MATTERS OF URGENCY

Senator CAROL BROWN (Tasmania) (16:19): The coalition have come into the chamber claiming to defend hard work, investment and ambition while preparing to vote against tax cuts for more than 13 million working Australians and against reforms that will help 75,000 Australians buy their first home. That is not a defence of aspiration; that is a defence of the status quo.

Apparently, aspiration is sacred when it belongs to a property investor buying a fifth house but it becomes dangerous when it belongs to a nurse, a teacher or a young family trying to buy their first. This so-called matter of urgency is not an economic argument; it's a political stunt from a coalition that still cannot accept that Australians have rejected its priorities.

The three right-wing parties—the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation—now have three different logos, one tired script and not a serious economic idea between them. They offer anger but no answers. They offer slogans but no solutions.

And every time they're asked what they would actually do, the cupboard is bare. Labor is delivering a new $250 tax cut for every working Australian. We are delivering a $1,000 instant tax deduction so workers can claim common expenses without keeping a shoebox full of receipts.

For an Australian on the average income, our tax changes will mean $2,800 back in their pocket from 2027-28. The coalition calls that toxic. Most Australians call it help with the bills.

The coalition loves talking about hard work, yet they keep voting against letting workers keep more of what they earn. We are also making the housing system fairer. Existing investments are protected, but, from 1 July 2027, negative gearing for future residential investments will be directed to new homes.

That means tax concessions will help build supply instead of helping investors outbid first homebuyers for homes that already exist. That's a sensible reform. It supports construction, adds new homes and gives first homebuyers a fairer chance.

But the coalition believes the tax system should continue to favour the person buying their next investment property over young Australians trying to buy a place to live. They call that ambition; Australians call it being locked out. The motion also repeats the scare campaign that Labor is attacking small business.

The facts say the opposite. The government listened and acted. Small businesses with turnovers below $10 million will have access to generous capital gains tax concessions.

That covers 2.7 million small businesses, or 98 per cent of all active businesses. We are delivering $3.8 billion in new business tax relief, including a permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off, loss carry-back arrangements, and support for startups and investments. So much for the claim that Labor is punishing business.

Now, Senator Colbeck wants Australians to believe Labor has a spending problem. This government is strengthening Medicare, making medicines cheaper, delivering 137 Medicare urgent care clinics, extending paid parental leave to six months and cutting taxes for working people. Those are not wasteful choices; they are the services Australians work hard and pay taxes to support.

The real issue before the Senate is simple: will those opposite vote to give working Australians a tax cut, will they vote to help more Australians buy a home, will they back a fairer tax system that supports new housing and protects small business or will they join the same old Liberal, National and One Nation chorus of no?