2026-27 Senate Estimates, Week One
Labor’s lies, broken promises and failures exposed From the unravelling of a Budget built on lies and broken promises to their failed economic policies and wasteful spending, the Albanese Government’s ever mounting failures were exposed by the Coalition in Senate Estimates hearings this week. There were also alarming revelations about the ISIS bride’s cohort, disturbing details on the process of consent to prosecute war hero Ben Roberts-Smith and an exchange about the “potential pregnancy’’ of transgender women that received attention around the world.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Michaelia Cash said: “This Government’s true colours were once again on display at Senate Estimates.’’ “Their toxic taxes, broken promises and lies are being exposed every day and the Coalition will continue to hold them to account,’’ she said. “What is clear is that the Albanese government is trying to push through tax hikes on millions of Australians.
But the Coalition will oppose them. We will axe Labor’s toxic taxes and deliver far bigger tax cuts for all income earners,’’ Senator Cash said. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Anne Ruston said: “Week one of Senate Estimates has again demonstrated the skewed priorities, wasteful spending and disregard for transparency from the Albanese Government.” “Only the Coalition is putting forward policies to restore Australians’ standard of living and protect our way of life,’’ Senator Ruston said.
Government spending grows despite ‘savings’ claims Analysis of the Budget has shown that the Government’s claimed savings are not genuine reductions in expenditure but are instead redirected spending. Estimates confirmed that expenditure removed from areas such as the NDIS has already been allocated elsewhere across Government programs. Over the forward estimates, total spending continues to increase significantly, reinforcing concerns that Labor’s fiscal strategy relies on re-labelling spending rather than exercising restraint.
This approach contributes to ongoing pressure on inflation and interest rates and increases the risk of a growing structural deficit. Minister not concerned spending fuels inflation When asked by Shadow Minister for Finance Senator Claire Chandler if the Government had heeded the RBA Governor's concerns about government spending adding to inflation, Minister Gallagher said “no”.
Lack of impact analysis PM&C’s Office of Impact Analysis confirmed that Treasury's published analysis of the budget’s $77 billion tax package runs to three pages of supplementary material. The justification offered for this brevity was that a 2024 report by a Greens-led Senate Select Committee had been certified by Treasury as "impact analysis equivalent" - meaning a report from a party not in government has been used to support the largest tax change of the parliamentary term.
Bowen’s battery blowout Officials from the Department of Climate Change and Energy confirmed the cost of Labor’s Cheaper Home Batteries Scheme has blowout from its initial funding envelope of $2.3 billion to a staggering $8.5 billion - a 269 per cent increase. If this was the private sector, Bowen would get the sack. COP this: millions for climate conference travel bill Officials from the Department of Climate Change and Energy confirmed that funding for COP and pre-COP was up to $147 million.
It was also revealed that officials have spent more than $500,000 of taxpayer money on travel to support President Chris Bowen, who now has an Office of the President established within his own Department. The roving officials visited the Fiji resort island of Denarau and confirmed that it was “likely” pre-COP would be held at the 5-star Sheraton Hotel. Finance exposes Marles's Defence funding spin Defence Minister Richard Marles has been embarrassingly contradicted by the government’s own Department of Finance.
Despite his claims to be increasing government spending on Defence by $14 billion over the forward estimates and $53 billion over the decade, Finance confirmed that only $6.8 billion over the forwards and $35 billion over the decade of additional government funding has been allocated in the budget. Finance officials sought to downplay the certainty underlying estimates for alternative financing and estate divestment proceeds underpinning defence capability plans.
When Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was asked about Richard Marles' plans to fund Defence using private capital, estate divestment proceeds and government equity, she said: "none of those decisions have been finalised." Defence spending by the Albanese Labor government is not matching the strategic dangers Australia faces. $158,000 per job: Labor’s remote employment blowout Labor’s remote employment scheme is costing taxpayers approximately $158,000 for every job it plans to create.
National Indigenous Australians Agency officials confirmed the Government has committed more than $950 million to create 6,000 jobs by 2030. Officials also confirmed the positions are generally entry-level award wage jobs, with some casual and part-time roles included. The figures raise serious questions about value for money.
At a time of mounting budget pressure and record government spending, Australians are entitled to ask why taxpayers are spending almost $160,000 to create jobs generally paying around $50,000 a year. ISIS brides get millions in taxpayer support New South Wales and Victoria have been given more than $31 million by the Federal Government to help counter violent extremism, including funding specifically for support of the returned ISIS Brides and their families.
Officials confirmed the funding could involve case management, health referrals, school information, employment services, family support and counselling. To make matters worse, the New South Wales Government requested further expenditure for these purposes again in April 2026 – but Department of Home Affairs officials ultimately admitted they had not yet even processed that request.
Check-up cover up Even more confusion and chaos in the handling of ISIS Brides' travel to Australia became apparent when Senator Duniam exposed that the New South Wales Government offered health checks to a group of them upon their arrival in Sydney on 26 May – an offer that helped to keep them away from waiting media. National Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Brendan Dowling confirmed the Federal Government did not determine those arrangements and said he had “no specific knowledge” of them being put in place.
Where did they go? Home Affairs doesn’t know Department of Home Affairs officials confirmed under questioning from Senator Duniam that none of the ISIS Brides who returned to Australia on 26 May was arrested upon their arrival. That stands in stark contrast to the cohort who arrived on 7 May, from which three women were charged and remanded in custody on extremely serious offences including crimes against humanity.
Home Affairs Secretary Stephanie Foster said the latest arrivals “remain under consideration” by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, but admitted she did not personally even know where they had gone after they had arrived in Sydney and Melbourne. ISIS bride blocked at Damascus airport Australian Border Force officials revealed that another ISIS Bride was stopped from boarding a flight out of Damascus after authorities were alerted to a Temporary Exclusion Order against her.
The woman, named in media articles as Hodan Abby, was seeking to return to Australia as part of a group that left the al-Roj camp in Syria – and attempted to catch a flight at Damascus Airport. Ultimately, it was only because of the existence of a Temporary Exclusion Order (the only one that was imposed on any of the entire group of ISIS Brides and children who sought to travel to Australia during 2025 and 2026) that triggered an alert to authorities to stop her return.
Labor’s no-assistance fiction continues Labor Ministers continue to insist the Government provided ‘no assistance’ to returning ISIS Brides, but Estimates again exposed that a multitude of government activity has been linked to their arrival, monitoring and settlement. Officials confirmed that the majority of the group have been released into the community without charge, and could not deny that consular assistance, passport application approval and issuance, identity verification and liaison with foreign authorities had been made available – along with millions of dollars in funding that could now be used to support the group in Australia.
Consent to prosecute Ben Roberts-Smith The process to give consent to prosecute Victoria Cross recipient Mr Benjamin Roberts-Smith for alleged war crimes took just two days while it took three weeks to sign off on the prosecutions of ISIS brides for alleged crimes against humanity. Under questioning from Senator Cash, the Attorney-General’s Department revealed they received a request from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on March 31 2026 for consent to prosecute Mr Roberts-Smith for alleged war crimes.
The Department said that they subsequently sent a brief to the Attorney-General Michelle Rowland and she gave her consent for prosecution on April 1. It was later revealed in the same estimates hearing that the Attorney-General’s department received a brief from the CDPP requesting consent to prosecute two of the ISIS brides for alleged crimes against humanity on November 20, 2025.
The Department revealed the consent to prosecute was signed off by the Attorney-General on December 15, 2025. Definition of a woman and pregnancy madness The madness of Australia's Sex Discrimination Act and its failure to define biological sex was on full display at Senate Estimates. Under questioning by Shadow Attorney-General Senator Michaelia Cash the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission was asked the simple question what is a woman?
His answer said it all. He defined a woman as "an adult human female." Then in the same breath he added: "and includes a transgender woman." Then came the pregnancy exchange and if anything illustrated the absurdity of the law, it was that. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody conceded that a transgender woman, a biological male, cannot become pregnant.
Yet she argued that pregnancy protections in the Sex Discrimination Act could still apply to a transgender woman on the basis of “potential pregnancy’’. Consulting model raises questions about value Shadow Minister for Finance Senator Claire Chandler examined the Government’s in-house consulting arm, Australian Government Consulting, which is intended to reduce reliance on external consultants.
Estimates confirmed that the unit remains relatively small and is delivering only modest levels of work compared to the size of overall consulting spend across the public service. The model is being expanded significantly despite its limited current footprint, raising questions about whether it will deliver meaningful value, avoid duplication, or simply add another layer within the bureaucracy.
Digital traineeship program collapses Labor’s flagship digital traineeship program has effectively failed, with just 73 placements delivered out of a planned 1,000. Officials admitted the issue was not a lack of applicants but a failure to secure participation from government agencies, which simply did not take up the available trainees. Despite extensive consultation and co-design with departments, the program was unable to achieve sustainable demand, leading to its termination in the latest budget.
Labor funding negotiations but not outcomes The Albanese Government has committed significant taxpayer funding to support public sector wage negotiations, without properly accounting for the cost of the outcomes of those negotiations. The Government has allocated $19 million initially, with a further $13 million every three years on an ongoing basis, to support bargaining across the public service, while forward estimates show a flatlining wage bill that does not reflect realistic wage growth.
This inconsistency highlights a disconnect between Labor’s policy decisions and its budget assumptions and raises serious questions about the credibility of its public service settings. Public service size and spending contradiction There is a contradiction between the Government’s claim that the public service is at an appropriate size and budget figures indicating constrained wage growth.
The failure to align staffing, wages and funding projections demonstrates a lack of coherent workforce planning. The Government is simultaneously expanding the public service, funding bargaining processes, and presenting a budget that does not accommodate expected cost increases. This creates uncertainty about how agencies will manage within existing allocations and reinforces concerns about Labor’s broader fiscal approach.
Labor hides counter-terror cuts The Albanese Government has been exposed for trying to use a public interest immunity claim to stop the Bondi Royal Commission from considering Cabinet deliberations about counter-terrorism funding. Labor frontbencher Murray Watt admitted the claim was made by the Commonwealth on advice from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to “protect cabinet process”.
It means the Government is actively seeking to keep secret material that would explain whether Cabinet directed intelligence agencies to put fewer resources into counter-terrorism in the period before the Bondi terror attack. 82 ankle monitors and curfews scrapped Ankle monitors and curfews were removed from as many as 82 members of the infamous NZYQ cohort after a March 2026 High Court decision invalidated the Albanese Government’s plans for managing these individuals.
Under questioning from Senator Duniam, the Department of Home Affairs claimed that there were “a range of other measures” still in place, including reporting requirements. But the obvious question remains: if people from a cohort that includes murderers, rapists and other extremely serious offenders were considered dangerous enough to require ankle monitors and curfews in the first place, then why should Australians have any confidence that Labor’s weaker fallback arrangements are sufficient?
From $190 million questions to $4.3 billion more Serious questions remain unanswered about a $190 million border surveillance contract awarded to SkyTraders in late 2025, including what aircraft it operated at the time, what due diligence was conducted on subcontractor Metrea, and why it has left no aircraft conducting official surveillance of Australia’s critical northern border corridor for at least eight months.
Yet, the Albanese Government later awarded Metrea a further $4.3 billion surveillance contract - the largest contract ever awarded by the Department of Home Affairs. At the time, Metrea had no Air Operator’s Certificate, no registered aircraft in Australia and, until six weeks prior, a residential address in Toorak as its principal place of business. AFP refuses to address counter-terrorism claims The Australian Federal Police refused to directly address explosive claims from a senior NSW Police officer that Federal agencies withheld critical counter-terrorism information from them in the lead-up to the Bondi massacre.
NSW Deputy Commissioner for Counter Terrorism, Dave Hudson, told the Bondi Royal Commission that the failure to share key information prevented police from denying gun licences to applicants who had been under Federal investigation. Under questioning from Senator Duniam, AFP Chief Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the agency had strong relationships with its counterparts, but declined to answer directly.
ABC and SBS snub antisemitism definition The Albanese Government’s own antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, said that she is still trying to persuade the ABC and SBS to adopt the internationally recognised IHRA definition of antisemitism. Despite the definition being endorsed by the Albanese Government and the Antisemitism Royal Commission, the national broadcasters have refused to adopt it, claiming concerns around editorial independence.
More smoke and mirrors on tobacco tax crisis The Commissioner tasked with cracking down on Australia's illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes crisis has confirmed tobacco excise is not a priority, despite Budget figures again showing legal tobacco revenue is collapsing as the black market booms. Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner Amber Shuhyta said her views had not changed, even after revenue from legal tobacco was written down in this year's Federal Budget by another $8 billion over five years and ongoing extensive evidence of the damage that has been caused since the Albanese Government's excise increases since 2023.
Counter-terror staffing warning ducked After dismissing the report at February's Estimates hearings, a senior AFP officer has finally confirmed the importance of an explosive 2024 pre-Budget briefing warning of “critical staffing levels” in the AFP’s Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command. But AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt still declined to discuss the details of the document, claiming the matters raised in it were likely to be considered by the Bondi Royal Commission.
Chinese EV spy warning Australia’s top domestic spy agency confirmed that it has warned MPs and public servants not to hold sensitive conversations in cars, particularly internet-connected vehicles that may be able to collect data. The warning came after Chinese-made electric vehicles were added to the list of taxpayer-funded cars available to Federal politicians, including vehicles made by BYD and MG.
ASIO Deputy Director-General Lisa Alonso Love told Senate Estimates that sensitive and classified conversations should only happen in places properly set up for them, warning that connected cars may create extra “vectors” for information to be gathered. Green hydrogen fund yet to spend a single cent Officials from the Department of Climate Change and Energy confirmed that not a single cent from Round 1 of Labor’s much vaunted Hydrogen Headstart program has been spent.
Officials also confirmed that around $1 billion from the program has been cut by Chris Bowen. Labor’s budget blowout Snowy Hydro still being hidden Officials from Snowy Hydro have refused - again - to disclose the cost of a revised EBA. Labor doesn't know how reforms will impact farmers Environment Minister Murray Watt admitted in Senate Estimates that the Albanese Labor Government did not complete a Regulatory Impact Statement ahead of changing the EPBC laws.
When asked by Senator Canavan "You didn't even calculate how much it would cost farmers before changing the law?", Senator Watt said "I'm not aware of that work having been done." Furthermore, the Albanese Government also admitted it would not be able to provide advice to farmers how to legally clear land within the new EPBC laws, acknowledging even if farmers follow the government's own advice, they may still be fined or jailed.
Labor doesn't care for farmers in drought Labor admitted that its water buybacks policy has an impact farmers, and will refuse to stop water buybacks even if farmers are negatively impacted by it. Senator Canavan asked "Did you reassess the buybacks because of the potential impacts in a low rainfall drought situation?", to which Senator Watt replied "No." Fuel Tsar worth more than One Million a Year Under questioning from Senator Sharma, government officials confirmed the Government’s Fuel Tsar earns a salary worth $1 million a year.
At the same time she is earning $2,750 a day reviewing the Water Act for the DCCEEW. PM runs protection racket for his Minister Under questioning from Senator Sharma, Minister Ayres and government officials refused to confirm if the Prime Minister had conducted an investigation into whether Minister Wells’ breached the Code of Conduct for Ministers. Minister’s blame game for breaking election promise Under questioning from Senator Hume, Minister Ayes cited a conversation with an anonymous young person as a basis for breaking the election promise not to change negative gearing.
Labor cuts put grassroots sport at risk The Albanese Labor Government has dealt a $182 million blow to grassroots sport. Australian Sports Commission CEO and Olympian Kieran Perkins OAM, revealed during Senate Estimates that the Government ignored advice to provide ongoing funding for a group of key sporting programs. Programs facing uncertainty beyond the next 12 months include Sporting Schools, Play Well, Local Para Champions, and Local Sporting Champions.
Slow start for antisemitism training Antisemitism training at the Attorney-General’s Department has only been completed by 63 staff with another 66 staff presently progressing through the course. Under questioning from Senator Cash the department revealed the course is being delivered by the Sydney Jewish Museum. There is no APS wide standard training course available.
The Department Secretary refused to say whether antisemitism training would be compulsory for all 2500 AGD staff. Ali France referred to AEC Shadow Special Minister of State Senator James McGrath has written to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) Commissioner requesting an immediate investigation into Labor MP for Dickson, Ali France over alleged breaches of the Electoral Act.
Senator McGrath asked questions about the matter at Senate estimates. Ms France is currently enrolled to vote at a vacant block of land as her principal residence which has sat empty for a significant period of time. Exposed: terrifying hack of Parliamentarian Further questions have been raised about the Department of Parliamentary Services’ (DPS) IT failures after confirmation that a foreign state actor was behind the hacking of a Parliamentarian and their staff on the 9th of March this year.
Under questioning from Shadow Special Minister of State Senator James McGrath in Senate Estimates, a DPS official confirmed that the WhatsApp accounts of a Parliamentarian and three of their staff had been breached across both personal and DPS devices. This follows several other major failures that have occurred within DPS since Labor came to Government in 2022.
Integrity concerns for Big Build projects Senate Estimates exposed serious integrity concerns surrounding federally funded Victorian Big Build projects, with officials confirming there are 56 active allegations relating to fraud, corruption and other serious misconduct. One of the projects in question, the Suburban Rail Loop, which received an additional $3.8 billion in funding at the recent Budget, has a staggering 16 instances of alleged "Fraud, bullying, corruption, breaches of workplace laws, and criminal behaviour." Senator Sterle throws insults RRAT hearings highlighted unacceptable behaviour from Labor Senator Glenn Sterle, who called Coalition Senator Bridget McKenzie an ignoramus, a fool and said he would "cut her up" in a debate.
The remarks were entirely inappropriate and demonstrated a concerning attitude towards parliamentary scrutiny and accountability. Child safety and support programs delayed The Albanese Government’s poor handling of key child protection and survivor support initiatives has been exposed during Senate Estimates, with delays, procurement concerns, and incomplete implementation raising serious questions.
Shadow Minister for Child Protection and Prevention of Family Violence, Senator Matt O’Sullivan uncovered ongoing issues across multiple National Action Plan initiatives, including lengthy delays in delivering frontline services, conflicts of interest in procurement processes, and uncertainty around implementation timelines despite significant investment. National child abuse offending prevention delays The National Child Abuse Offending Prevention Service (NAP 21) only became operational in April 2026, despite the procurement process beginning years earlier.
Department officials confirmed the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) reported the Request for Tender process closed in February 2024, highlighting the extended timeframe taken to establish the service. Senator O’Sullivan further uncovered multiple conflicts of interest identified throughout the procurement process. First National action plan Department officials admitted during Senate Estimates not all commitments under the plan have been fully implemented, with “some still underway” despite the significant passage of time and funding allocated to the initiative.
The original investment of $300 million by the Morrison Government has since been supplemented by an additional $21.2 million and $13.5 million under the Albanese Government. Senator O’Sullivan said the extension raised serious concerns about delivery capability and accountability for taxpayer funding. Help for victims of child sexual abuse delayed It was also revealed that NAP 7, the national website and helpline intended to assist victims and survivors of child sexual abuse access support services, remains non-operational despite years of development work.
Department officials stated they are now hoping the service will be rolled out by the end of 2026. However, during questioning it was revealed that the Expression of Interest process only commenced in October 2024 and remained open for one month, while the Request for Tender stage did not begin until 2025. Senator O’Sullivan said the delays highlighted “a troubling lack of urgency in delivering support services.
NIAA unable to explain taxpayer funding to Tangentyere National Indigenous Australians Agency officials have confirmed Tangentyere Council, which provides services to Alice Springs town camps, has received more than $70 million in NIAA funding despite ongoing concerns about safety and living conditions. Officials admitted they could not say how much taxpayer funding Tangentyere receives across the Commonwealth, despite acknowledging NIAA is only one of many government funders.
At the same time, officials confirmed they regularly visit the camps and are aware of concerns regarding conditions and child safety. The evidence raises serious questions about accountability for taxpayer funding and outcomes on the ground. After years of Commonwealth funding and more than $70 million in NIAA grants alone, Australians are entitled to ask why children are still living in conditions that no child should have to endure.
Backing for stronger action on child sexual abuse Senate Estimates has heard support from Indigenous representative bodies for stronger action to address the sexual abuse of Indigenous children following questioning from Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Land councils and Indigenous organisations were asked whether they would support a Royal Commission into the sexual abuse of Indigenous children, with several indicating they would support any action that better protects vulnerable children.
The evidence demonstrates growing recognition that child safety remains one of the most serious challenges facing some Indigenous communities. In the wake of the alleged murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby, difficult conversations that have too often been avoided are now becoming impossible to ignore. WA infrastructure project delays exposed The Albanese Government’s inability to progress critical infrastructure projects in Western Australia has been exposed during Senate Estimates, with major road upgrades stalled, funding uncertainty growing, and local communities left to deal with worsening congestion and safety risks.
Senator Matt O’Sullivan, Senator for Western Australia, uncovered repeated delays, a lack of planning, and failures to coordinate with the WA Labor Government, leaving key transport projects in limbo. The Nicholson Road/Garden Street Intersection Upgrade continues to face repeated delays, with construction still yet to commence despite the project being ongoing since 2022.
Following the completion of a Main Roads WA Technical Report, the WA Labor Government has decided not to progress the Garden Island Highway Extension Project despite obvious traffic congestion and significant disruption to local residents caused by commuter traffic travelling to HMAS Stirling. There remains no design plan or committed funding for the upgrade of the Rockingham Road and Russell Road intersection, despite the significant strategic importance of the nearby Henderson Defence Precinct.
Decline in infrastructure funding for Western Australia The Department confirmed there is a projected reduction in infrastructure funding for Western Australia in the Budget outyears under Payments for Specific Purposes. “This projected decline raises serious concerns about the Commonwealth’s long-term commitment to delivering critical infrastructure upgrades across Western Australia,” warned Senator Matt O’Sullivan, Senator for Western Australia.
Tasmanian project reset highlights poor planning The Services Australia office project in Hobart has effectively been reset after earlier plans were abandoned. The project is now being taken back to market more than a year after the original proposal was scrapped, with a new approach focused on consolidating multiple agencies into a single precinct model. The restart follows earlier decisions that were not properly scoped and reflects a broader pattern of changing direction and uncertainty in the Government’s handling of infrastructure and service delivery planning.
Regional service delivery gaps emerging Senate Estimates also highlighted broader concerns about service delivery and access to Services Australia support in regional areas. Changes to local provider arrangements have led to uncertainty in some communities about how services can be accessed. Delays in establishing replacement services and limited communication with affected communities risk leaving Australians without clear and reliable access to essential government services.
These gaps point to weaknesses in planning and coordination at a time when consistent and accessible service delivery should be a priority.