Sharon Claydon
Newcastle · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“That was not an easy decision back then. We know what happened. We know the litigious nature of big tobacco and big tech, and that's why this is so damn critical right now. That is why every parent in Australia is asking: 'How can this be happening?”
“They knew that this was going to be a challenging moment for the Australian parliament. They knew it full well. They knew the arguments they were having every day at their kitchen tables and in their lounge rooms about kids spending so much time doomscrolling. But they also knew it wasn't the fault of their kids.”
“Colleagues fondly remember Julia's vibrant personality, her loyalty and the lasting impression she left on those fortunate enough to work alongside her. On behalf of members and staff who were privileged to work alongside Julia, I want to put on record our sincere gratitude for her remarkable service spanning more than three decades.”
“I rise today to honour the life and service of Julia Morris and to extend my deepest condolences to her daughter, Mollie; her parents, Allan and Anne; her brother, James; and all of her friends, family and colleagues. Julia passed away last month after a five-year battle with breast cancer.”
“That's the very legislation that we need to hold big tech to account—to make sure that kids are not left fending for themselves against these giants that have never, ever displayed an intention to change their business model and to do the right thing, which has constantly been asked of them.”
“These are parents that lost their kids. These were kids who were victims of addictive design features in social media that led to self-harm, extreme levels of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body image harm, cyberbullying, misogyny, radicalisation and mis- and disinformation.”
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“Colleagues fondly remember Julia's vibrant personality, her loyalty and the lasting impression she left on those fortunate enough to work alongside her. On behalf of members and staff who were privileged to work alongside Julia, I want to put on record our sincere gratitude for her remarkable service spanning more than three decades. Julia will be greatly missed by her friends and colleagues here in this parliament but also by those in Newcastle who loved her dearly. Vale, Julia Morris. May she rest in peace. I just acknowledge that Julia had a very private farewell here in Canberra, but her friends are gathering in Newcastle Friday week, on 10 July, to really come together to help celebrate her early life that was well lived in Newcastle and to surround her family there in Newcastle with all the love and support we can provide.”
“Many members in this place will have known Julia through her work with our committees. Others may have sought her advice as a clerk at the table when in the chamber. Across each of these roles, Julia worked diligently to ensure the proper functioning of our democracy, serving the nation with integrity, accuracy and respect. Julia applied these same skills and expertise to her work strengthening parliamentary institutions in the Pacific, and I know that was work that she deeply loved, especially through her work with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. Importantly, Julia's contribution to the Australian parliament is measured not just in years but in also in the care, energy and generosity that she brought to the workplace.”
“I rise today to honour the life and service of Julia Morris and to extend my deepest condolences to her daughter, Mollie; her parents, Allan and Anne; her brother, James; and all of her friends, family and colleagues. Julia passed away last month after a five-year battle with breast cancer. She faced that battle with great courage, and in her final days she was surrounded by the people who loved her most. Julia was raised in Newcastle by a family renowned for their commitment to service. It was no surprise that Julia would ultimately find her way to Canberra to pursue a career in the Parliamentary Service. For more than 30 years, Julia dedicated herself to serving others and, in particular, the Australian parliament through her work with the Department of the House of Representatives, the Senate and Hansard.”
“I'm going to quote the eSafety Commissioner herself, because this office was stood up by the former coalition government. We backed you every step of the way. She says, 'Any delay in proposed enhancements to eSafety’s powers will also delay enforcement of the social media minimum age, and the improved safety protections for Australian children it is designed to provide.' That is what the delay is putting at risk. I honestly cannot believe that you did this backflip in a matter of hours, between this place and that place. I don't know what on earth happened in that time, but you've got to change your mind. You have to come back and offer that bipartisan support to put children first again. (Time expired)”
“There was a decision to support those extended powers that the eSafety Commissioner asked us for. She has made very, very clear she needs this to ensure that enforcement actions are taken, including the doubling of those fines. These companies do not want to see these laws enacted. We have to be up for this fight, colleagues. We have to be up for this. Australian kids are relying on us to deliver this. Australian families are relying on us to deliver this. We have a request to strengthen the enforcement framework that underpins that social media minimum age ban, and we cannot deny it. Yet that is exactly what happened in the other place just hours later. What the hell happened there? That's what parents are asking today. What the hell happened there?”
“These are parents that lost their kids. These were kids who were victims of addictive design features in social media that led to self-harm, extreme levels of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body image harm, cyberbullying, misogyny, radicalisation and mis- and disinformation. None of these are things that you want your children ever to have to live with. We heard from those families. I see the member for Fisher sitting in the room. He's the only member of the coalition—sorry, I am to be corrected there. But I am pleased to see his presence in this chamber because he sat on that committee. He heard that evidence firsthand, and I can only imagine what he feels right now, because we know how important it was. Member for Flinders, also, you know what's at stake.”
“That was not an easy decision back then. We know what happened. We know the litigious nature of big tobacco and big tech, and that's why this is so damn critical right now. That is why every parent in Australia is asking: 'How can this be happening? How is it that the coalition stood here in the morning and backed this in, knowing full well we needed to give the eSafety Commissioner additional powers so she could enforce the will of the Australian parliament and the will of the Australian people, before backflipping in the Senate?' She needed that, and she is on record saying exactly why that was required. So it's no surprise to anybody in this parliament. The parents need us to stand up. They haven't gone away. The pain and trauma that we asked people to go through again when they gave evidence to our committees—we asked them to open up.”
“They knew that this was going to be a challenging moment for the Australian parliament. They knew it full well. They knew the arguments they were having every day at their kitchen tables and in their lounge rooms about kids spending so much time doomscrolling. But they also knew it wasn't the fault of their kids. They knew straight up that there were algorithms designed to do harm, that there was a business model that in fact ensured the continuity of harmful practices online. I'm not going to go into all that detail, but those submissions were made. Parliamentarians heard the evidence loud and clear, and we were begged to act. And this parliament rose to that occasion. The ban on under-16s having social media accounts was world leading—just in the same way that the Australian parliament led the world on the banning tobacco advertising.”
“There was never going to be an easy pathway, but we're not here to make easy decisions. We're not here to do the simple work. I chaired a committee two years ago in this place, the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society. It was when this parliament first started taking a serious look at the impacts that social media was having on our communities. We took a lot of time to undertake the inquiry. We had people from across all parties, from across both houses, who heard the stories from parents about what they felt were unrelenting attacks on their children. These kids were way too young to be making calls about what was appropriate material online. These families begged us to ensure that we put our differences aside, as I said upfront.”
“That's the very legislation that we need to hold big tech to account—to make sure that kids are not left fending for themselves against these giants that have never, ever displayed an intention to change their business model and to do the right thing, which has constantly been asked of them. I don't think the Prime Minister or our minister could have made the serious nature of this any clearer. Since day one, the message to the big tech guys has been very clear: if you want to conduct business in Australia, if you want to have a social platform in Australia, it comes with social responsibility. They have shown every resistance every step of the way, and that does not surprise anyone on this side of the House. I don't think it surprises anyone in this parliament. We knew the fight we were up against.”
“It's that the Australian parliament—at least until yesterday, and I'll come to that—had the courage to stand as a collective, in a multipartisan way, to ensure that we stood up to the one challenge that was asked of us by more than 120,000 families across Australia who pleaded with the parliament to show leadership, put our differences aside and put children first. That was a simple ask of this parliament. It should not be beyond us to put children first. This parliament had, until yesterday, done the right thing, and that's why I stand with such utter dismay at the results of yesterday. The coalition decided to, in the other place, block and delay urgent legislation that, only hours before, they had supported and passed through this House.”
“Speaker, it will be of no surprise to you why I would regard this as a matter of public importance and great urgency to be brought before the House today. Indeed, the work that you pursue internationally and that this parliament has led around the world—we now see 20 countries following the efforts of the Australian government to ensure the safety of children everywhere—is something to be commended and something the Australian parliament should be incredibly proud of. It's not just that 20 countries are looking at us in order to implement similar laws.”
“That's just some of the amazing talent that is in Newcastle City, from our very best in the tourism sector through to the very best of our small medium-sized businesses and to the most extraordinary emerging talent of athletes. Each year, like many members in this House, I get to host a local sporting championship event, and I had the honour of meeting Phoenix and many of the water polo champions from Newcastle. It's a sport with a very strong following in Newcastle. There are a lot of very dedicated families who have been growing that sport over generations. You meet the champions today, and their parents were champions of yesterday. That's just some of the amazing talent that we get to call part of our Novocastrian spirit.”
“In August, Phoenix Irvine will represent Australia at the Under 16 Men's Water Polo Championships in Croatia, an incredible achievement that reflects years of hard work, discipline and dedication to his sport. To earn selection in an Australian representative team is no small feat. It requires countless early mornings, late night training sessions, sacrifices by families and coaches, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Phoenix has already demonstrated that he has the talent to compete with the very best young athletes in the world. As he prepares to pull on the green and gold, he will carry not only Australia's hopes but the pride of Newcastle with him. On behalf of the people of Newcastle, I congratulate Phoenix on this well-deserved achievement and wish him every success in Croatia.”
“Running a successful business is never easy. It takes vision, resilience and the ability to adapt while continuing to put customers and employees first. Recognition through the Hunter Region Business Awards reflects not only commercial success but the contribution businesses make to strengthening our local economy and creating employment opportunities. Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of Newcastle. They support local families, sponsor sporting clubs, invest in our communities and help make our city such a vibrant place to live and work. To the entire team at Acrobat Removals, congratulations on your well-earned recognition. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognise one of Newcastle's outstanding young sporting talents.”
“Through innovation, dedication and exceptional service, they are creating jobs, strengthening local businesses and ensuring visitors leave our cities with memories worth sharing. The passion and professionalism demonstrated by this year's winners shows why Newcastle continues to grow from strength to strength as a destination. Finally, I extend my sincere congratulations not only to the winners but to every nominee and all the finalists. Simply being recognised among such an outstanding field is an achievement in itself. I'd also like to acknowledge one of Newcastle's outstanding local businesses, Acrobat Removals, based in Sandgate. Recently recognised at the Hunter Region Business Awards, Acrobat Removals has demonstrated what local businesses can achieve through hard work, innovation and an unwavering commitment to customer service.”
“Congratulations to: EDL Consulting, named Industry Support Partner of the Year; Quest Newcastle, Inclusive Tourism and Hospitality Operator of the Year; Newy Food Adventures, Best New Visitor Economy Business; MOA and co., Excellence in Sustainability; Newy Tour Co., Best Tourism Experience; Bistro Penny, awarded Culinary Excellence; Quest Newcastle West, Outstanding Accommodation Provider; Emily Box from Young Street Hotel, Rising Star; Stewart Ford from the Newcastle Cruise Ship Volunteers, Customer Service Champion; Quest Newcastle and Quest Newcastle West, Employer of the Year; and Linc Horton from Newcastle Airport, Industry Leader of the Year. These winners represent the very best of Newcastle's visitor economy.”
“I rise today to congratulate the outstanding winners of the 2026 Newcastle Hospitality and Tourism Awards. These awards recognise the businesses and individuals who go above and beyond to showcase the very best of our city. Every visitor welcomed, every memorable meal served, every exceptional experience created and every event delivered contributes to Newcastle's growing reputation as one of Australia's premier visitor destinations.”
“What makes this situation even more extraordinary is that WIN is actually claiming that these changes will somehow deliver more local content. Novocastrians can see through that nonsense. You certainly don't increase local content by abolishing local weekend news. Yet, last night, that's exactly what happened in Newcastle when the weekend bulletin team signed off for the last time. You do not increase local content by slashing weeknight news to just 30 minutes, and you certainly do not strengthen local journalism by cutting the very people who produce it. These decisions are not about serving local communities; they are about cutting costs. Regional and local news matters. Novocastrians deserve better than this, and WIN should be ashamed and reverse these callous cuts to local jobs and local content.”
“I rise to speak about the devastating cuts being inflicted on our local NBN News following its takeover by WIN Television. For generations, NBN News has been much more than a television bulletin; it has been a trusted institution in Newcastle and across the Hunter. When disaster struck during the 1989 earthquake, when the Pasha Bulker ran aground off our coast and throughout the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, NBN News was there, helping keep our community informed. Now, that legacy is under threat. In recent days, I've spoken directly with journalists and camera operators whose jobs are on the line. These are dedicated local professionals who have spent years telling stories of our region. They are fearful, anxious and deeply concerned about what comes next.”
“We cannot allow criminal syndicates to profit at the expense of community safety, public health and legitimate enterprise, and we cannot allow the normalisation of illicit tobacco to continue unchecked. The rise of illicit tobacco presents serious challenges, but this legislation represents a serious and considered response. It strengthens enforcement, it targets organised crime, it protects legitimate businesses and it helps restore confidence in the integrity of our regulatory system.”
“It also recognises that enforcement must keep pace with evolving tactics of organised crime. These criminal networks are adaptive. They exploit weaknesses wherever they find them, and they operate with little regard for the impact of their activities on our local communities. This bill ensures that our enforcement agencies have the tools they need to respond appropriately to those threats, because the alternative—doing nothing—comes at a very high cost. Doing nothing allows organised crime to continue building a multibillion dollar revenue stream. Doing nothing allows illegal products to remain more visible and more accessible in our communities. Doing nothing places pressure on honest small business already doing it tough, and it means undermining decades of critical progress in public health policy. This is not an option for Australia.”
“It's about maintaining strong public health protections while ensuring that legitimate businesses who follow the rules are not unfairly penalised or undercut. It's about ensuring our regulatory system works for those who do the right thing. And it's about making clear that compliance should never become a competitive disadvantage in Australia. I also want to acknowledge that this bill takes a measured and practical approach. It recognises that combating illicit tobacco requires cooperation across all jurisdictions and agencies. No single agency can tackle this problem alone, and that is why stronger coordination between federal, state and territory authorities is so critical. This legislation builds those partnerships and strengthens information sharing so that enforcement efforts are smarter, faster and more effective.”
“Honest retailers should not feel abandoned while criminal syndicates exploit loopholes and profit from noncompliance. They should know that the government is serious about maintaining a fair marketplace, and that is exactly what this legislation helps achieve. It strengthens the integrity of the regulatory framework while ensuring that enforcement efforts are directed where they belong—at organised criminal activity and illegal profiteering. Importantly, it also helps preserve the credibility of Australia's broader tobacco control measures, because, if people see illegal products openly available in communities without consequence, confidence in the system begins to erode. That benefits nobody except organised crime. This legislation is about balance.”
“Those measures have worked. Smoking rates have fallen dramatically over time, and countless lives have been saved as a result. But regulation only works effectively when it is enforced consistently and fairly. When illegal operators can evade the rules entirely, it creates an uneven playing field. It undermines confidence in the system, and it unfairly disadvantages legitimate businesses that are meeting their obligations. That is why this legislation matters, not only from a law enforcement perspective but also from a regulatory integrity perspective. This bill helps reinforce the principle that, if businesses are expected to comply with Australia's tobacco laws, then governments must ensure those laws are enforced properly and consistently.”
“They employ local people, they support local sporting clubs and community groups, and they deserve a regulatory system that backs them in, not one that allows criminal enterprises to flourish around them. This bill recognises that reality. It sends a message to honest businesses that they should not be punished for playing by the rules, and it acknowledges that effective regulation must work not only to deter illegal activity but also to support those who are complying with the law every single day. That broader point about regulation is an important one. Australia's tobacco control framework has been built carefully over decades with one overriding goal: protecting public health. Successive governments of all persuasions have introduced measures designed to reduce smoking rates and discourage uptake, particularly among young Australians.”
“And, like many regional communities, we rely on these businesses to operate on a level playing field. When illegal tobacco operators move into local shopping strips it is the honest retailers who suffer. Local newsagents, tobacconists and convenience stores who comply with the law, who pay their taxes, who check identification and who follow Australia's strict tobacco regulations simply cannot compete against criminal operators selling unregulated product at cut-rate prices. This is not fair and it is not sustainable. I've heard directly from business owners in Newcastle who feel frustrated that they are doing the right thing while others appear to operate with little regard for the law. Many of these businesses are family run operations.”
“This has been a big issue raised by some hardcore smokers in my community and elsewhere who are trying to do the right thing—buy legal tobacco—but now feel that the market is so unregulated that they have absolutely no idea of what they're purchasing and whether or not it's genuine or legal. They bypass the safeguards that are designed to reduce smoking uptake and encourage people to quit. When we can't keep track of smoking rates, it harms our ability to formulate relevant health policy. This bill helps protect the integrity of our public health system by ensuring that tobacco control measures are not undercut by a parallel illegal market. For communities like mine, in Newcastle, the impact is very real. Newcastle is proud of its strong sense of community and hardworking small businesses.”
“Through measures like plain packaging, strong public education campaigns and excise increases we have, as well as introducing important health initiatives, significantly reduced smoking rates over time. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, daily smoking rates among Australians aged 14 plus has fallen by two thirds since 1991 because of these measures. These efforts have saved lives. It's that plain and simple. But illicit tobacco threatens to undermine that progress. Illegal products are often significantly cheaper, making them more accessible, particularly to younger people and vulnerable populations. They are unregulated, which means customers have no assurance about what they contain.”
“These are not victimless crimes. They harm communities, they hurt the honest retailers who are doing the right thing, they put workers at risk and they undermine public safety. That is why this bill is so important. By cracking down on illicit tobacco we are not just addressing one issue; we are striking at the financial background of organised crime. We are making it harder for those groups to profit and, in doing so, limiting their capacity to engage in other harmful and illegal activities. This bill sends a clear and unambiguous message: Australia will not tolerate criminal profiteering at the expense of communities, and we will take strong action to protect public safety. From a health perspective, the importance of this legislation cannot be overstated. Australia has been a global leader in tobacco control.”
“The illicit tobacco market in Australia was valued at between $4.1 billion and $6.9 billion in 2024-25. This is an enormous shadow economy operating completely outside of the law. Organised crime groups are earning between $4 billion and $7 billion in profits from this trade—profits that are not sitting idle but are being funnelled into other criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking, scams and money laundering. This is not a contained issue. It's part of a broader web of criminal activity that affects communities right across the country, and we are seeing the consequences. This trade fuels violence. It creates risk not only for those who are directly involved but also for innocent members of the public—people who live, work and run businesses in the same communities where these criminal networks operate.”
“And it improves coordination between federal, state and territory police authorities so that we are not leaving gaps for criminals to exploit. Importantly, the bill also increases penalties for repeat offenders and targets those who profit most from this trade: organised crime syndicates that treat illegal tobacco as a low-risk, high-reward enterprise. For too long, illicit tobacco has been seen by some as a minor offence, but the reality is far more serious. Illicit tobacco is no longer just a health or revenue problem; it's a serious organised crime crisis. It has become a major source of funding for criminal networks, with profits from this trade often used to bankroll other serious harms and illegal activities. Recent estimates from the Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner highlight the scale of the problem.”
“It undercuts honest small business, and it fuels criminal networks that operate outside the law. It erodes the integrity of our tax system, and it makes it harder to deliver the essential services Australians rely on. This bill is about restoring fairness, protecting public health and ensuring that our communities, like mine in Newcastle, are not left to deal with the consequences of illegal activity. At its core, the Combating Illicit Tobacco Bill strengthens Australia's ability to disrupt and dismantle the illicit tobacco trade. It delivers tougher penalties for those who import, manufacture or sell illegal tobacco products. It enhances enforcement powers for our agencies, enabling them to better detect and seize illicit goods at the border and within the domestic market.”
“I rise today in support of the original, unamended Combating Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026. In recent months, my office has heard from a growing number of people across Newcastle who are deeply concerned about the rise of illicit tobacco in our community. These are not abstract concerns. They're coming from local shop owners who are doing the right thing and struggling to compete with illegal operators. They're coming from families worried about the normalisation of cheap, unregulated cigarettes and they're coming from residents concerned about the organised crime that, too often, sits behind this black market. To those people who have taken the time to write or to call about this issue: I hear you, and this bill responds directly to your concerns. Illicit tobacco is not a victimless issue. It undermines public health.”
“We're there to make life fairer, to back working people, and to make sure aspiration and opportunity belong to every Australian, not just those who already have wealth behind them. This bill cuts taxes for workers. It simplifies tax time. It helps first home buyers. It makes our tax system fairer. And it takes an important step towards restoring the Australian dream of homeownership and providing a fair go. I commend the bill, unamended, to the House.”
“One constituent put it well when they wrote to me after the budget: Some months ago, there was widespread appreciation of the need to address generational inequity. That conviction is still there, I'm sure. If not now, when can you make a start on reform? 'If not now, when?' Well, I agree, and this government is totally in agreeance with you, and we say: the time to act is now. We act in a serious, responsible and practical way to address these gross inequities. I know there are many folk wishing to speak to this bill tonight—and I can understand why, because this bill is part of a much bigger budget story that is great news in terms of tackling some of those very, very stubborn issues in Australia where reform is desperately required. It's what Labor governments are elected to do.”
“He said this budget is the first he has seen that seriously offers him a chance to ever own his own home. And that is what this reform is about; it's about people who are doing the right thing and simply want a fair chance. Another constituent wrote to me to say they never thought they would see a government finally address the impact of negative gearing on access to homeownership for younger generations and for older Australians who had not yet purchased a property. They wrote: I am so excited and proud to be Australian. Yes, reform is hard. Yes, there will be scare campaigns. Yes, there will be people who defend the current system because the current system works very well for them. But leadership is not about protecting every part of the status quo. Leadership is about seeing what is wrong and having the courage to fix it.”
“But, at the same time, our tax system should not give a better deal to wealth from assets than it gives to income earned from work. This is about getting the balance right. It's about recognising that income earned through work matters. It's about ensuring that our tax system does not continue to reward settings that are locking too many Australians out of homeownership. While some commentators have criticised this reform, I know that it is not the view of everyone in my community. I know that because constituents are reaching out to me directly to tell me what these changes could mean for them. One constituent wrote to me just this weekend. He said he is 34, lives in Hamilton, has a great job and has significant savings, but property investors continue to outbid him at auctions.”
“They should not simply encourage investors to compete with first home buyers for the same established homes that already exist. Existing investors are protected. Properties already held before budget night are not affected in the same way. Going forward, the system will be better targeted. That is fair. It is fair to existing investors who made decisions under the current rules. It's fair to the first home buyers who deserve a better chance. This bill also reforms the capital gains tax. It replaces the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount with a system that indexes the cost base for inflation, so tax applies to real gains and not inflation. And that's an important principle. People should not be taxed on inflation.”
“That is the reality that too many Australians are facing, and for too long those housing settings have favoured investors purchasing existing homes over first home buyers trying desperately to enter the market. For too long, governments have looked at the problem and decided reform was too hard. Not this government. The reality is, too many Australians are doing everything right and still find homeownership completely out of their reach. This bill starts to address that. It reforms negative gearing so that, from 1 July 2027, negative gearing for new residential property investment is focused on new builds. If tax concessions are going to support property investment, they should help add to the housing supply in this nation. They should help build more homes.”
“For generations, Australians believed that that dream was achievable, and today too many people feel it is slipping away. Young people should not be told that the only way to get into the housing market is to have wealthy parents. People in their 30s and 40s should not feel like they have failed because the market has moved faster than wages ever could. First home buyers should not be turning up to auction after auction—those terrible stories you hear all the time—only to be outbid by investors who have a sneaky little silent partner with them at those auctions called every single Australian taxpayer. They have tax advantages that those first home buyers do not have.”
“I think most Australian people will think that is a genuinely good reform measure. It doesn't stop people from claiming other tax deductions, of course, like donations to charitable organisations, union fees, professional association fees, income protection insurance or superannuation contributions. It's a practical reform that makes tax time simpler for working Australians, and that's a good thing. Then there's housing. This is the part of the bill that many people in my community care deeply about, because housing is not an abstract policy debate. It's about security. It's about stability. For many women, it's about safety. It's about whether Australians believe that if they work hard, and save hard, they can buy a home of their own.”
“At the moment, many workers have to keep receipts for their uniforms, for equipment they buy, for countless small work-related expenses. It's a real headache for a lot of workers. They don't bother claiming for things that they are perfectly entitled to claim for, either because they haven't kept the receipt or because they don't want to spend their time trying to work all that out at tax time. We know that, and this bill makes that a whole lot simpler. From the 2026-27 financial year, eligible workers will be able to claim an instant deduction of up to $1,000 for work related expenses without having to go through the receipt-by-receipt process. As I said, it doesn't mean that people who have more than $1,000 in expenses lose out. They can still claim more than $1,000 if they have the records to support it.”
“It is for Australians who earn their income through work, whether they are nurses, teachers, firies, retail workers, the aged-care workers or small-business owners. That is on top of the tax cuts Labor has already delivered. Taken together, our tax cuts mean the average working Australian will receive around $2,800 back in their pocket. Trust me—the Australian people are going to welcome that. This bill also introduces a $1,000 instant tax deduction for workers—no receipts required. It's a recognition of genuine work expenses that many people put their hands in their own pockets to fill right now. If you need more than $1,000 you are going to need to provide receipts and proof, but we recognise that this $1,000 instant tax deduction for workers will be a great relief and free up a lot of resources within the ATO.”
“And it's about making our tax system fairer so that work income is treated the same as asset income and the Australian dream of homeownership is not just being pushed further and further out to reach. The first thing this bill does is cut taxes for workers and introduce a new working Australians tax offset of up to $250 a year. Unlike a tax deduction, which lowers your taxable income, an offset directly reduces the amount of tax you owe. If you're eligible, you will receive the full $250 value to either reduce your tax bill or increase your tax refund. It applies to Australians who earn income through their jobs or as sole traders. According to Treasury, about 97 per cent of working Australians will receive the full $250 tax offset, and that means more money back for people who earn wages, salaries and income from their work.”
“These are all significant reforms undertaken by Labor governments, who are always prepared to stand up and do the heavy lifting, when those opposite want to go, 'Stop; the status quo is good enough,' we say, 'There's always room for improvement.' When the people in Australia hear the words 'tax reform', it's probably fair to say that they're not generally thinking about the intricacies of legislation or technical settings here. They want something much simpler. They ask themselves: 'Will this make life fairer? Will this help people who work hard? Will it give Australians a better chance to get ahead?' And that's what this bill is all about. It's about tax cuts for working Australians, it's about making tax time simpler, and it's about helping more people buy their first home.”
“I rise to speak in very strong support for the original bill that is before this House, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill of 2026. Whilst not surprised, I'm really disappointed to learn that the opposition members will oppose these measures. But, then again, there's probably not a single, solid reform piece of work that's required a lot of heavy lifting in this country that the opposition hasn't opposed, whether it was Medicare, superannuation, establishing free TAFE in more recent years, a national Maritime Strategic Fleet or minimum wage increases.”
“( Notice given 2 June 2026. ) Time allotted remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm. Speech time limits Ms Bell 5 minutes Other Members 5 minutes [Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 3 x 5 mins] The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day. THE HON D. M. DICK MP Speaker of the House of Representatives 3 June 2026”
“[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins] The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day. Notices—continued 9 MS BELL: To move—That this House: (1) notes the passing of former Member for Higgins, Dr Katrina "Katie" Allen, at the age of 59; (2) acknowledges: (a) Dr Allen's distinguished service to the Australian community as a paediatrician, medical researcher, professor, advocate and parliamentarian; (b) her contribution to the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2022, where she served the people of Higgins with integrity, compassion and dedication; (c) the respect she earned across the political spectrum for her decency, intellect, courage and willingness to advocate for her convictions; and (d) her leadership in medical research, particularly in the fields of paediatric allergy and gastroenterology, and her lifelong commitment to improving the health and well being of Australian children and families; and (3) expresses: (a) its gratitude for her contribution to public life and to the advancement of women in leadership, medicine and politics; and (b) its sincere condolences to her husband Malcolm, their children Monty, Jemima, Arabella and Archie, her granddaughter, her extended family, friends, former colleagues and all those whose lives she touched.”
“Orders of the day—continued 2 HOUSING INVESTMENT: Resumption of debate ( from 25 May 2026 ) on the motion of Mr Georganas—That this House notes that: (1) the Government is delivering a further $2 billion of investment in infrastructure to enable new housing, and that this brings the Government's total investments in housing-enabling infrastructure to $6.3 billion; (2) this total investment is more than 50 times what the Opposition invested in housing-enabling infrastructure after over almost a decade in office; (3) this new funding lifts the Government's housing investment to $47 billion; and (4) the Government is delivering 55,000 social and affordable homes, nearly 150 times what the Opposition built during its time in Government. Time allotted 30 minutes. Speech time limits All Members 5 minutes each.”