Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (12:03): Treasury doesn't usually adjust its numbers based on submissions to an inquiry. I mean, Treasury's estimate is based on the information they have.

They work with the ATO, and it informs the advice they provide. But their advice to government, and publicly, is that the compliance cost estimate is $88 million per year. We continue to—as I said, through every way possible—look at how we reduce compliance burdens on business and individuals.

There are a number of elements in this budget that seek to do that, which I would hope the opposition are able to support, including the instant asset write-off and expanding dynamic monthly business tax instalments on an opt-in basis, if businesses would like to do that. We will continue to progress regulatory reform through the term of this government. But, in this budget alone, making the instant asset write-off permanent—there's modernising PAYG, and the instant tax deduction is making a simpler tax system.

The Treasury's estimate on compliance costs remains at $88 million.