Daniel Mulino
Fraser · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Second, the amendments introduce a mechanism for merger parties to seek extensions from the ACCC for the period in which they can put an approved acquisition into effect. The extensions can be up to six months each. Multiple extensions may be granted.”
“The reforms complement a broader suite of government reforms to strengthen integrity and accountability across the tax system and professional services sector.”
“The bill also establishes criminal and civil penalties and provides information gathering and enforcement powers to regulators to support compliance. Together, these powers create a coherent framework to support the continued availability and long-term viability of cash as a means of payment in Australia.”
“These amendments also reflect the government's commitment to listening and responding to stakeholder experiences to ensure the merger regime continues to promote competition and economic activity in the interests of Australians.”
“The second enables the ACCC to oversee designated entities, including fair and efficient pricing of cash distribution services, which is essential to maintaining access to cash. ACCC oversight will support fair, transparent and reasonable pricing outcomes, while helping maintain the long-term economic viability of the sector.”
“It also enables up to $400 million in funding support to ensure the continuity of critical cash distribution services. Funding support is intended as a last resort, limited to situations where an entity's resources and recovery tools are insufficient to address losses or threats to cash availability.”
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“Schedule 8 to the bill makes minor and technical amendments to the tax law to give effect to the Australian Taxation Office's current administrative treatment to ensure tax credits arising from amounts withheld from the disposal of Australian real property can be claimed in an assessment for the same income year that the disposal is recognised for tax purposes. Finally, the Legislative and Governance Forum on Corporations was notified in relation to the amendments in schedule 4 to the bill as required under the Corporations Agreement 2002. Full details of the measures are contained in the explanatory memorandum. Debate adjourned.”
“To future-proof these amendments, the measure also introduces powers for the minister to specify any new agreements to be the NCP agreement and new arrangements to be the competitive neutrality arrangements. Schedule 6 to the bill amends the tax law to specifically list the Ross House Trust, Tanarra Social Purpose Ltd and the I4give Foundation Ltd as deductible gift recipients and extends the existing listing of the Australian Academy of Law and Cambridge Australia Scholarships Ltd. Schedule 7 to the bill amends the tax law to change the name of the philanthropic funds known as ancillary funds to giving funds. This better reflects the purpose of these funds and implements a recommendation of the Productivity Commission's philanthropy inquiry.”
“These amendments also reflect the government's commitment to listening and responding to stakeholder experiences to ensure the merger regime continues to promote competition and economic activity in the interests of Australians. Schedule 5 to the bill amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Productivity Commission Act 1998 to give legal force to the current national competition principles and regulatory structures, which were agreed by the Commonwealth and all states and territories in November 2024. The measure substitutes references to the Conduct Code Agreement and Competition Principles Agreement, from 1995, with references to the 2024 Intergovernmental Agreement on National Competition Policy and introduces definitions of public interest test and competitive neutrality arrangements.”
“Second, the amendments introduce a mechanism for merger parties to seek extensions from the ACCC for the period in which they can put an approved acquisition into effect. The extensions can be up to six months each. Multiple extensions may be granted. This will also apply to transactions already approved in the 12 months prior to commencement of this bill. Third, the amendments better target when an acquisition needs to be notified. Parties will not need to notify acquisitions that are unlikely to result in a practical ability to influence competition, as originally intended. For example, it will benefit venture capital investing in startups. Overall, these amendments will reduce the regulatory burden on industry while preserving the integrity of the regime. They support a faster, more transparent and risk based regime.”
“Schedule 4 to the bill amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to deliver targeted refinements to Australia's merger regime. The government has heard from businesses, advisers and regulators about how the regime is working in practice and what needs to be fine tuned. First, the amendments adjust the legal consequences when merger parties fail to notify the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, ACCC, when they should have by making such acquisitions voidable instead of automatically void. This minimises unintended consequences, especially for innocent third parties, where the existing voiding provisions would otherwise automatically unwind transactions, while still preserving the incentive for parties to notify when appropriate.”
“It provides a 50 per cent CGT discount on the disposal of eligible assets until 30 June 2030. This recognises the importance of foreign investment in the renewables sector, helping support our clean energy objectives. This concession balances ongoing government support for Australia's practical action on climate change with the need to ensure the tax treatment of these assets aligns with the treatment of other assets in the longer term. The targeted, time limited concession will apply to grid-scale renewable assets such as battery storage systems, wind turbines and solar panels. Schedules 2 and 3 were informed by extensive consultation with stakeholders. The schedules will commence on the first quarter after royal assent.”
“Foreign investors are now required to apply this test at any time during the 365 days before the CGT event instead of just at the time of disposal. This is consistent with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's practice. The schedule includes two instrument-making powers to balance compliance costs for investors. It is intended that these powers would be used to exempt certain foreign investors from having to notify the commissioner of certain public transactions and to provide an alternative testing approach for certain investors in how they value their interests in complying with the principal asset test. These details will be subject to consultation. Schedule 3 to the bill is a transitional concession for foreign investors in the renewable energy sector.”
“Third, the schedule introduces a new requirement for foreign investors to notify the Australian Taxation Office, ATO, before they dispose their interests in an Australian entity, when the transaction is valued at $50 million or more. This ensures the ATO has more visibility over high-value transactions in which a foreign resident claims they are not subject to CGT, because they are disposing a non-Australian real property interest. This new notification supports tax compliance. And fourth, the schedule enhances the integrity of the principal asset test. This test determines whether the value of a foreign investor's interest is mainly from Australian land or land-like assets and therefore is subject to CGT.”
“The legislation limits the ability of the commissioner to amend an assessment where the taxpayer's limited amendment period has ended, except in cases of fraud or evasion or where the taxpayer objected to their assessment prior to 10 April 2026, which is the date of the exposure draft consultation for this schedule. This effectively means that, where a foreign investor had previously paid and settled a historical CGT liability, they will be unable to have their assessment amended because the commissioner will not be able to extend the review period. This will protect existing revenue by preventing foreign investors from seeking opportunistic windfall gains by taking advantage of recent Federal Court decisions to reduce their previous tax payments.”
“It also addresses the interactions with state and territory property laws, which have increasingly produced unintended outcomes, with infrastructure assets being taxed differently depending on the jurisdiction in which they are located. From commencement, this measure will ensure the Commonwealth tax law determines which assets are subject to the foreign resident CGT regime. This will support certainty and ensure consistent tax treatment across the nation so investors can make long-term decisions with confidence. It also restores the integrity, fairness and sustainability of the tax system. Second, the measure confirms when the Commissioner of Taxation can amend a past assessment for matters relating to the foreign resident CGT regime.”
“This reform ensures foreign residents pay their fair share of tax when selling assets with a close economic connection to Australian land and our natural resources, while providing generous concessions for investments in renewable energy as set out in schedule 3. The schedule has four elements. First, it clarifies the definition of 'real property' on which foreign residents are subject to CGT. This confirms that assets with a close economic connection to Australia—such as energy infrastructure, transport and telecommunications assets, and water entitlements—are in scope of the foreign resident CGT rules. This responds to a longstanding area of uncertainty which has been compounded over time by the absence of a clear definition of 'real property' in the Commonwealth tax law.”
“The changes include new criminal penalties for unregistered preparers, new civil penalty provisions and increased maximum civil penalty amounts for tax practitioners and unregistered preparers, new powers that enable the Tax Practitioners Board to issue infringement notice penalties, enter into enforceable voluntary undertakings, and impose contingent and interim suspensions of registration, and an increase in the maximum duration of terminations of registration from five to 10 years. These reforms will improve protections for taxpayers by driving better behaviour, addressing and deterring misconduct, and maintaining community confidence in the integrity of the tax system. Schedule 2 to the bill strengthens the foreign resident capital gains tax (CGT) regime.”
“The reforms complement a broader suite of government reforms to strengthen integrity and accountability across the tax system and professional services sector. This includes work to progress further targeted exceptions to tax secrecy rules and enhancements to the Australian tax office's and Tax Practitioners Board's information-gathering powers outlined in the 2026-27 budget, and just yesterday we released an options paper into the regulation of accounting, auditing and consulting firms in Australia. It builds on earlier reforms, such as: These reforms will enable the Tax Practitioners Board to impose a suite of new and expanded regulatory sanctions, that escalate in severity in response to more serious contraventions of the law, and respond to misconduct, including poor and unlawful tax advice, in a timely way.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends Treasury legislation to strengthen the integrity of the tax profession, make a range of improvements to our tax system, deliver targeted refinements to Australia's merger regime, and give force of law to current national competition principles. Schedule 1 to the bill amends the Tax Agent Services Act 2009to strengthen the Tax Practitioners Board sanctions regime as part of the government's response to the PwC tax leaks matter, announced on 6 August 2023, to crack down on tax adviser misconduct and rebuild people's faith in the systems and structures that keep our tax system and capital markets strong. The reforms also implement recommendations from the 2019 Independent Review of the Tax Practitioners Board.”
“For all the reasons I outlined in my remarks on the Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026, I commend this bill to the House. Debate adjourned.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Today, I am also introducing the Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026. This bill makes consequential amendments and transitional provisions to support the Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026, which seeks to maintain access to cash across Australia and support businesses and financial institutions to continue offering cash services. Importantly, it gives the ACCC an interim transitional power to help ensure continuity of cash distribution services while the broader framework is implemented. The Legislative and Governance Forum for Corporations was notified, as required under the Corporations Agreement 2002. Full details of the measure are contained in the explanatory memorandum.”
“The bill keeps cash available for the people and businesses who rely on it, while building a stronger and more resilient payments system. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.”
“The bill also establishes criminal and civil penalties and provides information gathering and enforcement powers to regulators to support compliance. Together, these powers create a coherent framework to support the continued availability and long-term viability of cash as a means of payment in Australia. I thank the businesses and community members who engaged in the extensive consultation on the proposed framework. I note the Legislative and Governance Forum for Corporations was notified in relation to the Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026, as required under the Corporations Agreement 2002. Full details of the measure are contained in the explanatory memorandum. As payment methods change, the government is making sure the system works for everyone, not just those who can easily move away from cash.”
“It also enables up to $400 million in funding support to ensure the continuity of critical cash distribution services. Funding support is intended as a last resort, limited to situations where an entity's resources and recovery tools are insufficient to address losses or threats to cash availability. Any unrecovered funding would be recovered from major users of cash distribution services, recognising their role in enabling cash access for businesses and the community. The crisis and resolution powers are subject to clearly defined triggers for intervention and are distinct from the Reserve Bank's day-to-day monitoring and regulatory functions. They are consistent with crisis and resolution frameworks applying to other critical services in banking, insurance and clearing and settlement.”
“These standards may cover factors such as availability and timeliness, with the ACCC having regard to the bill's objects and the public interest. The third gives the RBA powers to ensure continuity of critical cash distribution services and help prevent disruptions before they occur. While transactional cash use has declined, many Australians would still face genuine hardship if cash became harder to access or use. That is why the Reserve Bank needs appropriate powers to act quickly and decisively to sustain critical services and resolve a crisis. The bill provides the Reserve Bank with crisis and resolution powers, including directions, appointing a statutory manager, or transferring business assets or shares of a cash distribution service provider in crisis.”
“The second enables the ACCC to oversee designated entities, including fair and efficient pricing of cash distribution services, which is essential to maintaining access to cash. ACCC oversight will support fair, transparent and reasonable pricing outcomes, while helping maintain the long-term economic viability of the sector. The bill creates obligations for designated entities when negotiating cash distribution service and access agreements, and allows the ACCC to approve standard terms for classes of agreements. It also establishes arbitration to resolve negotiation disputes and enables the ACCC to determine dispute resolution requirements for designated entities. The ACCC is also empowered to establish service-level standards to support fair and reliable access to cash across Australia.”
“It will support the government's cash acceptance mandate by helping businesses access cash at reasonable prices, so they can continue accepting it as a means of payment. And it will strengthen a system that remains essential for many Australians, particularly those in regional Australia. The framework has three key elements. The first provides powers to the Reserve Bank to designate entities that have a significant role in the cash system, or those that provide critical cash distribution services. Limiting regulation to critical entities will keep the framework proportionate, targeting areas of greatest benefit while avoiding unnecessary burden on smaller providers or new entrants that do not provide critical services.”
“Guided by recommendations from the Council of Financial Regulators and the ACCC, it will ensure the cash distribution system continues to serve Australians for years to come. Cash plays an important role in promoting economic inclusion, payments system resilience and as a store of value particularly in times of uncertainty. But declining transactional cash use is placing pressure on the economics of storing, processing and transporting cash around the country. The framework will keep cash distribution working in the public interest by promoting fair and transparent commercial arrangements between providers, financial institutions and Australian businesses while also supporting the long-term viability of cash distribution services.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Today I introduce the Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026 , another important step in the Albanese government's plan to protect Australians' choice at the checkout and ensure no community is left behind as payments change. We have already made it mandatory for major supermarkets and fuel retailers to accept cash for essential purchases, because Australians who want or need to use cash should not be forced out of the economy. This bill backs that commitment with practical safeguards to keep cash moving, particularly for regional communities, older Australians, small businesses and those who rely on cash during emergencies and outages.”
“All of these measures will make real improvements to how regulations work for all Australians. It will support better regulation. Better regulation is essential to unlock productivity in the Australian economy. It is the way to make sure people are protected without being stifled. It is the approach the government believes in, and it is what this bill will help to achieve. I thank the House once again for supporting the government's work to progress this important legislation.”
“Services Australia will be able to rely on information it already holds when supporting retirees who have been living overseas for more than two years to comply with their proof-of-life certificate obligations. These are changes that will make life easier for Australians and businesses. This bill will also allow eligible Defence Force superannuation scheme members to access an account based pension from CSC when they retire. This will give former ADF members more choice to manage their money in retirement and has support from serving and former ADF members. Finally, the bill will make various technical amendments to improve the operation of existing regulations. It will repeal acts that have become redundant. It will clarify and align legislative definitions and concepts to support more efficient and timely administrative decision-making.”
“It will also move reporting under the new eligible Drama Expenditure Scheme from a financial-year to calendar-year basis, aligning it with other Australian content reporting schemes. Another important component of the bill are measures to continue driving a shift to a tell-us-once approach to government interactions with Australians and businesses. Thanks to this bill nominees, under the social security law, will now be able to cancel their nomination with a simple phone call instead of needing to follow up in writing. Goods that are subject to a tariff concession order will now be exempt from dumping and countervailing duties in certain circumstances without requiring a further administrative decision. This speeds up the process and means importers can get on with their business more quickly.”
“Beyond intellectual property, the bill will remove the mandatory 30-day appeal period for importers who advised they don't intend to appeal a negative preliminary decision by the Anti-Dumping Commissioner for a partial refund as part of the duty assessment process. This change will allow importers to receive faster refunds when they advise that they don't intend to appeal the decision. The bill will also simplify business reporting requirements. It will simplify workplace gender equality reporting and target-setting requirements by adding a 12-month window at the end of a target cycle, and align the reporting period for public and private sector employers to ensure comparable data on gender equality in the workplace is available for both Commonwealth and private sector employers.”
“To reiterate, this bill amends 25 acts, repeals two acts and will improve the operations of 18 government agencies. It simplifies regulation, particularly for businesses, progresses additional measures to support the government's tell-us-once agenda and makes technical amendments to get regulation working better for Australians. The bill will make important changes to intellectual property laws. It will add further integrity to the trademarks opposition process, boost protections for trademark holders by ensuring more robust investigations of patent and trademark attorneys accused of misconduct, and make a simple change, which means plant breeders won't accidentally lose valuable rights just because they missed a renewal payment deadline.”
“When fully implemented, our agenda will deliver: a $10.2 billion reduction in the regulatory burden every year; a single national market to create clear and consistent rules for businesses, workers and consumers no matter where they are in Australia; faster administrative processes to get more projects off the ground more quickly; modernised regulation that is fit for purpose for the digital economy and responsibly balances the challenges and opportunities brought to us by AI; and regulators being active stewards of regulation to embed productivity into how they work. The government will expect all our regulators to balance managing known and likely risks with supporting economic growth and dynamism. Legislative changes progressed by regulatory reform omnibus bills are meaningful steps towards these important goals.”
“Complainants will also retain the ability to add people to a complaint as respondents; where they do so, the commission must notify these people. Ultimately, the change proposed by schedule 2 part 4 will get the complaints process working better for everyone. As I said in my second reading speech, regulatory reform omnibus bills are instrumental to delivering legislative reforms under the government's regulatory reform agenda. This agenda is an ambitious effort to get regulatory settings working better for Australians, boosting investments in our economy and ensuring that Australians are protected from harms.”
“The commission estimates that it spends approximately 450 hours per year administering adverse allegation notifications. This can include identifying individuals who may be the subject of adverse allegations, assessing whether redactions to the complaint documents are required, obtaining their contact details, preparing notification correspondence and managing related inquiries. Removing this mandatory notification requirement is not just about administrative savings, which will allow the RHC to finalise more complaints every year; it is also about avoiding the frustration and stress that people who receive these notices often experience. The president of the AHRC will retain the power to notify people who are not respondents to a complaint where appropriate.”
“These discussions have led the government to moving amendments to remove schedule 2, part 3. This is in recognition that the vast majority of the bill's measures are supported by members across the House, and the government is eager to support their passage. The sooner the bill is passed, the sooner it becomes real change for Australians. I also note the comments made by the opposition on schedule 2, part 4. The problem tackled by this amendment is not that these notifications are issued; it is a foundational principle that people must be notified when they have a case to answer. The problem is the mandatory nature of these notices. This mandatory obligation means that even people who play no part in a complaint, who are subject to no legal consequences and who have no procedural avenue to respond must receive these notices.”
“In summing up this debate I'd like to acknowledge the contributions that all members have made in the debate on this important bill, the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026. The government has an ambitious regulatory reform agenda, outlined in the budget, that will reduce regulatory burden by $10.2 billion. This bill deals with multiple issues that will benefit Australians and businesses right across the country. I'd like to thank those members who have taken the time to engage with the regulatory changes proposed by the bill during this debate. I'd also like to thank the member for Indi for her productive engagement with the government on schedule 2, part 3 of the bill. This part drew interest from a range of parties in this place, but I want to acknowledge her particularly thoughtful engagement on this change.”
“I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill. I also seek leave to move government amendments (1) and (2) as circulated together. Leave granted. I move: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 9), omit the table item. (2) Schedule 2, Part 3, page 27 (lines 1 to 13), omit the Part. Question agreed to. Bill, as amended, agreed to.”
“We've also funded CHOICE, to provide shoppers with more information on supermarket prices. CHOICE is obviously very important for Australian consumers in this and other areas. Consumers can choose a Labor government that is delivering real change and protecting them at the supermarket checkout, or they can choose the three right-wing parties who oppose support for Australians at every step of the way and stand only for the status quo.”
“These are tough laws with big penalties which are in the best interests of consumers, and they form part of a broader package of reforms to strengthen protections for Australians at the supermarket checkout. We've increased the maximum penalties for breaches of Australian competition and consumer laws from $10 million in 2022 to $100 million per breach in 2026. That's a tenfold increase in the penalties that we inherited when we came to government. We've also made the food and grocery code mandatory, with strong protections for suppliers and significant penalties for supermarkets that breach the code—a measure those opposite voted against. Again acting in the interests of the status quo, they opposed those measures, which are in the interests of consumers.”
“I have to say that Woolworths and Coles aren't the only Australian brands that closely monitor what their competition does. The three right-wing political parties opposite closely monitor each other, and they are closely converging on their product offering at the minute. While we can't stop all examples of brand copycats, we can do something about the big supermarkets and their price gouging. That's why, from today, it will be illegal for large supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths to charge prices that are excessive when compared to the cost of supply plus a reasonable margin. These reforms come with big penalties if breached. Any retailers found to be in breach will face the greater of $10 million, three times the value of the benefit derived or 10 per cent of annual turnover during the preceding 12 months.”
“I thank the member for Adelaide for his question. He has been a champion throughout his time in this place for cost-of-living supports. He understands how important this is, particularly when it comes to households putting food on the table. From today, new rules are in place to prevent excessive pricing by supermarkets. I want to pay tribute to and acknowledge the work of the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, who has led much of the work when it comes to the development of these new rules. The recent ACCC supermarkets inquiry found what many Australians already know. It found that Woolworths and Coles closely monitor each other's pricing and strategies and have limited incentive to compete vigorously on price.”
“I move: That the amendments be agreed to. The bill establishes External Reporting Australia, or ERA, Australia's new body responsible for the development and maintenance of accounting auditing and assurance standards. In recent years, we've seen behaviour from large accounting, auditing and consulting firms in Australia that is not fair or honest. This bill represents a major development in the setting and maintenance of standards. The amendments on which we seek the House's concurrence are all consistent with the policy intent of the bill. I commend the bill to the House.”
“These changes created deep structural flaws in our housing system that shut too many Australian families out of the market. When these changes were made, the cost of a house was roughly four times the average household income. It is now closer to eight, and it's time to act. As a result, the rates of homeownership of young people have plummeted. We're fixing the mistakes of the past. Those opposite can't let them go. The Liberal Party are the problem when it comes to unaffordable housing. They created the problem, and now they defend it. I encourage them, for once, to put aside the confected outrage, put the interests of Australian first and do the right thing. Support our budget and help Australians. Help thousands of Australians to realise the dream of owning their own home.”
“We are abolishing negative gearing for established properties and replacing the 50 per cent capital gains exemption on nominal with taxing real gains, the original design of the system, because we know that government should not provide more support to someone buying their second, third or fifth house than someone buying their first. Treasury modelling suggests these changes will result in a shift in ownership from investors to owner-occupiers. Our changes will support around 75,000 Australians into homeownership over the next decade, and we can see that this is already working. First home buyers and owner-occupiers are already getting a leg up. Those on the other side of the chamber are the only people who seem to 'realise' there's a problem. They want to keep the disastrous Howard-Costello changes of 1999.”
“I don't want to live in a country where our children can't afford to buy a home, and I know that the overwhelming number of Australians don't want to either. That's why the legislation that passed through the House today is so important. It tilts the tax system back in favour of young people, because when a first home buyer bids for a home, they shouldn't be bidding against an investor who is backed by the entire Australian tax system. We've placed changes to negative gearing and capital gains at the centre of this budget.”
“I thank the honourable member for the question. He has been a longstanding champion for more investment in housing and better outcomes for housing, particularly for young people. This government believes that, if they work hard, all Australians should be able to save for and ultimately buy their own home. As former Liberal prime minister Robert Menzies clearly put it, a home provides one little piece of earth, with a house and a garden, which is ours, to which we can withdraw, in which we can be among friends and into which no stranger may come against our will. Unfortunately the tax system as it stands is not working for young people, and too many young Australians are locked out. I think it's fair to say that, for today's Liberals, young people truly are the forgotten Australians.”
“I thank the honourable member for the question. I reiterate the points the Treasurer made: that there are a number of very clear exemptions when it comes to trusts from the policies that have been announced—charitable trusts and fixed trusts. And I undertake that the policy we are putting forward in this budget is to better align taxation arrangements for those who receive income from work as opposed to those who receive income from capital and from trusts. That is something that has been called for for a long time.”
“They are obsessed with taking our country back to the Liberals' failed economic agenda of the 1990s and the disastrous Howard-Costello changes of 1999 that created deep structural flaws in our housing system which have shut too many Australian families out of the market, and they've not yet seen a tax cut or, indeed, a minimum wage rise, for that matter, that they're not opposed to. We are fixing the mistakes of the past, but those opposite can't seem to let them go. Our vision is for a tax system that rewards work and supports aspiration. We want more Australians to own their own home, and we want to put more money in their pockets, and that's exactly what this budget delivers.”
“That's more money in the pockets of families facing rising costs. Our changes to negative gearing and capital gains will also help. These are expected to support around 75,000 Australians into homeownership over the next decade. That's 75,000 individuals and families owning and not renting. That means more families with the security and dignity that comes with living in a home of your own. Our tax reforms are about building a stronger economy, rewarding contribution and ensuring the next generation is not locked out of opportunity. Those on the other side of the chamber are the only people who fail to recognise there is a problem.”
“Australians know that too many working people are doing everything right but finding it harder than ever to buy a home and build security for their families. Our tax package is about restoring the balance. The legislation being debated in the house today is pro-worker, pro-aspiration and pro-investment. Our budget puts working Australians first, because a home should not be out of reach for the people who keep this country running. We are fixing a system that has made it harder for younger Australians to buy a home and harder for working Australian families to get ahead. Our reforms will deliver a permanent $250 a year tax cut for 13.3 million workers through the new working Australian tax offset. This means that, when combined with our other tax cuts, an average Australian worker is expected to be up to $2,800 better off a year by 2028.”
“I thank the member for Newcastle for her question. The member for Newcastle understands that Australia is built every day by people who get up early, work hard and contribute to their communities. In her electorate, that means workers keeping one of the busiest ports in the world open and running, nurses finishing night shifts, teachers shaping the next generation, truck drivers keeping our economy moving and families working hard for a better future. Our government believes that, if you contribute to this country, this country should work for you. Whether you were born here or came from overseas and chose Australia as your home, if you work hard, pay your taxes and do the right thing, you deserve a fair chance to get ahead.”
“(3) The amendments of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 made by this Schedule apply to a person who is absent or temporarily absent from Australia for a continuous period: (a) beginning before the commencement day; and (b) ending on or after the commencement day; in relation to the part of the period occurring on or after the commencement day. Question agreed to. I move an amendment to the long title of the bill, as contained in government amendment 1 on sheet VS117 as circulated: (1) Title, page 1 (line 2), after "taxation,", insert "social security and veterans' affairs,". Title, as amended, agreed to. Bill, as amended, agreed to with an amended title.”