House of Representatives — 28 May 2026

The House of Representatives on 28 May 2026 was dominated by the government's post-budget tax reform agenda and the Opposition's concerted campaign to brand the package as "toxic taxes" — a phrase that recurred across question time, motions, members' statements and the budget-in-reply debate. The sitting also advanced several bills, saw a sharp procedural contest over Federation Chamber scrutiny of the appropriation bills, and produced a matter of public importance debate that crystallised both parties' competing narratives on housing, aspiration and fiscal fairness.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers moved the second reading of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, describing it as legislation for workers, first-home buyers and future generations [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s007]. The bill proposes a $250 Working Australians Tax Offset for more than 13 million workers, a $1,000 instant tax deduction for up to 6.2 million workers, limits negative gearing to new builds from 1 July 2027, and restores cost-base indexation for capital gains tax.

The Treasurer also moved the companion Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, adjourning debate after brief remarks [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s008]. Independents Allegra Spender and Kate Chaney moved to refer both tax-reform bills to the House Standing Committee on Economics for an advisory report by 31 July 2026 [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s018], with Zali Steggall supporting the referral on grounds that the measures' impacts on housing supply, small-business succession and young Australians' wealth-building pathways require thorough scrutiny [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s021].

Dan Tehan, Manager of Opposition Business, criticised the bills as "toxic taxes" and listed critics from state premiers to business bodies [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s020]. The debate was adjourned to the next sitting [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s023].

The House read the Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and Trusted Tax System) Bill 2026 a second time after the Deputy Speaker negatived an opposition amendment. The bill removes the $2 donation threshold, requires trustees to report beneficiaries' tax file numbers, excludes gambling and tobacco from R&D incentives, raises low-income Medicare levy thresholds and refines pension-supplement eligibility for overseas travellers.

National Party MP Michael McCormack criticised the legislation as a breach of trust harming regional farmers, veterans and vulnerable Australians [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s014].

The Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 completed its passage through the House in a single sitting day with bipartisan support. Minister Amanda Rishworth moved government amendments extending employer opt-in periods, broadening the use of reasonable assumptions where historical records are missing, and expanding offset provisions to prevent double payment of long-service leave [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s026].

Opposition Whip Mary Aldred praised the bill's voluntary repayment pathway and its role in protecting workers' entitlements and regional economies [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s024].

The government introduced the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, requiring Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide reasonable outdoor mobile coverage across Australia [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s028]. The Opposition supported the bill in principle but argued it should extend the universal service obligation to existing infrastructure and impose maintenance duties on carriers.

Liberal members raised persistent mobile blackspots on Sydney's T4 train line and in the Sutherland Shire [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s031].

During question time, Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor twice pressed the Prime Minister on what he called "toxic taxes," demanding their removal and citing state premiers' opposition [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s113 TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s115]. Liberal MP Tim Wilson asked whether capital gains tax for small-business owners would be averaged over five years as in the pre-1999 system [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s119], and National MP Kevin Hogan asked whether the tax would impose a minimum 30% rate hitting low-income earners hardest [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s121].

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlined the income-tax cuts, the $250 working-Australian offset and the $1,000 instant deduction [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s134]. Independent MP Dai Le asked whether ISIS-affiliated women who arrived in Sydney are being housed in western Sydney suburbs and whether community leaders were consulted [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s117]; Minister Tony Burke listed community groups consulted, including Assyrian and Yazidi organisations [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s138].

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland confirmed the Commonwealth's lawsuit against 3M seeks more than $2 billion in damages for PFAS contamination [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s139]. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles reported a $53 billion defence spending increase including P-8 aircraft and drone upgrades [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s144]. Minister Chris Bowen said the Capacity Investment Scheme auction will unlock $17 billion in private investment and create about 19,000 construction jobs [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s145].

Education Minister Jason Clare announced a 20% cut to student debt for three million Australians [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s149]. Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown asked the Prime Minister whether a conscience vote would be allowed on a proposed 25% gas export tax [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s132].

The day's motions and MPI debate sharpened the fiscal and housing contest. Leader of the House Tony Burke moved to allow the appropriation bills to be considered in the Federation Chamber under a detailed portfolio timetable [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s009]. Dan Tehan moved an amendment requiring the responsible minister to attend each portfolio's consideration [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s010]; Burke rejected it, arguing sworn officials already ensure ministerial coverage [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s012].

Taylor then moved a separate motion to condemn the government for "arrogantly misleading Australians about toxic taxes" [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s053]. In the MPI, Taylor described the budget as a "war on aspiration" [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s058]. Liberal MP Aaron Violi argued the tax changes would deliver 35,000 fewer houses, citing Treasury modelling [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s062].

Labor MP Gabriel Ng cited a 400% increase in housing unaffordability since 1999 and defended negative-gearing reform for new homes [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s065]. Andrew Hastie outlined alternative coalition policies including a tax-back guarantee, migration caps tied to housing completions, and an energy strategy [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s069]. Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite labelled the combined opposition a "coalition of crackpots" for opposing the reforms [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s070].

In the budget-in-reply speeches on the appropriation bills, Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite stated the reforms — including a negative-gearing restriction for new builds from 1 July 2027, cost-base indexation replacing the 50% CGT discount, a 30% minimum CGT rate, and a 30% tax on discretionary trusts from 2028 — aim to raise $44 billion in revenue and generate $63.8 billion in savings [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s102].

Kevin Hogan described the budget's theme as "deceit, deceit and deceit" and argued the government was implementing radical tax reform without an electoral mandate [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s105]. Independent MP Andrew Gee warned the budget provides no funding to repair the Great Western Highway, no new veterans-wellbeing centres and cuts private-health premium rebates for seniors [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s099].

Tony Pasin criticised the removal of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant and a $21.4 million cut to regional communications [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s101].

Members' statements mirrored the budget divide. Independent Nicolette Boele called for the small-business CGT concession threshold to rise from $2 million to $10 million [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s033]. Claire Clutterham noted budget measures lifting venture-capital partnership asset caps [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s034].

Scott Buchholz opposed a $5,000 annual cap on veterans' allied-health services and warned that private-health rebate changes would raise premiums for 1.4 million seniors by up to $640 a year [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s043]. Kate Chaney released an AI discussion paper containing 18 policy recommendations [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s037]. Deputy Speaker Helen Haines described chronic power outages in Euroa and noted the Australian Energy Regulator's $5.6 million funding for covered conductors [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s079].

Dai Le urged safeguard measures for Australian steel manufacturers, referencing an Australian Steel Institute tariff-rate-quota request [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s077].

In the adjournment debate, Dai Le reported constituent concerns about upcoming NDIS reforms, citing a projected drop to about 600,000 participants by 2030 and insufficient guidance for culturally diverse communities [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s106]. Gabriel Ng announced an additional $3.8 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop East, bringing total federal commitment to $6 billion [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s112].

Julian Leeser raised concerns about the Iranian embassy's promotion of a recruitment website linked to the IRGC [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s110].

The NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 saw four amendment questions put — from the members for Kooyong, Curtin, Fowler and Lindsay — with no further debate permitted. Minister Mark Butler moved that further consideration be placed on the order of the day for the next sitting [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s006]. Separately, the member for Groom resigned from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services [TA-260528-house-f5e69c44cc32:s001].