House of Representatives — 12 May 2026

Budget day dominated the House of Representatives on 12 May 2026. Treasurer Jim Chalmers moved the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026–27 and described the 2026–27 budget as the most important in decades, framing it around the Middle East war and the global oil-price shock that has disrupted fuel supply chains [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s064]. The centrepiece is a $14.8 billion Strengthening Australia's Fuel Resilience package, including $10 billion for immediate fuel supplies and a permanent government-owned strategic fuel reserve.

Chalmers announced a $250 Working Australians Tax Offset for 13.3 million workers beginning in the second half of 2027, committed $6.4 billion to Medicare and medicines, $25 billion to public hospitals, $5.9 billion to expand the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, $47 billion for housing (with $2 billion for infrastructure to support 65,000 new homes), and $53 billion for defence over the decade.

He reported $63.8 billion in savings, delivering a $26.1 billion net improvement to the budget position and a $2.8 billion reduction in the deficit.

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino moved companion bills — Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2026–27 seeking $33.7 billion for non-ordinary services [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s066], Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) providing $345.4 million, and supplementary estimates bills (Nos. 5 and 6 for 2025–26) totalling $3.8 billion [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s068 TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s069].

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) details tax-system reforms including trust reform, capital-gains tax adjustments and negative-gearing changes aimed at improving home ownership. Defence receives $15.3 billion for the 2026 National Defence Strategy and the Integrated Investment Program, while a $3.6 billion Advance to the Finance Minister provision includes $3 billion for the fuel-security response.

The supplementary bills bring forward $1.8 billion for Defence and allocate $643 million for Health, Disability and Ageing — of which $598 million supports NDIS participants — and $204 million for the Australian Rail Track Corporation to continue Inland Rail.

Fuel security saturated Question Time. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen reported that Australia now holds 42 days of petrol, 35 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel and announced a one-billion-litre government-owned strategic fuel reserve [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s095]. Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins detailed a $7.5 billion fuel-and-fertiliser security facility [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s099].

Minister for Resources Madeleine King announced a 20 percent domestic gas reservation scheme to keep more gas affordable for households and industry [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s101]. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated a $10 billion fuel-security package, international trade missions and a strategic reserve. Multiple ministers and the Prime Minister repeatedly highlighted fuel-security measures across different portfolios, pointing to a coordinated whole-of-government response to the global fuel crisis.

The Opposition used Question Time and members' statements to attack the government on trust in tax promises. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor repeatedly pressed the Prime Minister on reports of new taxes on housing, savings, small businesses and farmers [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s070]. National Party Deputy Leader Darren Chester reminded Albanese of his pre-election pledge not to raise taxes on farmers and small businesses [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s076].

In members' statements, Liberal MP Andrew Hastie described the budget as an attack on Australian aspiration [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s029]; Liberal MP Rick Wilson argued the housing-tax changes would penalise working Australians and increase rental costs [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s017]; and Deputy Speaker Colin Boyce warned that the budget scraps the Inland Rail project, increases Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop funding and alters negative-gearing and capital-gains-tax discounts [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s023].

Liberal National MP David Batt reported a small-business survey in Hinkler showing zero confidence among respondents.

Regional Australia was the subject of a matter of public importance proposed by the member for Riverina [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s043]. National Party members Michael McCormack, Anne Webster and Jamie Chaffey accused the government of broken promises on housing, youth home-ownership, aged care and the cancellation of Inland Rail north of Parkes. Government members countered with a $10 billion fuel-security package, doubled Roads to Recovery funding, expanded bulk-billing, regional university study hubs and a $667 million high-speed rail investment.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles outlined the 2026 National Defence Strategy, a $14.5 billion defence spend in the upcoming budget and a $12–$15 billion investment in autonomous systems [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s097]. Across Question Time and the appropriation bills, defence funding featured prominently: the budget commits $53 billion over the decade, the 2026–27 appropriation bill allocates $15.3 billion to the Department of Defence, and the supplementary estimates bring forward a further $2.7 billion.

The House also advanced substantive non-budget legislation. Julian Leeser introduced the Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill 2026, which would remove criminal liability from over 300 nondisclosure duties and replace the blanket offence with targeted offences requiring proof of improper intent [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s004]. The coalition said it will not oppose the bill in the House but will seek Senate committee scrutiny of gaps including the undefined term "improper", the absence of a sensitivity threshold and expanded scope to contractors.

The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 proposes an economy-wide prohibition on unfair trading practices, mandatory drip-pricing disclosure and new subscription-contract obligations. Opposition members expressed concern about legal uncertainty and compliance costs, and both sides called for referral to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee.

The Treasury Laws Amendment (The Survivors Law) Bill 2026 drew uniform cross-party support. Six speakers — from Labor, the Liberals, the Liberal Nationals and the Nationals — backed a bill that enables victims to request limited ATO information, obtain court orders to release perpetrators' super contributions and ensures compensation debts survive bankruptcy [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s059 TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s057].

Liberal National MP Andrew Wallace cited 82,764 reports of online child sexual exploitation in 2024–25.

Committee reports covered integrity and accountability. The Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission highlighted rising referrals and investigations in procurement and recruitment and issued three recommendations to improve timeliness and public confidence [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s054]. The committee launched a standalone inquiry into the NACC's performance.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights reviewed 27 bills and 130 legislative instruments and recommended foundational reviews of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit supported a $10.5 million increase to the ANAO's baseline funding, removal of the ANAO's efficiency dividend, and a $4 million top-up to the PBO's special appropriation [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s063].

Prime Minister Albanese outlined gambling-harm reforms including bans on gambling advertising during sport broadcasts and a new criminal offence for match-fixing [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s111]. He expressed condolences for the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby and affirmed Parliament's solidarity with Alice Springs. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland updated the House on the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, noting 14 recommendations and a final report due by 14 December.

Minister for Aged Care Sam Rae reported 350,000 Australians receiving Support at Home services with 83,000 additional places this financial year [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s104]. Mark Butler highlighted the expansion of Medicare urgent-care clinics with a $1.8 billion five-year commitment.

Deputy Prime Minister Marles announced the death of Warrant Officer Lachlan Muddle in a parachuting accident at Jervis Bay and confirmed that ADF parachuting operations are paused pending investigation [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s031]. The House observed condolences for former senators Patricia Crossin and Kay Denman, former MP Bill Grayden, and former Minister Peter Frederick Morris.

Minister Tony Burke moved a procedural motion to suspend standing orders on 12 and 14 May so the budget speech and reply could proceed without automatic adjournments [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s002]. Assistant Treasurer Mulino tabled the 2026–27 budget papers and ministerial statements on the women's and regional budgets [TA-260512-house-0ce3e8e26172:s065].