Summary
Among the bills introduced were the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, which would require mobile network providers to extend outdoor coverage to remote and regional areas; two Therapeutic Goods Amendment bills and a Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill relating to medicine shortage powers and TGA registration fees; two Biosecurity Amendment (Improving Operational Efficiency) bills streamlining border and quarantine procedures; the Aged Care Amendment (Restoring Human Override for Aged Care Needs Assessments) Bill 2026 allowing human assessors to override automated eligibility decisions; the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026; the Wine and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026; and the Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026 along with its consequential amendments bill. No divisions were held. During question time, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor questioned Prime Minister Albanese on projected house price falls linked to government tax changes on capital gains and negative gearing, and separately questioned Treasurer Jim Chalmers on a tax measure he described as a widows tax. Member Mary Aldred twice asked the Prime Minister to apologise for alleged disrespectful remarks toward Japan's Prime Minister, and Zali Steggall asked Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino why funding for the Resilient Building Council rating scheme had lapsed amid rising home insurance premiums.
Questions
Housing
Taylor accused the Labor government of tanking the housing market through tax changes on capital gains and negative gearing, citing an ANZ report predicting a 15% price fall in Sydney. Prime Minister Albanese deflected from the direct criticism by quoting the Barefoot Investor on housing affordability issues and stating that the government's tax changes were designed to help first-home buyers compete fairly, rather than directly addressing the ANZ prediction or admitting to any negative impacts of the policy changes.
International Relations: Australia and Japan
Member Aldred asked Prime Minister Albanese to apologise to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi for alleged disrespectful comments made on a podcast. Albanese rejected the assertion and deflected by highlighting the strength of Australia-Japan relations and recent bilateral cooperation announcements, without directly addressing the specific allegations.
Home Insurance
Steggall asked why the government allowed funding for the Resilient Building Council rating scheme to lapse despite rising home insurance premiums and uninsured households. Mulino deflected from the specific question about the scheme's defunding, instead outlining alternative government initiatives including the Disaster Ready Fund, strengthened insurance code of practice, and price transparency measures.
International Relations: Australia and Japan
Aldred asked the Prime Minister to apologize for allegedly disrespectful behavior toward Japan's Prime Minister. Albanese deflected by emphasizing the strength of the bilateral relationship and highlighting concrete examples of cooperation, such as Defense Force purchases, without directly addressing the specific allegation.
Taxation
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor accused the government of introducing a 'widows tax' to raise revenue. The Prime Minister deflected from directly addressing the policy's impact on women in difficult circumstances, instead criticizing the Opposition for inconsistent positions on consultation and defending the government's staged approach to tax reform through draft legislation currently out for consultation.
Rising rents causes
The member for Page asked the Treasurer which factors were responsible for recent rent increases, offering four options including immigration, Labor's housing taxes, interest rate rises, or all of the above. The Treasurer deflected from directly addressing the suggested causes, instead emphasizing that multiple factors affect the housing market (including interest rates and global uncertainty) and that the government's budget measures aim to help first homebuyers, noting that housing policy impacts should be assessed over years rather than months.
Oil and gas decommissioning
The member for Wentworth asked when the government would require oil and gas companies to set aside funds for decommissioning, citing recent administrations leaving cleanup costs to taxpayers. Minister King responded that the government is monitoring the Cliff Head project situation, that the facility is currently safe with no immediate risks, and that the government is considering enforcement options to hold title holders accountable, but did not directly commit to implementing mandatory financial assurance requirements.
Home insurance affordability
The member for Warringah asked whether the government would restore funding for the Resilient Building Council rating scheme, which lapsed on 30 June and had helped households reduce insurance costs. Stephen Jones responded by outlining the government's broader insurance affordability initiatives, including the Disaster Ready Fund, the Hazards Insurance Partnership, strengthening the General Insurance Code of Practice, and price transparency measures, but did not directly address the specific question about restoring the Resilient Building Council scheme's funding.
Japan PM apology
The member for Monash asked the Prime Minister to apologize to Japan's Prime Minister for comments made on a podcast, asserting they were disrespectful to women. The Prime Minister rejected the assertion and deflected by highlighting the strength of Australia-Japan relations and recent bilateral outcomes, without addressing the specific allegations or providing the requested apology.
Housing
Taylor questioned whether average mortgage holders are paying $29,000 more annually in interest under Labor's watch. Albanese acknowledged cost-of-living pressures but did not directly address the specific figure, instead pivoting to discuss the government's economic policies including wage increases, tax cuts, and Medicare improvements, while referencing past Opposition statements on interest rates.
Gas Industry: Taxation
Elizabeth Watson-Brown asked Prime Minister Milton Dick whether the government would implement a 25 percent tax on gas exports, citing support from 70 percent of Australians and Labor members. The Prime Minister did not provide a direct answer, instead noting procedural limitations under standing orders regarding discussion of party conference matters.
Housing
Member Hogan asked the Prime Minister to identify which factor (immigration, Labor taxes, interest rate rises, or all) was responsible for reported 10 percent rent increases. Treasurer Chalmers deflected by attributing housing market changes to multiple factors including interest rates and global economic uncertainty, emphasizing the government's budget measures for first home buyers and housing construction, without directly addressing the specific factors the member listed.
Environment, Gas Industry
Spender asked when the government will require oil and gas companies to set aside funds for environmental cleanup, citing the Cliff Head project entering administration. King responded by detailing current safety monitoring and regulatory actions by NOPSEMA, and stated that taxpayers will not bear cleanup costs if companies fail their decommissioning responsibilities, but did not directly commit to a timeline or specific policy requiring companies to establish financial assurances for cleanup.