MOTIONS

Senator CASH (Western Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (12:02): I seek leave to move a motion relating to the Albanese Labor government's toxic taxes, as circulated. Leave not granted. Senator CASH: Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the Albanese Labor government's toxic taxes.

I have to say, as we commence the second half of this year, what an absolute disgrace! This government has been exposed. What kind of a prime minister legislates a widow's tax?

Well, sadly for the Australian people, that would be Mr Anthony Albanese. This is a tax that can hit when your spouse dies. This is a tax that can hit when a marriage breaks down.

But, worse, it's a tax that can hit victims of domestic violence trying to rebuild their lives. That is why this matter is urgent and that is why the Senate should suspend its standing orders. We need to hold this government to account—a government that likes to laud itself as standing up for women, a government that likes to laud itself as being the only people who can save those who are less fortunate.

Yet, at the same time, don't worry about what comes out of their mouths; look at their actions. They have legislated a widow's tax, they have legislated a tax that hits victims of domestic violence and they have legislated a tax that hits Australians when their marriage breaks down. As I said, that is why we should support the suspension motion.

This is not theoretical. As we have now seen, there is a domestic violence survivor in Australia who has reportedly now been unable to refinance because of Labor's new tax laws. That is just an absolute disgrace.

She is potentially now being forced to sell an asset she has spent more than 15 years building. Think about what that means and think about it in the context of this procedural motion to suspend the standing orders. This is a woman trying to rebuild her life after domestic violence, and now, because of the Albanese Labor government, because of those opposite, she may face another financial penalty because of the tax law imposed by those opposite.

Senator McKenzie: They don't care. Senator CASH: That is right; they don't care. And why do we know that?

Because this was raised with the government prior to the legislating of this tax. That is why this matter is urgent. This is why I implore the Senate to support the procedural motion to suspend the standing orders.

Widows face the same uncertainty as this domestic violence survivor when property changes hands following the death of a spouse. That is an utter disgrace. Those opposite were actually told this prior to legislating.

These concerns were raised—they laughed. They said it would never happen. Well, guess what?

It did happen. I would have thought today you would be prepared to suspend standing orders to bring in a bill to clean up your mess. Yet what have we heard?

Absolute silence from those opposite. I can assure you, Deputy President, if those opposite won't help themselves, the coalition absolutely will. This cannot wait.

This is the whole purpose of suspending standing orders. This is a mechanism that allows the Australian Senate to say: 'This matter is of such urgency that we all agree that we will put aside the ordinary course that is set out in the Senate order of business for today. This matter is so urgent that we will join together and suspend standing orders to actually deal with the urgency of this matter.' How can anyone on that side think this is not an urgent matter?

This cannot wait. A widow, sadly, can't put the death of her husband on hold; she is now being financially penalised because of your widow's tax. A family going through a divorce can't simply suspend a property settlement; they will now potentially be hit with your tax.

A victim of domestic violence—and this is the real-life example, and shame on those opposite for not coming in here today and being prepared to deal with the mess that they've created—can't put her financial independence on hold while the Albanese Labor government works out how to clean up the mess it's created. You were warned, you ignored the warnings. Australians are now dealing with the consequences.

This is urgent and this matter should be supported by the Senate.