House of Representatives — 13 May 2026

The House of Representatives on 13 May 2026 was dominated by the 2026–27 Budget, with housing tax reform, fuel security, consumer protection and survivor justice running through Question Time, the Matter of Public Importance debate, ministerial statements, members' statements and adjournment speeches. The legislative program advanced seven distinct bills, several attracting broad cross-party support while others opened clear partisan fault lines.

Housing and tax reform consumed more floor time than any other topic. During Question Time, Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor asked the Prime Minister to confirm that 35,000 fewer homes will be built as a result of the government's new taxes [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s141]. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded that the budget will increase housing supply by at least 30,000 homes and allocate a $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s163].

Treasurer Jim Chalmers described the budget as delivering resilience, reform, a fuel-security package, tax cuts and $63.8 billion in savings [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s164]. He said net overseas migration has fallen 45 percent from its peak and that $2 billion will fund 65,000 new homes [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s168]. Minister Clare O'Neil outlined the housing strategy, including a 5 percent deposit program and shared-equity schemes.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson asked where 1.4 million migrants will be housed given a 77,000-home shortfall, and separately questioned the Prime Minister about a capital-gains tax example affecting a low-income earner. Liberal MP Simon Kennedy asked the Prime Minister why his own property purchase and use of negative gearing appeared to conflict with his policy stance.

Independent MP Kate Chaney asked the Treasurer to outline consultation on capital-gains reform and its impact on the startup sector. National MP Kevin Hogan asked why foreign multinationals receive a 50 percent capital-gains discount while Australian investors face higher taxes [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s157].

The same contest played out in the MPI debate. Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh warned that homeownership rates have fallen to a 60-year low and said the budget will permit negative gearing only for new homes [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s053]. Liberal MP Aaron Violi cited budget papers projecting 35,000 fewer houses and higher rents.

Labor MP Joshua Burns listed the five-percent deposit scheme, the Help to Buy shared-equity program and the construction of 55,000 social and affordable homes [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s061]. Opposition members portrayed the budget as a broken-promise, tax-heavy agenda; government members framed the reforms as necessary to boost housing supply and support first-home buyers.

During the adjournment, Kate Chaney detailed three specific tax changes — indexation of the capital gains discount, limiting negative gearing to new homes from July 2027 and a 30 percent minimum tax on trust distributions [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s080]. Opposition Chief Whip Cameron Caldwell warned the changes would reduce homebuilding by 35,000 and highlighted the omission of migration policy despite projected net overseas migration of 295,000 in 2025–26.

Fuel and fertiliser security formed a second major budget thread. Minister Madeleine King announced a $7.5 billion fuel and fertiliser security package and $475 million of loans for a new urea plant in Karratha [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s166]. Bob Katter raised concerns about Australia's phosphate fertiliser supply, and the Prime Minister referenced a bipartisan intervention to protect the Mount Isa phosphate industry.

Minister McBain's ministerial statement on regional development cited a $14.8 billion fuel-security package, Medicare urgent-care clinics, housing initiatives and disaster-resilience measures, while National Party Deputy Leader Darren Chester condemned the budget as a "red print" that adds taxes and cuts regional programs.

Health funding received significant attention. Minister Mark Butler announced $25 billion of additional hospital funding, expansion of Medicare urgent-care clinics and a bulk-billing surge in Tasmania [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s169]. Independent MP Monique Ryan praised the $508 million increase for medical research and asked when the national health-research strategy will be released.

Independent MP Dai Le highlighted NDIS cuts affecting 160,000 disabled Australians and questioned funding for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. National MP Michael McCormack questioned the budget's $18 billion in net-zero spending and $600 million in cuts to veterans' health services.

On the legislative front, the Treasury Laws Amendment (The Survivors Law) Bill 2026 completed its passage through the House with cross-party support [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s027]. The bill closes a loophole allowing convicted child sexual abuse perpetrators to shield assets in superannuation and evade court-ordered compensation. It creates a mechanism for survivors to apply to the ATO for perpetrator superannuation information after 12 months of unpaid compensation, permits courts to release additional super contributions to satisfy debts, and amends the Bankruptcy Act 1966 so compensation debts survive bankruptcy.

The Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 was referred to the Federation Chamber after bipartisan speeches. The bill implements Royal Commission recommendations on military-justice reform, victim safeguards and mental-health provisions. Minister Matt Keogh explained new powers for military police equipment and described the extinguishment of historical homosexual convictions as a restorative measure [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s132].

Labor member Matt Burnell cited the budget's $770 million allocation for veteran-support initiatives.

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino introduced the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026, which aims to cut the regulatory burden by $10.2 billion annually through measures including IP law updates, streamlined import appeal periods and simplified gender-equality reporting [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s007].

The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 drew a partisan split. The government described three pillars — an economy-wide ban on unfair trading practices, a ban on drip pricing and new protections against subscription traps — commencing 1 July 2027 with a tenfold increase in maximum civil penalties from $10 million to $100 million.

Opposition MP Anne Webster estimated the annual regulatory cost at $123.2 million. Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh pointed to support from 17 consumer organisations and the ACCC [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s078].

The Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Bill 2026 and its companion legislation were read a third time. The bills consolidate public and educational lending rights into a single framework, extend coverage to ebooks and audiobooks, and establish a new governance committee [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s107]. Opposition members noted the bills do not increase the $28 million annual funding pool.

Ed Husic raised concerns about AI technologies using authors' works without remuneration.

The Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill 2026 and its companion Sunsetting Provision Bill attracted broad support for removing criminal liability from more than 300 secrecy provisions [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s121]. Independent MPs Andrew Wilkie and Kate Chaney each moved amendments — Wilkie pushing for broader transparency and Chaney warning that the new offence's "improper" test is vague and not harm-based.

Independent MP Allegra Spender said journalist protections remain insufficient. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated further whistleblower legislation will follow.

In members' statements, several Coalition members attacked the budget: Sam Birrell detailed $11 billion in regional cuts including $6.5 billion from Inland Rail; Colin Boyce and Jamie Chaffey described the abandonment of the Inland Rail project as undermining freight and road safety. Labor members promoted local wins — Tanya Plibersek outlined $47 billion in housing investment, Fiona Phillips reported a new Medicare clinic and transitional housing funding, and Michelle Rowland announced a permanent $250 tax cut and a $14.8 billion fuel-resilience package.

The House also paid tribute to the late writer David Malouf and the late parliamentarian Peter Morris.

The Selection Committee scheduled private members' business for 25 May covering bills on telecommunications in natural disasters, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, sex-based rights, and human rights, alongside motions on gas export taxation, gambling advertising, women's health clinics, the Australia–EU security partnership, invasive carp control, domestic-violence prevention and Inland Rail [TA-260513-house-ee1b85aea947:s006].