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We’re back on questions of unrealised gains, and shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien asks whether the government will consider taxing unrealised gains on the family trust or the family home.
Anthony Albanese takes the question and says the government’s agenda is “tax cuts”. He also takes a swipe at O’Brien.
O’Brien stands up to make a point of order, accusing the PM of dodging the question. Milton Dick asks the PM if he’s already finished his answer or not – Albanese says:
“Oh, we might give him a go” (which earns him a few chuckles from the government benches.)
The second crossbench question goes to independent MP Kate Chaney, who asks whether the government will commit to implementing the recommendations of the gambling inquiry led by late Labor MP Peta Murphy.
Chaney was a member of that committee, which handed down its report and recommendations two years ago.
The new minister for communications, Anika Wells, says the government takes “seriously” its responsibility to people impacted by online gambling, and has “delivered the most significant” online harm reduction initiatives.
Wells doesn’t commit to implementing all of the recommendations of the inquiry report but says she’s been meeting with stakeholders including sporting groups, broadcasters, and harm reduction groups.
Horse racing at Sandown Hillside. Photograph: Vince Caligiuri/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 01.02 EDT
After another dixer (this time on defence), Tim Wilson, the Liberal MP who has returned to parliament after defeating Teal MP Zoe Daniel asks about… superannuation.
I’m sensing a theme here from the opposition bench.
Wilson says:
On 28 February 2023, the Treasurer said, ‘Labor’s unfair super tax on unrealised capital gapes would apply to’ around 80,000 people. Does the Treasurer stand by that number?
Jim Chalmers says he “didn’t describe it” in the way Wilson has framed the question.
He says that the policy change is modest, and Labor is committed to strengthening superannuation.
We’re about strengthening superannuation and those opposite are about weakening superannuation. For evidence of that, Mr Speaker, think about the fact that on 1 July this year we completed the journey to 12% compulsory superannuation. That’s something we’re very proud of on this side of the House. So, too, are we proud to be paying the superannuation guarantee on government paid parental leave for the first time ever.
Wilson interjects with a point of order, but Dick says Chalmers is being relevant.
Updated at 00.49 EDT
Ted O’Brien, the deputy Liberal leader and shadow treasurer takes the mic, and asks Jim Chalmers about the super tax.
He asks Chalmers whether Labor will rule out taxing unrealised capital gains on anything beyond superannuation.
Chalmers (like the PM before him) goes straight into the tax cuts that Labor passed in the last parliament rather than directly answering the question.
Our priority is cutting taxes for 14 million Australians. We have made it clear that all people will bring all kinds of ideas to the economic reform round table next month here in Canberra.
O’Brien shouts over him, saying “so you won’t rule it out”.
Milton Dick soon asks everyone in the chamber to “show a little restraint”.
Bowen takes a feisty swipe at the Nationals
Given a dixer on acting on climate change, energy minister Chris Bowen takes a swipe at the Nationals over their fight over net zero.
You might recall Sarah Basford Canales’ post earlier today, where Michael McCormack says that the Nats are “virile and out there”.
While McCormack and Barnaby Joyce have said they’re not trying to bump David Littleproud as leader, Bowen said:
This is not his Tinder profile, this is his dream ticket. He’s not looking to swipe right, he’s looking to swipe out the member for Maranoa [Littleproud] is what he’s trying to do. But [while] they’re trying to betray the member for Maranoa, they’re really betraying people in rural and regional Australia, they are the ones who pay the price of drought and flood which will be more common and severe under climate change.
Updated at 00.47 EDT
David Littleproud now gets a go, and asks the government about the proposed super tax. He asks what happens to a farmer whose farm is in a self-managed super fund, who has to pay unrealised capital gains in a year when there’s been no crop.
Daniel Mulino, the newly minted assistant treasurer, takes the answer.
Mulino says some familiar lines about the tax being a modest measure, and adds that it’s about making the superannuation system “fairer”.
Littleproud interjects to say Mulino isn’t actually answering his question about what happens to the farmer.
Milton Dick says he appreciates it’s not the answer the opposition wants, but Mulino is being relevant.
Mulino ends his answer, saying again that it’s a “modest” measure.
This measure has been on the public books for well over two years. It was consulted on very broadly and we took this measure to the last election. I certainly won’t be taking lectures on the fairness of the superannuation system from a party that has opposed every single increase in the superannuation guarantee over the last 25 years.
The next dixer goes to the new member for Griffith, who beat former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather.
Renee Coffey bowls a question to health minister Mark Butler about urgent care clinics.
It’s all very positive unsurprisingly, Butler says 50 were promised at the 2022 election, and 87 were delivered, and the extra 50 that were promised at the last election will be opened this financial year.
The first crossbench question goes to Nicolette Boele, the new Bradfield MP who extremely narrowly beat Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian.
She asks when the government will stop green-lighting fossil fuel projects and deliver on environmental reforms.
Tony Burke answers, as environment minister Murray Watt sits in the Senate.
On the nature positive laws, Burke says the work is being done to form legislation asap.
The work that the government is doing both with industry stakeholders and with environmental groups to try to make sure that we can bring environmental law reform together in this term. That negotiation is happening, that work is happening because at the moment until we’re able to get environmental laws that are fit for purpose, we have a situation where no-one wins in terms of business wants to be able to make sure it can get decisions in a timely way, and from the environment perspective we wanna make sure we’re able to protect our precious environment and our heritage.
The next dixer goes to Sarah Witty, the other Labor MP who toppled a party leader (Adam Bandt) at the last election.
The question goes to Jason Clare and how the government is helping with student debt (no prizes what she’s referring to there).
Clare talks about the “privilege” of introducing the bill to cut Hecs debts by 20%.
Sussan Ley asks the next question from the opposition bench, on Labor’s proposed tax on super accounts over $3m.
But she doesn’t actually mention the word super, she calls it Labor’s tax on income people haven’t earned (ie unrealised gains).
So the PM takes the opportunity to talk about tax more generally, and the tax cuts that the government legislated at the end of the last term.
As a direct result of the actions that we have taken, we will see income tax cuts for all 14 million taxpayers … delivered on 1 July next year and then a further tax cut the year after.
Ley gets up to make a point of order, and says the government knows she’s talking about the superannuation tax, but Milton Dick says she didn’t mention that specifically in her question.
He also adds that he doesn’t want see the house get into “bad habits” early.
Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley poses a question to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 00.37 EDT
The first dixer (a flattering question asked by a government backbencher to a minister) is by the new member for Dickson, Ali France.
She asks about the cost of living, and how the government is helping households.
Albanese takes the question, and lists off measures including the new Hecs debt bill introduced to parliament today, paid placements for some students, and free Tafe places. He also mentions paid parental leave being increased, and the 12% superannuation guarantee coming into effect.
We hear someone from the opposition benches mention the promised $275 off energy bills (a Labor promise from the 2022 election campaign).
Updated at 00.13 EDT
Anthony Albanese begins his answer to Ley’s question, lauding a social and affordable housing project on the Gold Coast, one of the “largest” that is being delivered by the housing Australia future fund.
No surprises that he ends the answer with a pointed attack against the Coalition, accusing them of a “decade of neglect” on housing.
Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 00.17 EDT