House of Representatives — 24 June 2026

The House of Representatives sitting on 24 June 2026 was dominated by economic contest, a major workplace relations bill that passed despite cross-bench resistance, two regulatory reform measures, a new private health transparency bill, and a sharp matter of public importance debate on AI data centres. Regional investment, defence exports and social policy rounded out a dense day.

**Question Time: inflation, housing and defence exports**

The sharpest exchange of Question Time ran on inflation and living standards. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor declared that Labor's spending fuels core inflation and warned that Australians face the worst living-standard collapse among developed nations [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s126]. Liberal MP Tim Wilson pressed the Prime Minister directly on why core inflation rose from 3% to 3.6% and why the Treasurer's promise that "inflation has turned the corner" appeared broken [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s128].

Treasurer Jim Chalmers countered that inflation had in fact fallen from 4.2% to 4.0%, and pointed to upcoming tax cuts and wage growth as cost-of-living relief. The government's numbers and the opposition's framing of the same data as evidence of failure ran in parallel through the session without resolution.

Housing affordability generated a second contest. Government Whip David Smith and Liberal MP Aaron Violi pressed for action on home ownership, highlighting what they described as contradictory statements from the Housing Minister and the Treasurer [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s129]. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil defended a tax-cut package for first-home buyers and accused the opposition of opposing measures that would benefit 13 million workers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his housing answer to stress that the government will deliver a tax cut for every Australian worker and a fairer housing market. A question from National MP Alison Penfold about the Prime Minister's personal property sale profit was ruled out of order by the Speaker.

Independent MP Sophie Scamps raised the question of financial assistance grants for local councils after councils warned of a funding crisis. Treasurer Chalmers responded by listing $2.9 billion in financial assistance grants, a $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund and an additional $1.7 billion for community projects [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s149].

Defence dominated the second half of Question Time. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles highlighted a surge in defence-industry jobs and record procurement spending. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced a $2.5 billion JORN radar export to Canada and a $1 billion Boxer vehicle deal with Germany, citing job creation in South Australia [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s159].

The government framed both deals as evidence of a defence-industry revival after what Marles described as a "wasted decade."

Prime Minister Albanese outlined a $4.4 billion investment in family-safety measures in response to a question on violence against women and children, including permanent leave, crisis accommodation and a forthcoming second National Plan [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s153]. Liberal MP Melissa McIntosh expressed bipartisan support for the agenda despite policy differences.

Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth outlined the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026, which she described as preferring enterprise agreements without imposing new Commonwealth obligations [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s162]. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek announced that from 1 July paid parental leave will increase to six months with higher weekly payments and superannuation contributions.

Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie asked about support for primary producers and tourism operators after an algal bloom and suspected H5N1 bird-flu cases in South Australia [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s138]. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins reported $113 million in biosecurity preparedness funding and confirmed ongoing H5N1 testing across states. The House rose early to attend the official opening of Anzac Hall and the atrium at the Australian War Memorial.

**Bills and Legislation: three contested, one uncontested**

The heaviest legislative contest of the day centred on the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026 [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s066 TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s067 TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s069]. The bill combines reforms to the Fair Work Commission — expanding its power to dismiss frivolous and AI-generated applications, streamlining dispute resolution and introducing a sector-specific high-income threshold for road-transport contractors — with procurement provisions allowing the Commonwealth to prefer businesses with union-covered enterprise agreements.

Opposition Manager Dan Tehan called the bill a vehicle for the CFMEU and warned of cost blowouts in federal procurement [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s005]. Coalition speakers uniformly supported the Fair Work Commission efficiency reforms but argued the procurement provisions should be separated, describing them as a "sneaky" move that would limit freedom of association, increase costs and favour union-linked firms, citing the Watson report and Queensland's former Best Practice Industry Conditions scheme [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s068 TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s070].

Independents Kate Chaney, Helen Haines and Allegra Spender supported the efficiency reforms but warned that part 9 would permit discriminatory procurement. Spender moved an amendment to omit the procurement provisions, arguing they would give the government power to favour businesses based on industrial instruments rather than value for money [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s073].

Minister Rishworth defended the provisions as supporting secure jobs under the Secure Australian Jobs Code, stating they impose no mandatory obligations [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s074]. The amendment failed. The House passed the bill at third reading despite the combined coalition-crossbench opposition to the procurement element.

The Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026 — proposing 21 measures amending 26 Acts, repealing two Acts and affecting 19 Commonwealth agencies — proceeded to the Federation Chamber for further consideration after the second-reading debate [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s002]. Tim Wilson confirmed the coalition will not oppose the bill in the House but reserved its Senate position, while raising concerns about transparency after Deputy Speaker Helen Haines highlighted that part 3 of schedule 2 would remove advertising-expenditure disclosure requirements [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s115].

National MP Michael McCormack cited figures showing the cost of federal regulation has risen from $65 billion in 2013 to $160 billion today. Labor members framed the bill as part of the Albanese government's productivity agenda flowing from the 2025 Economic Reform Roundtable.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill (No. 1) 2026 passed the House at third reading with bipartisan support [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s004]. Andrew Hastie confirmed coalition support, noting two key measures: removal of 497 nuisance tariffs from 1 July 2026 and extension of duty-free treatment for most Ukrainian goods to 3 July 2028.

Labor framed the bill as part of a broader trade modernisation agenda; McCormack backed the bill but called for a Senate inquiry.

The Health Legislation Amendment (Improving Choice and Transparency for Private Health Consumers) Bill 2026 debated without a division [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s082 TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s086]. It mandates the Medical Costs Finder to publish specialist fee and out-of-pocket cost data from Medicare, hospital and insurer records, and bans product phoenixing by requiring ministerial approval for new or changed insurance products.

Labor framed the bill as curbing health-inflation and predatory pricing. LNP MP Andrew Wallace supported the transparency goals but argued the bill is premature, citing concerns about data accuracy, error correction, ministerial immunity from civil liability and the breadth of the premium-approval provisions.

**Matter of Public Importance: AI data centres**

The House debated a matter of public importance on AI data centres, with a clear split between the government's voluntary framework and cross-bench calls for binding regulation [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s054]. Independent MP Zali Steggall led the debate, warning that rapid data-centre expansion is placing heavy pressure on energy, water and local communities and that voluntary expectations are insufficient.

Assistant Minister Andrew Charlton outlined the government's five expectations, including a "triple-lock" requiring renewable energy supply, full payment of network costs and demand-flexibility [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s055]. Independent Andrew Wilkie projected that data centres could consume more than 10% of Australia's electricity within a decade. Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown called for a moratorium on new data centres and a licensing levy to remunerate AI data creators.

Independent Nicolette Boele warned that investment profits flow offshore, citing Amazon and Microsoft projects. Labor MP Julie-Ann Campbell linked the debate to the National AI Plan's three goals — capture opportunities, share benefits, keep Australians safe — and the data-centre expectations released in March [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s063]. Independent Kate Chaney called for a binding framework, tax measures and AI-literacy programmes.

**Ministerial Statements: regional investment**

Ministerial statements focused on regional Australia. Labor MP Trish Cook announced a suite of regional investments including bulk-billing increases to 3,300 practices, 137 Medicare urgent-care clinics (47 regional), a $600 million regional health-workforce program, the $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund, $7.2 billion for the Bruce Highway and $4.4 billion in Roads to Recovery funding [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s122].

Liberal MP Tom Venning countered with a $191.6 million cut to pest and drought funding, a $52 million reduction to the Future Drought Fund, a $116 million cut to the Better Connectivity Plan, and the claim that only 2% of infrastructure spending reached regional projects [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s123]. Labor MP Luke Gosling outlined a $30 billion Northern Australia investment plan, including a ten-year extension of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility delivering $4.5 billion to 35 projects [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s125].

**Members' Statements and Adjournment**

Members' statements reflected the day's economic themes at the electorate level. Labor members highlighted the 5% first-home-buyer deposit scheme, small-business tax reforms including a permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off, a $3.6 billion commitment to a 15% pay rise for early-childhood educators, and the $6-per-hour increase to the national minimum wage.

Opposition members attacked the government's tax deal with the Greens on SMSF borrowing restrictions, broken promises on negative gearing and capital gains tax, the private-health-insurance rebate reduction for seniors and a cap on veterans' allied-health services. Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown called for a ban on gas lobbyists.

At adjournment, Independent Andrew Gee condemned the indefinite closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass as a government-caused disaster and demanded a JobKeeper-style support package [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s088]. Opposition Whip Ben Small warned that proposals to remove fuel tax credits would raise costs for farmers, freight and fishers [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s090].

Labor MP Lisa Chesters noted the House rose early to attend the Anzac Hall opening and praised the $750 million investment to expand Bushmaster vehicle production [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s089].

**Committees**

The Speaker presented Selection Committee Report No. 12, scheduling private members' business for 29 June 2026 across a broad range of topics including plastic-waste EPR, sex-discrimination amendments, nuclear-testing legacy and Medicare urgent-care clinics. The Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 41 (2025–26) on Treasury's readiness to implement the Scams Prevention Framework was also tabled [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s050].

The House approved a nomination to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security and a membership change on the Standing Committee on Primary Industries [TA-260624-house-08719795bef8:s080].