Portfolio — 1 April 2026

Senator Gallagher's activity on 31 March and 1 April was dominated by the government's fuel crisis response, with the Minister for Finance advancing the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026 through the Senate and then anchoring question time around the same policy package a day later — a rare instance of the same minister carrying both the legislative and the political explanation for a major economic intervention across consecutive sitting days.

The bill itself halves fuel excise on petrol and diesel, cutting 26.3 cents per litre, saving approximately $19 on a 65-litre fill when GST changes are included, and reducing the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero — delivering around $130 in savings per 400-litre truck tank [TA-260331-senate-32a8f9c5c8fe:s147]. Senator Gallagher attributed the intervention directly to Middle East conflict that has doubled global oil prices since the start of 2026, and noted the bill also carries flexibility to adjust the excise rate further to give effect to National Cabinet undertakings on GST [TA-260331-senate-32a8f9c5c8fe:s147].

The third reading was moved the same day, completing the Senate's passage of the measure.

In question time on 1 April — with the excise cut effective that morning — Senator Gallagher framed the fuel crisis as one of three structural pressures shaping the May budget: pre-existing elevated inflation now worsening, two decades of weak productivity growth, and a global environment further destabilised by the Middle East war [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s160].

The Minister described the ACCC as monitoring compliance with price expectations at the bowser, and acknowledged that pump-price reductions would flow through only as contracted supplies cleared distribution channels [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s157]. Beyond the excise measure, she announced a suite of additional interventions: the Australian Taxation Office will offer temporary relief through payment plans, remission of interest and penalties, and PAYG instalment variation for businesses unable to meet tax obligations because of fuel supply disruption, and the small business responsible lending obligation exemption will be extended for a further ten years [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s161].

The government is also releasing 20 per cent of fuel reserves targeted to regional markets, temporarily adjusting petrol and diesel standards to increase available supply, and engaging international partners on shipment continuity [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s162]. Senator Gallagher positioned the government's capacity to absorb these pressures against labour market strength — unemployment historically low, 1.2 million jobs created, wages growth above three per cent for sustained periods — while holding to a savings-focused budget repair approach.

When pressed on alignment with the Greens, she rejected the comparison, stating that parties of government make budget and defence decisions on the basis of information and national interest rather than minor-party political positioning [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s159].

The procedural picture across both days reflects the breadth of Senator Gallagher's Manager of Government Business role alongside her Finance portfolio. On 1 April she tabled a supplementary explanatory memorandum for the Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025 [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s019], tabled an addendum and correction to the explanatory memorandum for the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 and advanced that bill to second reading [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s035], and moved the appointment of members to the Defence Joint Statutory Committee, the Education and Employment References Committee, and the Taxation of Gas Resources Select Committee [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s081].

She also presented 19 government responses to committee reports — the oldest dating from 2002 — covering topics from maritime incidents and artificial intelligence adoption to First Nations justice, climate change, and national security, with most responses declining substantive engagement on the ground that the passage of time made it no longer appropriate [TA-260401-senate-1301079c9e7f:s085].

The sole substantive exception was the Northern Australia inquiry, where the government pointed to a 2 August 2025 announcement of $75 million in additional funding for native title holders and Prescribed Bodies Corporate capacity.