House of Representatives — 4 June 2026

Tax reform dominated the House of Representatives on 4 June 2026, consuming Question Time, the legislative program, a Matter of Public Importance debate and the vast majority of members' statements. The government advanced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 and the Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 through second reading, consideration in detail and third reading in a single sitting day — a pace enabled by Leader of the House Tony Burke's motion to suspend standing and sessional orders, limiting amendment debate to five minutes per mover and minister [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s018].

Treasurer Jim Chalmers described the package as the most ambitious tax reform in a quarter-century, arguing it cuts income tax for more than 13 million workers by up to $2,816 per year, eases first-home purchases and corrects an "arbitrary" 50 percent capital gains tax discount [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s023 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s140]. The Prime Minister told the House that Labor had delivered two income-tax cuts — a $250 offset and a $1,000 automatic deduction — and that the opposition voted against both [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s137 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s138].

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor attacked the bills as an omnibus vehicle that bundles popular tax cuts with "toxic" capital-gains and negative-gearing changes, and moved amendments to strip schedules 1 and 2 while retaining the income-tax relief in schedules 3 and 4 [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s022]. Coalition members across every segment branded the budget a package of broken promises, claiming the government pledged no new taxes more than fifty times before the election and is now imposing $77 billion in additional taxation over forward estimates.

National Party member Michael McCormack warned of 40,000 micro-businesses lost over four years and rising operating costs [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s004]. Liberal National member Andrew Willcox labelled the budget a "lead balloon" and argued that changes to negative gearing would cut housing supply by 35,000 homes.

The crossbench played an active amendment role. Independent deputy speaker Helen Haines called the tranche-1 legislation premature and noted it omits trust-income provisions [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s006]. Independent MP Zali Steggall moved to restrict Schedule 1 to real-property CGT assets, arguing the broader scope would penalise shares, ETFs and startups [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s024 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s025].

Independent MP Allegra Spender proposed a reduced flat CGT discount of 35–40 percent and, on the companion Income Tax Rates bill, tabled detailed tax-rate schedules that would phase in lower marginal rates from 2028–29 through 2031–32 in a budget-neutral framework [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s028 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s038]. Independent MP Monique Ryan moved to index the $2 million turnover and $6 million asset tests for small-business CGT concessions to the consumer-price index, noting the thresholds have not moved since 2007 [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s031].

The Greens, through Elizabeth Watson-Brown, announced support in the House while reserving a Senate position, flagging concerns about loopholes favouring existing property owners and expansive ministerial powers. The Treasury rejected the Wentworth and Kooyong amendment packages.

Beyond tax, Question Time traversed housing, energy security, digital safety, health and defence. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil outlined the "Homes for Australia" plan targeting 55,000 social and affordable homes, reported 250,000 Australians helped through the five-percent deposit scheme and confirmed the scheme is restricted to citizens and permanent residents [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s142 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s151].

The Assistant Treasurer told the House that abolishing negative gearing for established properties and adjusting capital-gains treatment is projected to shift 75,000 homes to owner-occupiers. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy reported fuel reserves totalling 6.2 billion litres — 48 days of petrol, 36 days of diesel and 30 days of jet fuel — and said Safeguard Mechanism reforms have avoided 5.8 million tonnes of emissions [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s148].

The Minister for Agriculture said more than one million tonnes of imported urea have been cleared and $7.5 billion allocated to a fuel-and-fertiliser security facility [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s146]. The Minister for Sport and Communications announced a digital duty of care with fines up to $49.5 million and new restrictions on AI chatbots targeting children [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s149].

The Prime Minister announced the 137th Medicare urgent-care clinic and said medicine prices are at their lowest since 2004 [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s158]. The Treasurer told the House that tax definitions under the reforms are set through standard legislative instruments that Parliament can disallow, responding to opposition concerns about "extraordinary powers" [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s145].

The Deputy Prime Minister linked water security to national defence, citing the 2023 Defence Strategic Review [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s153].

The Matter of Public Importance debate, triggered by the member for Gippsland, focused on the budget's impact on small businesses and farmers [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s069]. Labor speakers cited a permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off, $3.5 billion of business tax relief and $2 billion for local infrastructure. Opposition speakers warned that capital gains, negative gearing and a new inheritance tax threaten family farms and small-business viability.

Members' statements mirrored the day's central contest. Labor backbenchers promoted tax cuts, housing affordability measures and first-home buyer support. Coalition backbenchers promoted a "tax-back guarantee" and accused Labor of $80 billion in broken promises.

Greens MP Watson-Brown raised fuel tax credits to BHP and concerns about Palantir AI surveillance contracts. Liberal National MP Thompson criticised a $5,000 cap on allied health services for veterans.

The House passed the Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026, which strengthens penalties for illicit tobacco offences and expands the Proceeds of Crime regime. McCormack cited figures showing illicit nicotine products account for 80 percent of consumption in 2025, up from 12 percent in 2017, and projected a $11.9 billion excise revenue shortfall over five years [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s044 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s088].

The three appropriation bills — Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026–2027, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2026–2027 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2026–2027 — were each read a second and third time without debate [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s080 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s083 TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s084].

The House established a Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses and Organisations, tasked to examine cyber maturity, guidance adequacy, standards, procurement and supply-chain participation, with a final report due 31 March 2027 [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s001]. Opposition member Aaron Violi moved an amendment — accepted by the government — to make the deputy chair an opposition member [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s002].

Government members Abdo, Clutterham, Sitou and Templeman were appointed to the committee [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s087].

During the adjournment, Independent MP Kate Chaney outlined 18 AI-governance measures including increased funding for the AI Safety Institute, copyright-licensing reforms, truth-in-political-advertising laws and a tech tax. National Party MP Alison Penfold warned that WIN's acquisition of NBN threatens regional television news and called for a public-interest test on media mergers [TA-260604-house-97eb5e75391c:s093].

Liberal MP Tony Pasin defended the right to farm and opposed the removal of the Limestone Coast hydraulic-fracturing moratorium. The Speaker welcomed World Vision representatives briefing members on the Sudan crisis entering its third year.