and compete at the next level in the district, which is referred to as Southern Downs, with other bush schools who attended. At that level of competition, young Harry got a first in both of those events. So he escalated again and went through to the Darling Downs trials, where—he informs me that it was a very cold morning and he hadn't warmed up—he placed in neither of them. You useless thing—next time! I think we're going to see you at the Olympics.

I also want to acknowledge young Hugh. Over dinner last night, Hugh told me that in his spare time after school he works with his brother who's a couple of years into his diesel mechanic trade apprenticeship. They go out harvesting, and he drives tractors, but he can only just see over the steering wheel. He's saved up a fair wad of money, a considerable amount of money; I don't want to share how much it is. I said to him, 'You're saving up for a car.' He said: 'No, Scotty, I'm not saving up for a car. When I get enough money, I'm going to buy my own tractor and I'm going to plough more fields.'

Congratulations to both of you young fellas. Can I ask you to stand up and just take a bow. Stand up. Take a bow. Our country owes both of you a great sense of debt. Thank you for what you're doing—sit down now! Our future is in great hands. Remember always to tell the truth. Be good to your mum and dad. Tell Tommy he missed out on being mentioned in the speech because he's at work. And, the next time you come down, Uncle Scotty will look after you.

Congratulations, Harry, and well done, Hugh.

The King's Birthday Honours are amongst the highest recognitions a nation can bestow, and this year our community of Paterson is proudly represented by an outstanding group of local people whose service has made a lasting difference to the lives of many others.

Gregory Budworth OAM has been recognised for his service to the community through social housing. Over more than two decades, Greg helped transform Home in Place into one of Australia's leading social and affordable housing providers, creating opportunity and securing housing for thousands of Australians.

Suzane Hamilton OAM has been recognised for her service to the Tilligerry Peninsula community. Her contribution is a reminder that strong communities are built by people who generously give their time, energy and care in the service of others.

Margaret-Rose Thompson OAM has been recognised for her service to croquet. Margaret helped establish the Nelson Bay Croquet Club and has spent decades coaching, refereeing and promoting the sport across New South Wales. I was delighted to congratulate Margaret in person at the club's recent 30th anniversary celebrations.

Wing Commander Susan Yates AM has been recognised for her exceptional work supporting women in the Royal Australian Air Force, helping improve opportunities, retention and support for women in service. Retention is something I care passionately about in our ADF. Good on you, Susan.

Warrant Officer Matthew Elliott has been recognised for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force through workforce analytics, project support and enterprise data reform, making a significant contribution to defence capability.

Flight Sergeant Joshua Schoeneck has been honoured for outstanding achievement in strengthening cybersecurity for the E-7A Wedgetail fleet. In Port Stephens, we are incredibly proud to be the home of these incredible aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown, and Joshua's work helps keep them in the sky and mission ready.

The Australian Fire Service Medal has been awarded to Bruce McGrath of the Tilligerry Rural Fire Brigade, for his outstanding commitment to protecting lives and property, reflecting the dedication of volunteer firefighters right across our region.

Suzanne Freeman of Marine Rescue Port Stephens has been awarded the Emergency Services Medal. Across 24 years of volunteer service, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment and service to the boating community.

To each of these remarkable recipients, I say thank you, our community says thank you, and our nation says thank you and good on you.

As someone who's seen the best and worst of animal slaughter practices, as a former CEO of the live export industry, I'm absolutely appalled by the New South Wales Minns government's cruelty towards our brumbies. Australians accept that some animals need to be managed. What Australians cannot accept is the use of cruel and brutal methods such as aerial shooting to manage animals.

Shooting horses from the moving platform of a helicopter is difficult and inaccurate. Horses have been discovered hours and days later, still alive, dying slowly from multiple gunshot wounds w, while helpless foals face a slow and lonely death of starvation after their mothers are killed. It's unthinkable that, in an era when we pride ourselves on progress and compassion, we resort to such tactics to manage these horses.

It's extremely concerning that locals and experts have disclosed that population figures have been exaggerated to justify the Minns government's actions. While wild horses typically reproduce at a modest rate of seven-to-15 per cent, the government's figures have them increasing at over 315 per cent.

Despite numerous public inquiries into brumby management in Australia, much of the expert advice has been ignored. Non-lethal control measures like immune contraceptives haven't been given a chance in Australia, despite evidence from elsewhere in the world indicating effectiveness.

These horses are part of our nation's story. They are a cultural icon and a beautiful creature that feels fear and pain. Yet the fate thrown at them is one of violence and suffering. I urge every Australian to contact the Premier of New South Wales and demand an immediate end to this cruelty. If populations need to be managed, then the government must find another way to do it.

I recently visited the Tuncurry Post Office and met with licensees, the Thompson brothers. After sharing the visit on Facebook, I was struck by the response. I've rarely seen such glowing comments about a local business. These guys are loved because they provide something that Australia Post corporate seems to have forgotten: service.

Licensed post offices are not just parcel collection points; they are trusted community institutions, providing banking identity checks, government services and face-to-face support. Yet the Australia Post head office is systemically hollowing out the LPO network. Around 60 services have reportedly been removed from LPOs this financial year alone, while corporate leadership pursues a parcel focused model that undervalues counter services and the trust that locals have in them.

LPOs are blue-chip small businesses and Australia's best last-mile service providers. I'm calling for an immediate moratorium on LPO buybacks, conversions to parcel-agent models and fixed-term contracts until an independent review is conducted into the future of Australia's service led, licensed post office network. Hollow out head office, not our local licensed post offices.

Recently, it was my pleasure to attend the World's Greatest Shave at the Willaston Football Club, where the north came together in remarkable numbers to support Australians impacted by blood cancer. Local sporting clubs are often known for what happens on the field, but their true value is measured by what they do off it. The Willaston Football Club demonstrated exactly that, turning a community fundraiser into an opportunity to support families and encourage important conversations about health and wellbeing. I was proud to be joined by my good mates James Agness, the member for Light, and Nathan Shanks, the mayor of Gawler—who joins us in the chamber today—as we stood alongside more than 170 people who packed the clubroom in support of this worthy cause.

The generosity shown by those in attendance was nothing short of extraordinary. Organisers initially set a fundraising target of $3,000, hoping to make a meaningful contribution to the work of the Leukaemia Foundation. By the end of the event, the goal had been completely eclipsed, with more than $14,000 donated by community members—and still rising—determined to make a difference in the lives of others.

Behind every dollar raised was a story, and some of the most powerful moments of the day came from those brave enough to share their own experiences. Karen McColl spoke openly about her leukaemia diagnosis, offering a deeply personal insight into the challenges faced by so many Australians living with blood cancer. Adam Wardle, a father of two junior players at the club, shared the story of losing his father recently, reminding everyone in the room that cancer leaves few families untouched. Their courage, honesty and willingness to speak from the heart helped transform the event from a fundraiser into something far more meaningful.

Importantly, this event formed part of the Willaston Football Club's wellbeing program, an initiative designed to equip people with the knowledge, confidence and support networks they need when confronted with health challenges. That commitment to building resilience and encouraging people to seek help when they need it is making a real difference throughout the community.

The World's Greatest Shave is about far more than cutting or dyeing hair. Funds raised help provide physical, emotional and financial support to Australians living with blood cancer while also helping to fund vital research that brings us closer to better treatments and outcomes. Every person who attended, donated or shared their story played a role in supporting this mission. I congratulate everyone involved in making the day such an outstanding success and thank the Willaston Football Club for continuing to demonstrate what community leadership looks like. For anyone who would like to contribute, donations can still be made by visiting worldsgreatestshave.com and searching on there for the Willaston Football Club. Congratulations on what was a fantastic event and, in the true Donnybrook spirit, always fighting for everybody within our community. Thank you for everything you do. Go the Donnybrooks!

The recent Future Townsville event put a spotlight on a glaring truth and exposed some deeply critical topics facing our region. The reality is that there is no real investment in protecting North Queensland, and if a conflict breaks out our shipping lines could be completely cut off in a matter of days. This government has no way to protect them, with its lack of defence funding. When you look at the very true strategic vulnerability, it isn't a lack of ammunition; it is liquid fuel. The fact is that 50 per cent of all imports into Australia are liquid fuel. Think about that; Australia would completely stop without diesel. If a conflict hits our northern waters and cuts off those supply lines, we are around a month away from absolute anarchy.

Australia is a wealthy nation, and the resource towns of Mackay and Townsville should be absolutely prospering with the immense wealth that is created on their very doorstep. Instead of relying on unstable foreign supply chains, it is time to dig, drill and lower every bill. There must be a drive to drill for domestic oil and a serious look at coal-to-liquid conversion technology. There is plenty of brown coal sitting in Victoria that cannot be exported, but it is perfect for creating reliable domestic energy and synthetic diesel right here at home.

Local supply chains must be unlocked. Both Mackay and Townsville have excellent port facilities, so let's use them to take the heavy pressure off the Bruce Highway by increasing ocean freight. It is a classic chicken-and-egg issue; we need more sea freight for the cost to come down, and that is exactly where a forward-thinking government should step in and assist. Getting heavy trucks off the road makes the Bruce even safer for everyone and provides a necessary space to finally get on top of its shocking condition, with real investment in proper duplication. This government must stop offshoring our security and start backing the regions that power this nation.

The coalition has a real plan to change this through the Future Generations Fund. Under this plan, 80c in every single dollar of resource tax windfalls will be banked safely, creating a permanent nest egg for our nation. This fund will be used to pay down debt and invest heavily in nation-building infrastructure. And, in a move that will be a significant boost to Dawson, 25 per cent of these infrastructure flows will be locked into directly supporting regional Australia. It is time to return the wealth back to the regions that actually fuel, feed and power this nation.

The Socceroos victory over Türkiye in the FIFA World Cup has brought Australians from right across the country together in support of Aussies on the world stage. But it's also been a great opportunity for local communities to unite in their support. Last week, the St George & Sutherland Community College got into the spirit, hosting a barbecue on the green at its Jannali campus, and its community watched the World Cup while wearing a wonderfully diverse array of shirts and scarves representing their home countries.

I loved seeing students, clients and staff as well as representatives from Aspect getting involved with foosball and testing their accuracy with the soccer target. It was terrific to witness their palpable passion and see the green electric with enthusiasm as students from all cultures, backgrounds and walks of life erupted with big cheers of excitement at pivotal moments in the game—particularly the Colombian students, who came out victorious on the day. It was a vital expression of how the appreciation of cultures can enrich us all. Just like the scarves so proudly worn by these students, the weaving together of various threads of heritage can strengthen our collective spirit and love of country.

The St George & Sutherland Community College has been doing amazing work in my community for more than 40 years, providing quality vocational education, disability services, leisure and language classes to students from across the globe. Among its esteemed students are my father and aunt, who have been stunned by the quality of learning that we have access to right here in the Sutherland Shire. The college's dedication to lifelong learning, inclusion and community spirit makes every experience special. I want to thank CEO Bernadette Mills and her team for the extraordinary work that they do each day for the southern Sydney community. I'm sure that all the students and staff at the community college would also join me in wishing the Socceroos the best of luck as they take on Paraguay this Friday. Thanks so much to the team at St George & Sutherland Community College for hosting us on this beautiful day of community togetherness.

I want to recognise some outstanding achievements from several schools in my community. Engadine High School recently came away from the Sutherland zone athletics carnival with some outstanding wins, placing third across the zone and breaking three records in long jump, shot-put and relay. Students from the Jannali High School performed exceptionally well in their regional cross-country, with five students making it through to the state cross-country competition later this month. The New South Wales handball high school championships saw fierce competition from the Open Boys Handball Team at Menai High School, who secured a silver medal for their hard work and determination. In the verbal sparring arena of the New South Wales premier's debating competition, Holsworthy Public School hosted two debates on the theme of education and came out on top, securing the impressive position as the Sydney south-west zone 11 champions and progressing to the regional knockout competition.

Congratulations to all involved and thank you so much to all our teachers for all the work that they do to get those amazing achievements from our students.

In accordance with standing order 193, the time for members' constituency statements has concluded.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 16:5 9