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) (12:43): Well, if I can answer, you can have the opportunity to ask questions. When I work with women's organisations and women's advocacy organisations right across the economy, in the non-government sector, in business, in industry, when they are talking to me about issues that affect women, they are definitely talking not only about housing but also about actually even being able to afford to rent a house to live in.

It's around making sure they have superannuation. That's a good start. As you know, we have done a number of things to make sure that women get a better deal when it comes to superannuation, including boosting the low income super tax offset.

Senator Bragg: It's a scam. Senator GALLAGHER: Well, you think super's a scam? I know you think it's a scam, Senator Bragg, like everything about you and everything you say in committees.

I understand what you think about super. Senator Bragg: You're obsessed with it. Senator GALLAGHER: I'm not the one obsessed, Senator Bragg.

With all due respect, your hatred and loathing, particularly of industry superannuation is well understood— Senator Bragg: You're going out of your way to protect these big guys, and you're kicking the small people. Senator GALLAGHER: and well known in this chamber— The TEMPORARY CHAIR ( Senator Sterle ): Minister, could you resume your seat just for a minute.

I'm sorry to interrupt you. I know it's very tempting to take the interjections. It's not my time you're wasting, Senator Bragg.

If you want the call, stand up, and I'll give it to you. Minister. Senator GALLAGHER: That is well understood, Senator Bragg.

So anything you say about super really should be seen through the lens that you don't think people should have super. We have a different view on that. We think superannuation and being able to live a dignified retirement with savings accumulated through your working life is an important part of the social compact we have here in this country, and we don't resile from that.

We have, since coming to government, looked at ways to make the system fairer and stronger—except that you, I think, have voted no to any of those reforms. Going back to the question around women, the issues that are raised with me around super and women and how to get a better deal are: how we make sure that women are paid properly for the work they do; how we close the gender pay gap because, when we're doing those things, women will get more super into their superannuation account; how we compensate for periods of time away from work, like paid parental leave—and we're dealing with that—and, for those on lower incomes, the lower income super tax offset which we are adjusting and increasing.

They have all been part of our thinking. So I don't know that any criticism of the government in terms of how we approach the question of superannuation and women is warranted. This is a decision taken quite separately to that around risks to financial stability and ensuring that people's retirement savings aren't impacted by decisions to borrow against their SMSF.