Senate — 13 August 2026

The Senate's 13 August 2026 sitting was dominated by three threads: a sustained opposition assault on the Prime Minister's integrity over broken promises and energy policy; a government showcase of industrial investment in critical minerals, aluminium and renewable energy; and detailed legislative scrutiny of surveillance-warrant extensions and prosecutorial conflict-of-interest safeguards in the Crimes Omnibus Bill.

**Government Integrity and Cost-of-Living**

Senator Dean Smith opened Question Time warning that the Prime Minister's integrity will be tested when the Productivity Commission releases its interim GST report for Western Australia [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s153]. Senator Hume, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, pressed the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong, on the Prime Minister's repeated denials of broken promises on power bills, superannuation, capital-gains tax and negative gearing, and his refusal to admit wrongdoing after sexist comments [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s171].

Senator Blyth criticised the Prime Minister for failing to deliver promised $275 power-bill savings and reversing capital-gains-tax positions. Labor senators defended the government's record, with Senator Dolega citing 150 Medicare urgent-care clinics, cheaper medicines savings, tax cuts and over 1.3 million jobs created.

The opposition attempted to fast-track the Treasury Laws Amendment (Removing the Widows and Spouses Tax) Bill 2026 through an urgent suspension of standing orders. Senator Cash, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, described the bill as one of the most urgent matters before the chamber [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s113]. The Greens and the government blocked the motion, with Senator McKim arguing the bill requires careful consideration and Senator Gallagher citing its late introduction and need for consultation.

**Energy, Climate and Environment**

Senator Whish-Wilson moved that the Senate take note of the Minister for the Environment and Water's answer on the Browse gas project, stressing that approval would rely on previous EPBC laws and would omit climate-change impacts. He asked whether more than 70,000 submissions opposing the project were received and challenged the Minister on what legacy he wants to leave.

Senator Watt affirmed that decisions will follow the EPBC Act and rejected claims of political influence. He outlined the government's carbon-emission reduction targets and listed policy measures including renewable-energy expansion, vehicle fuel-efficiency standards and the safeguard mechanism.

Senator Hanson pursued the Rushy Lagoon deal across Question Time and senators' statements, describing the sale to a UK-based investment vehicle with a $69 million CEFC equity investment and an $8.8 million tree-planting grant. She demanded clarification on whether CEFC chair Steven Skala recused himself from the Foreign Investment Review Board. Senator Ayres responded that the land is classified as Class 5–6 non-prime agricultural and will support both plantation forestry and agriculture.

Senator McDonald, the Deputy Leader of the Nationals, asked why Australian gas policy uncertainty is undermining Japan's confidence in Australia as a long-term LNG supplier [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s198]. Senator Wong described Japan as a trusted partner and said the gas reservation policy aims to ensure investment certainty, domestic supply for manufacturing and continued LNG exports.

**Industry Investment and Critical Minerals**

Senator Wong announced a $2.5 billion joint investment to keep the Tomago aluminium smelter operating, citing job protection and renewable-energy integration. Senator Ayres announced that Tomago has secured a deal guaranteeing operation through 2038–39, creating 1,000 direct and 5,500 indirect jobs. He cited Rio Tinto's assessment that coal-fired electricity drives high energy costs and argued that past Liberal energy policies caused unaffordable power for industry [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s217].

The Minister for Trade and Tourism announced a production tax credit for critical minerals processing projects commencing 1 July 2027 and the establishment of a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, which enabled a final investment decision for the Arafura Rare Earths project. He noted that opposition senators have opposed the Strategic Reserve, the National Reconstruction Fund and the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive.

Senator Farrell described a U.S.-backed investment of more than $500 million in the Sunrise Energy Metals scandium project near Dubbo.

**Women's Safety and Economic Security**

Senator Gallagher reported over 160 roundtables with more than 1,100 participants and nearly 2,000 online submissions on violence against women and children. She detailed budget investments to reform the child-support system — the largest reforms in 20 years — including measures to curb financial weaponisation of courts, noting $2 billion in unpaid child support [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s223].

She highlighted the gender pay gap falling to 11.3 percent, down from 14.1 percent when the government was elected.

**Crimes Omnibus Bill — Surveillance and Prosecutorial Safeguards**

The Senate's committee stage on the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026 centred on two contested areas. Senator Cash asked whether the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Raelene Sharp, has any conflict of interest in the prosecution of Ben Roberts-Smith, referencing her prior role as counsel assisting the Special Investigator into war crimes [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s009].

Assistant Minister Green replied that the director sees no conflict and the Attorney-General agrees. The Opposition pressed on why the amendment allows the Attorney-General to select the person exercising the director's powers; Green explained the selection ensures sufficient seniority without compromising independence.

Senator Shoebridge asked why the bill extends surveillance-warrant powers to September 2029. Green responded that the extension keeps powers in place until comprehensive electronic-surveillance reform is completed, citing the INSLM's recommendation that the powers must not sunset. Senator McKim criticised the bill's gross-weight method for drug quantity, arguing it would count cutting agents as drug weight and disproportionately penalise low-level offenders [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s118].

**New Bills and Committee Referrals**

Senator Pocock introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Removing the Widows and Spouses Tax) Bill, condemning the Labor government's "widow tax" and urging its repeal [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s098]. Senator Hanson-Young moved the Criminal Code Amendment (Equal Access to Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2026, arguing it would remove telehealth barriers for rural and remote Australians.

Senator McKenzie moved the Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026, stating it restores Commonwealth law to the position before the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Act 2026.

The Selection of Bills Committee's Report No. 9 was amended to refer several bills to specialist committees, including the Counter-Terrorism Bill to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee and the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers Bill to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s087].

**Defence and AUKUS**

The government accepted committee recommendations on defence capability, committing to a $70 billion increase in defence spending over the next decade, consolidation of acquisition groups into a Defence Delivery Group from July 2026, and establishment of a Defence Delivery Agency in July 2027. It also accepted recommendations on space domain transparency, Northern Bases workforce support and AUKUS industrial ties.

**Senators' Statements and Adjournment**

Senators' statements ranged from Senator McDonald's criticism of delayed flood-repair funding for Cloncurry Airport to Senator Sheldon's exposure of poor conditions for seafarers on Carnival ships. Senator Shoebridge praised the release of whistle-blower David McBride. Senator Bell accused the government of spending $80 million to sell Tasmania's Rushy Lagoon farm to a foreign investor for pine-tree plantations.

In the adjournment debate, Senator Steele-John warned that the housing market has been treated as a vehicle for wealth accumulation, citing Shelter WA data that over 10,000 homes in Western Australia are listed as short stays [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s170]. Senator Sharma raised concerns about professional trustee Diversa's alleged failures in the First Guardian collapse and a proposed $239 million government bailout.

Senator Kovacic moved motions requiring ministers to table documents on the Rushy Lagoon plantation, Japanese correspondence about the Prime Minister's interview, and Health Department records on COVID-19 vaccination and adverse pregnancy outcomes [TA-260813-senate-892c0053fb3b:s112].