Summary
The House introduced and debated a range of legislation including the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) Bill 2026, the Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026, and Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027. The Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026, both Secrecy Provisions Amendment bills, and the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025 reached their third readings. In divisions, the Telecommunications Amendment Bill's second reading was defeated 42 to 96, the Competition and Consumer Amendment Bill's second reading was defeated 40 to 95, and multiple amendments to the Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill were defeated by large margins. Question time centred on taxation, with members asking the Prime Minister about negative gearing policy, the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, and whether Labor intended to tax the family home. Albanese responded by referencing existing government commitments, budget figures, and opposition policy positions without directly answering several of the questions put to him.
Questions
Taxation
Taylor asked the Prime Minister to rule out taxing the family home, claiming Labor had lied about tax plans. Albanese did not directly address the question about the family home but instead deflected by listing Coalition tax policies from the previous election and criticizing their proposed changes to various programs.
Taxation
Tim Wilson asked the Prime Minister about Labor's taxation plans, suggesting Labor had misled Australians. Prime Minister Albanese deflected from the specific question by attacking the Opposition's taxation policy positions, emphasizing the government's commitment to homeownership and criticizing the Opposition's previous statements on tax policy without directly addressing the accusation of dishonesty.
Taxation: Gas Industry
Sophie Scamps questioned why the PRRT generates less revenue than in 2000 despite gas industry revenue increasing five-fold, asking the Prime Minister to simply tax gas exports more directly. Anthony Albanese responded by prioritising fuel security during global conflicts, noting gas companies pay multiple taxes (company tax, royalties, PRRT), highlighting that PRRT revenue was revised up by $1.6 billion in the budget, and explaining the PRRT is designed to ramp up over time to encourage investment.
Taxation
Simon Kennedy asked why the Prime Minister and cabinet colleagues can negatively gear multiple properties while younger Australians are denied the same opportunities. Prime Minister Albanese deflected by questioning why the opposition leader didn't ask the question himself, then defended his own property purchases as legitimate family homes and declared investments, without directly addressing the policy question about negative gearing or wealth inequality.
Negative Gearing
Webster questioned why tens of thousands of nurses, teachers, and police officers with negatively geared properties would be affected by the government's policy. Albanese responded that existing negative gearing arrangements would be protected for all current property owners, while new investments in new homes would offer either indexation or a 50 per cent capital gains discount as an incentive to build new housing rather than purchase existing properties.
Housing
Penfold asked how many houses have been built for 1.4 million new migrants, claiming Labor fell 77,000 homes behind their housing target. Prime Minister Albanese did not directly answer the question about housing for migrants, instead outlining various government housing programs including public housing, shared equity schemes, and deposit assistance, while criticizing the opposition's record.
Private Health Insurance
Sharkie questioned the government's decision to end private health insurance rebates for older Australians, citing potential premium increases of up to $1,600 for couples and hardship for age pensioners. Butler defended the policy change, disputed the industry's cost figures (claiming the actual impact would be $230-$250 per year), and justified it on grounds that there is no policy rationale for providing different support levels based on age when incomes are equal, noting the need to redirect funds to aged care.
Budget
McIntosh asked why the government's housing tax changes would push up rents despite Labor's promises not to increase housing costs. Albanese deflected from the rent concern by emphasizing the broader housing package, arguing that restricting negative gearing to new builds would boost supply and help first-home buyers, rather than directly addressing the budget paper's projection of rising rents.
Prime Minister
Taylor accused the Prime Minister of breaking promises on housing, investment, and agricultural taxes, questioning when truth stopped mattering. Albanese did not address the specific tax allegations, instead pivoting to criticize Taylor and the opposition's past leadership disputes and election campaign performance.
Renewable Energy
Member Boele raised concerns that retrospective capital gains tax changes on international clean energy investors could deter investment and cause a fire sale of renewable assets, questioning why the government targets renewables rather than gas exports and what Treasury modelling supports the policy. Treasurer Chalmers responded that the measure is not rushed, aims to ensure foreign investors don't receive tax breaks unavailable to Australians, and is accompanied by other pro-investment measures including NEM reforms and accelerated environmental approvals, though they did not directly address the specific Treasury modelling or fire sale concerns raised.
Minister for Communications
The member asked the Minister for Communications to specify which room at a venue was used for a 'sideline meeting' during a private event. The minister deflected by referring to a previous investigation by IPEA and an online report, stating the trip was within the rules, without directly answering which room was used.