House of Representatives — 3 June 2026

The House of Representatives on 3 June 2026 was dominated by the government's tax reform package, which drew sustained contest across Question Time, the bills debate, motions and members' statements. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 and the Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 were introduced and debated at length. The package contains four headline measures: a $250 Working Australians tax offset for up to 13.3 million workers, a $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses without receipts, the replacement of the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount with cost-base indexation and a 30 per cent minimum CGT rate for gains realised after 1 July 2027, and the restriction of negative gearing for residential property purchased after 1 July 2027 to new-build homes while grandfathering existing investments [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s069 TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s073].

Labor members framed the legislation as a fairness agenda that would deliver five tax cuts for workers and enable an additional 75,000 Australians to purchase a home over the next decade [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s079]. Prime Minister Albanese summed up the package as linking wage tax relief with housing-affordability reform [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s012].

Minister for Housing Clare O'Neil explained that CGT reforms retain the family-home exemption and small-business concessions [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s019]. The coalition opposed schedules 1 and 2 — the CGT and negative-gearing changes — while backing schedules 3 and 4, the tax offset and standard deduction [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s018]. Opposition members described the measures as a $77 billion tax grab and a breach of election promises, citing modelling that predicts 35,000 fewer homes [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s004].

Opposition Whip Ben Small moved to refer both bills to the Standing Committee on Economics for a report by 30 December 2026 [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s064].

Independent MPs injected a distinct line of scrutiny. Allegra Spender tabled three amendments — removing the 30 per cent minimum tax, allowing loss indexing and exempting active businesses [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s078]. Monique Ryan described the legislation as the first tranche of 2026–27 budget reforms, reported community survey results showing majority support for the negative-gearing changes but mixed views on extending CGT reforms beyond property [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s080].

Zali Steggall called for clearer small-business carve-outs and more transparent modelling.

In the motions segment, Tim Wilson proposed a "tax-back guarantee" that would index income tax thresholds to inflation and return money to taxpayers automatically [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s053]. Ged Kearney defended the government's position, highlighting the 4.75 per cent minimum-wage increase and the $250 working Australians tax offset [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s055].

Simon Kennedy argued that bracket creep raises taxes each year and that the coalition's indexation proposal would deliver an automatic annual tax cut [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s058]. Earlier, Dan Tehan moved to suspend standing orders to delay second-reading questions until every government member had spoken on the tax bills [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s013], and Tony Burke subsequently moved adjournment of that debate.

The Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill also received its second reading, moved by Minister Rishworth. It proposes six administrative changes to the Fair Work Commission — including replacing formal hearings with conferences in general-protection matters and empowering the commission to curb vexatious applications — along with a high-income threshold for road-transport contractors, formalisation of CFMEU administration, and updated travel-allowance rules [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s002].

The Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026–27 debate ranged across multiple portfolios. Minister Madeleine King announced that from 1 July LNG exporters must reserve 20 per cent of exports for the domestic market. Labor MP Dan Repacholi cited mining's $385 billion in export earnings [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s108].

Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown warned that a proposed AI data centre would demand more power than Victoria's largest coal plant and lacks regulatory safeguards. Labor MP Meryl Swanson highlighted the Feeding Australia National Food Security Strategy and the import of over 209,000 tonnes of urea to secure fertiliser supply [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s131].

National Party MP Sam Birrell criticised the budget for lacking new measures to improve farm profitability and questioned cuts to the Future Drought Fund. Independent MP Nicolette Boele pointed out that nature funding is only 0.3 per cent of total budget spending [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s146]. Tim Watts announced $33.2 million to implement the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s154], and Attorney-General Rowland detailed $4.4 billion for the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s153].

On foreign affairs, Matt Thistlethwaite reported the budget adds $112 million to overseas development aid, bringing the total to $5.2 billion, and noted a $550 million Pacific infrastructure financing facility [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s162]. Barnaby Joyce challenged the government on migration levels and cultural integration.

During Question Time, Prime Minister Albanese welcomed Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale and announced negotiations on a new comprehensive treaty and the Pacific Policing Initiative [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s201]. Deputy Prime Minister Marles detailed the AUKUS submarine programme, citing over 1,000 high-skill jobs and a projected 10,000 workers at Osborne [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s206].

He also stated that the HMAS Penguin estate will be transferred to the Department of Finance and disposed of after community consultation [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s207]. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor pressed the government on migration, citing more than 1.4 million migrant arrivals and a fall in GDP per person in the March quarter. Treasurer Chalmers defended the productivity-related CGT changes, noting the economy grew 0.3 per cent in the March quarter and 2.5 per cent year-to-date.

Minister Plibersek announced the expansion of paid parental leave to six months [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s216]. Minister Rishworth reported a 4.75 per cent award wage increase and a 6 per cent increase for low-paid workers [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s214]. Minister Wells outlined the digital duty of care and eSafety enforcement, including removal of five million under-16 accounts.

Members' statements reflected the day's dominant themes. Alison Penfold described how negative-gearing changes reduced a 27-year-old home-buyer's borrowing capacity by $200,000. Ali France shared an opposing case: a 65-year-old single mother who secured a home purchase under the reforms.

Monique Ryan announced a private member's bill to shift HECS indexation to November, estimating $3.2 billion in savings over ten years. Garth Hamilton quoted the CSIRO GenCost report stating emissions reductions will raise 2050 electricity costs [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s103].

In adjournment speeches, Rebekha Sharkie criticised the CGT changes as burdening young Australians and called for delay until after the next election [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s081]. Shayne Neumann welcomed the Commonwealth's legal action against 3M over PFAS contamination at Defence sites, noting the claim seeks more than $2 billion [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s082].

Rob Mitchell outlined $770 million for Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide recommendations, including a new allied-health funding model and a single-legislation claims system from July 2026 [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s086].

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights tabled Scrutiny Report 6 of 2026, reviewing ten new bills and 161 legislative instruments. The report flagged concerns about the Defence Force Discipline Amendment Bill's impact on disability, privacy and freedom-of-expression rights, and about Customs Directions on approved firearms [TA-260603-house-804d9cb5f6e1:s065].

The Selection Committee set the order of precedence for private members' business on 22 June 2026, including bills to amend the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act and the Commonwealth Electoral Act on electoral advertising.