Thursday 2 July 2026
SenateAI Summary
The Senate introduced eleven bills spanning aged care, housing, consumer protection, coal mining leave, and defence on 2 July 2026, with no divisions held.
The Senate advanced the Aged Care Amendment (Restoring Human Override for Aged Care Needs Assessments) Bill 2026 through its second and third readings, restoring authority for human assessors to override automated aged care decisions. The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 passed its third reading, expanding the definition of unfair trading practices under Australian Consumer Law. The Commonwealth Land (Affordable Housing) Bill 2026 received its first and second readings, proposing relaxed rules on developing affordable housing on Commonwealth-owned land. The Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 reached its second and third readings, addressing long service leave protections for coal workers. The Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026, Statute Update Bill 2026, and Defence Legislation Amendment (Implementation of Related Measures No.2) Bill 2026 alongside the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026 were also introduced. No divisions were held. In question time, senators raised rising mortgage levels, deaths among Australians waiting for approved aged care, Labor MPs accepting gambling industry hospitality, Export Finance Australia guaranteeing funds for a foreign government-owned entity, and energy companies increasing daily connection fees.
Question Time
Housing
AI Summary
Senator Kovacic questioned the government about rising mortgage levels and negative equity risks despite pre-election promises of cheaper mortgages. Minister Wong deflected from the specific concern about mortgage increases by highlighting the Help to Buy shared-equity scheme, which she said has assisted 40,000 Australians in saving toward home ownership, rather than directly addressing why average mortgages have surged to $735,000.
Aged Care
AI Summary
Senator Askew asked how many older Australians died waiting for approved aged care in the past 12 months, citing 4,812 deaths in 2024-25. Minister McAllister did not provide a specific number in response, instead emphasizing the government's $47 billion aged care investment as the largest in the country's history and characterizing reform as a long-term project.
Gambling
AI Summary
Senator Hodgins-May asked whether Labor MPs accepted free tickets or hospitality from gambling corporations to attend the Midwinter Ball before introducing gambling legislation. Minister Wong deflected by stating that disclosure rules apply to all parliamentarians and are complied with, while also criticizing the Greens for accepting sponsorship from a professional gambler, without directly confirming or denying whether Labor MPs accepted such hospitality.
Export Finance Australia
AI Summary
Senator Canavan questioned why Export Finance Australia guaranteed $250 million for an Indian government-owned renewable energy corporation with no direct Australian company involvement, rather than financing Australian exports. Minister Farrell deflected by emphasizing EFA's role in the fuel crisis response and Australia-India trade relations, without directly addressing why foreign government-owned projects qualified for Australian export financing.
Energy
AI Summary
Senator Roberts asked whether energy companies were profiteering by significantly increasing daily connection fees following the Australian Energy Regulator's 2025 electricity charge reductions. Minister Ayres did not directly address the question about connection fees or profiteering, instead pivoting to criticise the previous Morrison government's energy minister and highlight the government's solar battery support scheme.
Cost of Living
AI Summary
Senator Smith asked how the government can claim its economic plan is working when Australians face significant increases in costs for insurance, utilities, rent, education, food and health, plus higher mortgage payments due to interest rate rises. Minister Gallagher did not directly address the cost of living increases, instead emphasizing the government's efforts to repair the budget, deliver surpluses, reduce debt, and address areas of neglect in housing, infrastructure, aged care and health, while criticizing the opposition.