Senate — 12 August 2026

The Senate's 12 August 2026 sitting was defined by three dominant threads: a sustained contest over housing affordability and the government's five-per-cent deposit scheme; a wide-ranging accountability push spanning the CDPP conflict-of-interest provisions, the Rushy Lagoon forestry project, and the Prime Minister's diplomatic remarks; and a cross-party valedictory for Senator Peter Whish-Wilson after 14 years of service.

A parliamentary delegation from Timor-Leste, led by President Maria Fernanda Lay, was welcomed to the chamber floor [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s080].

**Housing and the Five-Per-Cent Deposit Scheme**

Housing dominated the day across multiple segments. In Question Time, Senator Barbara Pocock of the Greens argued the five-per-cent deposit scheme had delivered only 1,432 homes halfway through its term and would meet just six percent of the 640,000 people in extreme housing stress [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s090]. Senator Ayres countered that the scheme has provided homes for more than 270,000 Australians and that over 660,000 new homes have been built under a $47 billion program since the government was elected [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s196].

Earlier, cross-bench and opposition senators jointly demanded full disclosure of Treasury modelling for the deposit scheme. Senator Bragg criticised the government for refusing to release the modelling parameters, while Senator McKenzie warned the scheme has driven higher loan-to-value ratios and riskier loans [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s003].

The Unlocking Supply of Family Homes Bill 2025, introduced by Senator Hume, proposes lowering the downsizer eligibility age from 55 to 50, extending the contribution window from 90 days to 12 months, and raising the maximum contribution from $300,000 to $500,000 per person [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s007]. Multiple Liberal and National senators framed the bill as a practical, intergenerational housing measure, with Senator McKenzie offering a $5 billion infrastructure package to unlock up to 400,000 new homes.

**Cost of Living and Economic Management**

Question Time saw sharp exchanges over economic management. Senator Colbeck criticised the government for real wages falling to 2011 levels and cited supermarket price increases of 36.5 percent for eggs and 29.7 percent for milk. Senator Hume questioned the Treasurer about the RBA's warning that weak productivity growth could force higher interest rates and criticised the government for presenting nominal wage growth that masks a real-wage decline [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s184].

The government responded with a suite of cost-of-living measures. Senator Gallagher detailed tax cuts, cheaper medicines, free TAFE, and wage increases, and announced that paid parental leave will rise to over $1,000 per week from 1 July. Senator Walsh announced a 15 percent pay rise for early-childhood educators, delivering an extra $255 per week, and introduced legislation to lock the increase in place [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s198].

The discretionary-trust tax was a flashpoint. Senator Collins criticised the Labor budget's trust tax as a "$4.5 billion burden on the economy and on faith-based charities" [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s085]. Senator Darmanin responded that the minimum tax on discretionary trusts, commencing 1 July 2028, aligns trust taxation with workers' rates and exempts charitable trusts.

**Government Integrity and Accountability**

The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026 generated the day's most pointed accountability exchange. Senator Cash repeatedly asked whether the Director of the CDPP had acted as counsel assisting the Special Investigator on war-crimes matters and was now in charge of prosecuting those war crimes [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s017]. Senator Green responded that she would take the matter on notice, clarified that the AFP investigates while the CDPP prosecutes, and said the legislation is not a response to a particular conflict of interest but part of broader criminal-law reforms.

Senator Shoebridge of the Greens sought confirmation that the amendments operate only prospectively and offered conditional support for related extradition reforms.

Senator Colbeck moved that issues relating to the Rushy Lagoon conversion — agricultural impact, biodiversity, water-table effects, grant compliance and carbon-credit considerations — be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, criticising government grants and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation's involvement as potentially improper [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s151].

**Gas Export Tax and the Prime Minister's Diplomatic Remarks**

The Greens used standing order 75 to declare a 25 percent tax on gas exports a matter of urgency, with Senator Hodgins-May stating that seven in ten Australians support the measure [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s107]. Senator Ghosh responded for the government that the 25 percent figure lacks empirical grounding. Senator Waters cited a calculation that the tax could generate $17 billion annually for health, housing and renewable-energy programmes.

A separate urgency motion called for the Prime Minister to apologise for offensive remarks about the Japanese Prime Minister. Senator Hanson denounced the Prime Minister as "the most unaccountable leader in Australian history" and condemned a sexist podcast remark [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s120]. Senator Liddle called for the Australian Federal Police to investigate the leak of sensitive diplomatic material.

Senator Cox dismissed the motion as a manufactured scandal.

**Indigenous Housing and Health**

Senator Thorpe warned that over $660 million of Commonwealth-funded Aboriginal housing in the Northern Territory remains undelivered. Senator McCarthy said the government is proceeding with a $4 billion remote housing project, split equally between the NT and the Commonwealth, but that the NT government wants to renegotiate the 10-year agreement for 2,700 homes, proposing to cut the target to between 1,800 and 1,100 homes [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s208].

Senator McAllister reported that the national bulk-billing rate rose to 84.1 percent in the June quarter and announced the launch of 1800MEDICARE, a free 24/7 health-advice service.

**Valedictory for Senator Whish-Wilson**

The Senate's most notable ceremonial event was the valedictory for Senator Peter Whish-Wilson of the Greens, who is leaving after 14 years. Tributes came from across party lines — Senator Waters, Senator Sterle, Senator Duniam and Senator Hanson-Young praised his environmental advocacy, Antarctic leadership and personal commitment [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s123].

Senator Colbeck recalled shared concerns about ocean health, while Senator Canavan highlighted his agricultural expertise and respectful engagement. Senator Whish-Wilson announced he will introduce a private member's bill to make producers of plastic packaging responsible for pollution.

**New Legislation**

The Senate also introduced the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Fair Super for Young Workers) Bill 2026, the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill 2026, the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, and the Therapeutic Goods Amendment bills. Senator Green said the NDIS bill aims to return the scheme to its original purpose, tighten eligibility and functional-capacity thresholds, and give the Agency stronger powers to combat fraud [TA-260812-senate-31781ec8c3ce:s148].