Portfolio — 20 August 2026

The Treasurer's media releases on 19 August 2026 present a three-part economic narrative: sustained wage growth, a one-year milestone for structural reform, and Senate passage of the government's second tax reform tranche.

**Wage growth and cost of living**

The Treasurer announced that real wages grew in the June quarter and that annual nominal wages have exceeded three per cent for 16 consecutive quarters. He framed wage growth as a core cost-of-living measure, stating, "We're helping to deliver higher wages for workers because we know this is one of the best ways to help with the cost of living" [TA-260819-treasu-6b745180e00f].

**Economic Reform Roundtable anniversary**

Marking the one-year anniversary of the Economic Reform Roundtable, the Treasurer said the initiative has produced more than 60 reforms. He cited the most ambitious tax reform package in 25 years, $10.2 billion in annual red-tape savings, and a projected $13 billion GDP boost from the National Competition Policy [TA-260819-treasu-7f9fe092291e].

**Tax reform legislation passes the Senate**

The Treasurer reported that the second tranche of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Bill passed the Senate. The legislation reintroduces loss-carry-back for companies and makes the $20,000 small-business instant asset write-off permanent. The Treasurer said the measures will benefit around 85,000 small businesses and 2.7 million active small enterprises [TA-260819-treasu-baffcb732f7d].

**Synthesis**

Across the three releases, the Treasurer links household-level outcomes to structural reform ambition and concrete legislative delivery. The communications strategy ties macroeconomic indicators to tangible benefits for workers and small businesses, presenting the government's economic program as simultaneously delivering cost-of-living relief and long-term productivity gains.

No parliamentary sitting occurred on this date, so the media releases stand as the sole record of the Treasurer's public positioning.