House of Representatives — 25 May 2026

The House of Representatives on 25 May 2026 was dominated by the 2026–27 Budget, with the government's tax reform package, housing measures and fuel security strategy contested across question time, the appropriation bills debate and private members' business. The sitting day also saw crossbench members press several non-government bills — on disaster telecommunications, a national human rights act, sex discrimination definitions and Murray–Darling water management — and the House completed the third reading of Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2025–2026.

Question time opened with Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor pressing the Prime Minister on whether the government misled Australians about its tax plans [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s192]. Treasurer Jim Chalmers responded by outlining three pillars of the tax reform package: first-home buyer assistance, income-tax cuts for 13 million workers through the Working Australians Tax Offset, and the alignment of capital gains tax with wages [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s209].

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil told the House the budget levels the playing field for first-home buyers, citing a five-per-cent deposit program, and warned the opposition planned to scrap it [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s211]. Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen reported that Australia now holds 38 days of diesel and 31 days of jet fuel — the highest strategic reserve since 2023 [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s213].

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek listed $4.4 billion of new funding to combat family, domestic and sexual violence [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s215]. Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh announced $169.7 million to raise allied-health fees for veterans, lifting the physiotherapy rate from $75.10 to $110 [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s223]. Opposition questions targeted alleged broken promises, the impact of a new 30 per cent tax on discretionary trusts on families with disability dependants, and whether gas-industry lobbyists attended the government's budget-night fundraiser.

The appropriation bills debate sharpened the budget contest. Liberal National MP Scott Buchholz accused the government of breaking pre-election tax promises [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s068]. Deputy Speaker Colin Boyce quoted Oliver Cromwell and condemned the budget as "arrogant", warning the capital gains tax and negative-gearing changes will penalise younger Australians [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s072].

From the government side, Labor MP Jo Briskey outlined reforms limiting negative gearing to new builds, restoring CGT indexation and investing $2 billion in infrastructure to deliver 65,000 new homes [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s075]. Labor Minister Louise Miller-Frost presented the budget's headline figures: $63.8 billion in savings, a $250 tax offset for 13.3 million workers, a $1,000 instant deduction for 6.2 million workers, $10 billion for fuel security and $25 billion for public hospitals [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s079].

Independent MP Zali Steggall criticised the budget's climate-adaptation funding, pointing out that the Disaster Ready Fund provides only $200 million per year against $9.86 billion in projected disaster costs [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s078]. Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown moved an amendment to insert a 25 per cent gas export tax [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s074].

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino moved the third reading of Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2025–2026, which the House agreed to [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s067].

The government introduced the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026, which creates a power for the Treasurer to declare "exceptional circumstances" and allows the ACCC to grant streamlined authorisations during crises. Schedule 2 raises maximum penalties for breaches of the Oil Code of Conduct to the greater of $10 million, three times the benefit or 10 per cent of turnover [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s025].

Opposition Deputy Manager Kevin Hogan moved amendments to remove retrospective provisions and add a sunset clause of 2 July 2026 [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s026]. Independent Helen Haines raised concerns about limited parliamentary scrutiny of ACCC authorisations [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s028].

Four crossbench-initiated bills advanced through second-reading debate. Andrew Wilkie moved the Human Rights Bill 2026, arguing Australia is the only liberal democracy without a comprehensive national human-rights guarantee [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s009]. Helen Haines seconded, explaining the bill would codify civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights based on the Australian Human Rights Commission model and the 2024 Parliamentary Joint Committee report [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s010].

Alison Penfold moved both the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Commission of Inquiry Bill, seeking examination of water buybacks in the Murray–Darling Basin [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s007], and the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sex-Based Rights) Bill, which would restore binary definitions of sex in the Sex Discrimination Act [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s008].

Helen Haines also moved the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Communications in Natural Disasters) Bill, proposing mandatory power backup for towers, temporary disaster roaming and government investment in satellite connectivity [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s005].

Private members' business covered nine distinct motions. Cameron Caldwell accused the government of breaking cost-of-living promises [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s011]. Leon Rebello condemned the cut to the private-health-insurance rebate for Australians over 65, while Louise Miller-Frost defended the shift to income-based criteria [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s114] [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s115].

Joanne Ryan celebrated the opening of 11 new endometriosis and pelvic-pain clinics [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s106], and Anne Webster criticised their uneven regional distribution [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s107]. Watson-Brown renewed the Greens' call for a 25 per cent gas export tax and a ban on gambling advertising [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s101].

Claire Clutterham moved a motion celebrating the Australia–EU Security and Defence Partnership [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s119]. Darren Chester urged completion of the Inland Rail corridor [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s177], and Matt Smith announced a 20 per cent domestic gas reservation scheme [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s184]. Kara Cook marked Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s169], and Allegra Spender called for a national funding-mapping framework for domestic violence initiatives [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s174].

Members' statements divided sharply along party lines on the budget. Opposition members repeatedly targeted capital gains tax changes, the removal of the 50 per cent CGT discount, a proposed 30 per cent minimum tax on discretionary trusts, and reductions to the private-health-insurance rebate for seniors. Government members highlighted the Darwin urgent-care clinic opening, community volunteer recognition during National Volunteer Week, local infrastructure projects and environmental protections.

Independent Kate Chaney warned that extending CGT reforms beyond housing could harm startups [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s091].

In committee business, the Public Works Committee recommended four projects totalling $348.7 million: a $161.1 million Great Barrier Reef Aquarium redevelopment, a $103.9 million Defence lease consolidation at Brindabella Park, a $37.3 million refurbishment of the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, and a $46.4 million office fit-out at One City Hill [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s059].

The Speaker tabled two Auditor-General reports — No. 32 on the Freedom of Information Act and No. 33 on Collins Class submarine life-extension planning [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s054].

During the adjournment, National Party members raised regional hardships: Jamie Chaffey cited aged-care shortages forcing prolonged hospital stays, Pat Conaghan warned a proposed $5,000 cap on veterans' allied-health services would restrict care [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s087], and Darren Chester raised notification failures affecting Indigenous claimants in the Northern Territory stolen-wages settlement [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s089].

Government members countered with announcements on 19 new renewable-energy projects, $9.6 million for the Artisan Precinct Initiative in Braddon [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s086], and a case for compulsory music education in primary schools [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s090]. Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition paid condolences to the family of Neale Daniher, recognising his work raising awareness and funds for motor neurone disease [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s069] [TA-260525-house-43807c883b19:s070].