Summary
No bills were introduced in the Senate on 12 May 2026 and no divisions were held. During question time, Senator Cash asked Minister Wong whether the government would break election promises by applying higher taxes to housing policy; Wong did not directly address the tax commitment question. Senator Steele-John asked Minister McAllister to identify which cohorts of disabled people would be among the 160,000 reportedly removed from the NDIS; McAllister cited unsustainable scheme growth and consultation processes but did not name specific groups. Senator Thorpe asked Minister Farrell whether the federal government accepts responsibility for upholding ratified international agreements; Farrell affirmed that directly and outlined justice reinvestment and legal assistance programs in response to supplementary questions on First Nations incarceration. Senator Pocock asked Minister Ayres whether the government has commissioned modelling on AI-related job losses; Ayres referenced existing Jobs and Skills Australia reports without confirming whether new modelling had been commissioned. Senator Whitten asked Minister Wong about default risks under the five per cent deposit home loan scheme; Wong said figures would be updated in the budget and did not address the specific liability question.
Questions
Taxation
Senator Cash asked whether the government would break election promises by using 'every lever' on housing policy, including higher taxes. Minister Wong deflected from the specific question about tax commitments, instead pivoting to praise the budget's focus on housing supply, wages, and economic resilience, and criticized the opposition's lack of vision.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
Senator Steele-John asked the Minister for the NDIS to specify which groups of disabled people would be among the 160,000 reportedly removed from the scheme. Minister McAllister acknowledged the significance of the changes and stated the government intends to proceed through consultation with the disability community, citing the scheme's unsustainable growth rate, cost overruns, and design issues as justification, but did not directly specify which cohorts would be affected.
United Nations
Senator Thorpe asked whether the government accepts that it is a federal responsibility to uphold international agreements that Australia ratifies. Minister Farrell affirmed this directly, then addressed supplementary questions about First Nations incarceration rates by outlining government initiatives including justice reinvestment funding and legal assistance programs, while indicating they would raise the broader issue with the Attorney-General.
Artificial Intelligence
Senator Pocock asked what modelling the government has commissioned on AI's labour market and fiscal impacts, citing warnings of 600,000+ potential job losses. Minister Ayres deflected by referencing existing Jobs and Skills Australia reports and the government's National AI Plan, but did not directly answer whether additional government modelling has been commissioned or when it would be released.
Housing
Senator Whitten asked about contingent liabilities and default risks for the government's five per cent deposit home loan scheme following multiple interest rate rises. Minister Wong deflected from the specific question, stating figures would be updated in the budget, and instead pivoted to criticising One Nation's voting record on housing legislation.
Housing
Senator Bragg asked how new taxes on houses would increase housing supply and address the housing crisis. Minister Wong deflected by saying budget details would be revealed later, emphasizing the government's commitment to housing supply and fairness, while criticizing the opposition's past positions on housing measures rather than directly addressing the tax question.