Claire Clutterham
Sturt · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Some in this House have asked: how many cups of coffee can you buy with the Albanese Labor government's 1 July 2026 tax cuts? But I ask: how many cups of coffee can you buy with the money that you save from seeing a GP for free?”
“The eSafety Commissioner has identified serious compliance concerns and is actively investigating five major platforms due to their noncompliance.”
“But we need action from the entire parliament, in this place and in the other place, for that to happen. I call on all members and senators to walk together to take this action. I do that because this issue is also deeply personal for me. In my first speech to this parliament, I spoke about my own experience of bullying at school.”
“One of the early scenes in the 2010 movie The Social Network depicted young women at Harvard recoiling in disgust as they discover a website created by one of their peers that allowed male students to compare them based on their so-called 'hotness'. The website was a precursor to what would become Facebook.”
“Social media is a part of the world they have always known, yet they were remarkably forthright about its downsides. They spoke about algorithms that keep them scrolling, the pressure to seek approval through likes and followers, and the impact social media was having on their confidence, self-esteem and mental health.”
“That is why keeping children safe online should be a bipartisan issue. When the Albanese Labor government introduced the social media minimum age of 16 last year, we did so because we listened to parents, educators, experts and young people.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,071 lines we hold for Claire Clutterham, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 22.
“In this country, tobacco is illicit when it is grown, manufactured and/or produced in Australia or imported into the domestic market without the appropriate customs duty being paid. Products can include cigarettes, cigars, loose tobacco, tobacco leaf and plant matter, and also includes the unlicensed production of tobacco plant or leaf, the manufacture of tobacco products and tobacco sold without the payment of taxes. It's illegal to grow tobacco in Australia without an appropriate excise licence. Currently, no-one is licensed to grow or manufacture tobacco seed, plant or leaf for commercial sale or personal use. Organised crime syndicates do not care about this, of course, and are significantly engaged in running these growing operations, sometimes by targeting unsuspecting landowners by attempting to lease land to grow illicit tobacco.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026. There are two key purposes at the heart of this bill. Firstly, it seeks to reframe the risk-to-reward calculation for organised criminal actors by increasing penalties for offences to ensure they are commensurate with the harms caused by the illicit tobacco trade and, secondly, seeks to make the Proceeds of Crime regime more effective to pursue the confiscation of the proceeds, instruments and benefits of crime to undermine the profitability of the illicit tobacco market, which is the main motivation of organised crime. Firstly, however, it's important to be clear about what exactly is meant by illicit tobacco.”
“It's Australia's export credit agency, and it is also playing a critical role in fuel security. Last month, approximately 100 million litres of additional diesel was secured for Australians, with two shipments coming from Brunei and South Korea. This is the first of the expected shipments of fuel secured under the government's new strategic reserve powers, which saw Export Finance Australia partnering with Viva Energy to facilitate this purpose. Export Finance Australia has also reached commercial terms with Ampol, IOR and Park Fuels, supporting them to purchase the additional fuel needed to address regional shortages and critical supply gaps. We now have more fuel in this country than prior to 28 February. Perhaps the minister could update the chamber as to where we stand.”
“Relationships with our regional partners have proven fruitful in recent months, with the government able to draw on these meaningful partnerships to secure additional fuel and fertiliser supplies for the Australian people in the midst of one of the most serious energy accessibility crises the world has ever seen. We would not have been at the front of the queue without having first done the work to build those relationships, which included exploring and crystallising what is mutually beneficial from a gain-of-trade perspective. The time to build relationships is not when a crisis arises; the right time is all times, which is the approach this government has taken and the approach that has been successful. The EFA, legally constituted as the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, also falls under this portfolio.”
“The need to continue to generate, maintain and then further build regional security is an imperative that has been rightly recognised with this government's facilitation of both the Jakarta Treaty with Indonesia and the Pukpuk, or crocodile, Treaty with Papua New Guinea. Regional security and stability lead to the creation and maintenance of circumstances in which the aspirations of the Indo-Pacific can be best realised, steering economic development and prosperity for all countries in the region. Stable regions have stable, resilient and fair economic environments that can grow and thrive, which is good for citizens and, importantly, good for democracy.”
“Building relationships around the region and strengthening our partnerships with our neighbours has been a hallmark of this government. Our region benefits from stability and peace. When Australia is peaceful and stable, when the Indo-Pacific is peaceful and stable, the entire region benefits. Peace and stability across Australia and the Indo-Pacific and meaningful cooperation between all countries in the region sends a strong message that goes beyond. That message, which this government prosecutes, is that when collective responsibility is used to secure and maintain peace and stability, everybody benefits. It speaks to the importance of sustaining productive and mutually beneficial relationships with our regional partners, our traditional allies and our European, Asian and Canadian middle-power friends.”
“Global conflicts and challenges, trade and investment opportunities, the application and upholding of international rules, support for regional stability and support for Australians overseas all form part of this portfolio. In this respect, there are more than one million Australians overseas at any time, and the portfolio leads and coordinates efforts to help Australians in trouble overseas. In the 2025 financial year, the department managed over 26,000 cases of consular and crisis assistance and responded to over 61,000 calls to the consular emergency centre. The department supports around 1,500 consular cases at any one time, and earlier this year the department sprang into action to assist the thousands of Australians living, working and visiting countries in the Middle East after the conflict in Iran began.”
“I rise to contribute to this consideration in detail regarding the portfolio of foreign affairs and trade. Now, the work of this portfolio is directed at promoting and protecting Australia's interests overseas in support of our security and prosperity. We do this by maintaining a global diplomatic presence, and we have an overseas network spanning 114 overseas posts and consulates in 85 countries of resident accreditation around the world. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also works to shape our international strategic policy to strengthen our economic engagement with our partners, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, and to provide development assistance.”
“I also want to highlight the role of the Attorney-General in Australia's nuclear-powered submarine program, which supports the government on policy and legal issues related to nuclear powered submarines. The critical and essential national endeavour that is AUKUS needs to be supported by properly considered regulation and policy. We often talk of AUKUS in the context of STEM only—and we should talk about it in this context—but there is more to it. We need to continue the work to develop and implement the frameworks by which matters relating to AUKUS will be governed and measured. This is a critical role for the Attorney-General. Finally, I would like to ask the Attorney-General, in her remarks, to outline how the government is investing in our justice systems, our integrity framework and our institutions.”
“This has been rolled out and is a simple, non-threatening campaign designed not only to educate children and young people but to create an environment where they feel safe and empowered to speak up for themselves. Then there is the offender prevention program, which is about implementing frameworks to identify and prevent online child sexual abuse and enhance vetting capabilities. The portfolio is also coordinating the government's response to the antisemitic attack in Bondi. The supported measures, which are critical, include stricter hate crime laws, the banning of hate symbols and organisations who engage in hate crimes, and the development of powers for the Minister for Home Affairs to refuse or cancel visas based on hate motivated conduct. The time to continue acting in this respect is now.”
“Key initiatives in this respect include funding specialised sexual-violence legal-service pilot schemes, criminalising image based abuse and advancing the 2022-2032 National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. Similarly, the Attorney-General, alongside the National Office for Child Safety, drives the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse. This 10-year framework implements key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. There are several key areas of focus in this respect. Firstly, there is awareness and education which is delivering nationwide campaigns like the One Talk at a Time campaign, to build child-safe cultures and teach body safety.”
“Importantly, this portfolio is also charged with the critical task of working to improve access to justice for vulnerable people—including women, children and First Nations peoples—and of establishing and providing support to royal commissions, to assist them to commence their inquiries in a timely manner, consistent with their terms of reference. The portfolio has broad, wide-ranging and impactful responsibilities, and we see this play out in the budget. A key budget measure for the Attorney-General's portfolio is ending gender based violence. The gravity and significance of this cannot be underestimated, and it must always be properly funded and resourced. It is a huge challenge but one that we must meet through this portfolio to drive legal and systemic reforms that we need to eradicate gender based violence.”
“In addition, the portfolio has responsibility for designing, implementing, maintaining, evaluating and reforming legal and policy frameworks to promote better outcomes for the Australian community in a range of areas, including rights, justice, security and integrity. This all sits within the ambit of the Attorney-General, and this element of the portfolio is significant because it touches on how we live, how we interact as a community and how we protect and maintain the way that we live. The Attorney-General's portfolio often goes about its work quietly, but the significant work that the portfolio undertakes with respect to law reform is meaningful because it impacts the frameworks which govern and guide our communities and our country.”
“I'm pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the consideration in detail with regard to budget measures relating to the Attorney-General. This portfolio is charged with providing expert advice and high-quality legal services to the Australian government and its entities, always as a model litigant. The requirement to be a model litigant means the Commonwealth and its agencies are required to act honestly, consistently and fairly in handling claims and litigation; deal with claims promptly; make early assessments of the government's prospects of success; pay legitimate claims promptly; not take advantage of a party who lacks resources to litigate a legitimate claim; keep costs to a minimum; not rely on merely technical defences; and consider alternative dispute-resolution options.”
“Being progressive means not standing still or staying the same. So when is this government going to do something? Now. I commend the bill to the House.”
“We know the only people who will pursue a just and fair transition to renewable energy and provide opportunities for individual households to obtain the benefit of this through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program are those in this government. Who will do it if we don't? The budget facilitates these aspirations because it is bold. It is progressive. So, to those in my community who ask me, 'When is your government going to do something?' the answer is, 'Right now.' Examining existing structures and reforming them is what we are doing, and, in doing so, we understand that reforming pre-existing structures requires genuine and meaningful consultation with the business community, which is what we are doing. I again thank those small businesses that I represent in my community of Sturt, who engage with me so constructively on this issue.”
“Who, if we don't, will recognise that housing is unaffordable for first home buyers and implement schemes like the five per cent deposit scheme at the same time as investing $2 billion in enabling works to facilitate the building of more houses? Who, if we don't, will implement free TAFE so Australians can obtain a qualification in a critical trade or area where there are skill shortages? Who will back low-paid workers again and again if we don't? Who, if we don't, will improve the tax incentives for venture capital investors to encourage more investment in Australian startups with growth potential and the flow of more capital into this country? Who, if we don't, will create a framework where 90 per cent of Australian small businesses qualify for an exemption from the capital gains tax?”
“But my aspiration in this sense is balanced against my aspiration for all Australians to be able to afford to see a doctor; to be able to afford to get a quality education that will set them up; to be able to buy a home of their own—not to create wealth, but to create security for themselves and their families. So this budget is not a war on aspiration; it is an acknowledgement that aspiration takes many forms and that, in a good and prosperous society, everyone is entitled to aspiration and everyone must contribute to it. That's what this budget seeks to do, and I ask you, Deputy Speaker: Who will do this if this government doesn't? Who will bake in urgent care clinics and make them permanent if we don't? Who, if we don't, will invest in more bulk-billing so Australians who aspire to be able to afford to see a doctor can see a doctor?”
“Now, by 'aspiration', I do not mean just becoming wealthy—although that is a perfectly legitimate aspiration. I'm referring to people who aspire to pay for health care; people who aspire to be able to afford to go to university or TAFE; people who aspire to get out of the cycle of renting and who aspire to buy a home. There are, of course, people in Australia who aspire to, and can, buy a third or fourth investment property—and more power to them; that is great. If you can do that, and become self-sufficient, then that is a good thing. But others can't even get off the ground. So, for my country, I have many different aspirations. I aspire for people to get ahead, to buy property, to build and grow their superannuation, and to set up and then grow and sell businesses. I aspire for Australians who can become wealthy to become wealthy.”
“Access to quality health care, quality education and secure long-term housing are rights, rather than privileges, for progressives; they are rights for everyone, not just for some. Cohesion, solidarity, fellowship, harmony—this is the underlying claim to progressivism: that we live in a community together and that we are therefore responsible, in a sense, for one another. This means an understanding that, when only some people have the opportunity to embrace aspiration, when only some people have the agency to pursue their aspirations as individuals, and when some people lose the birth lottery and are born into poverty, or sickness, or disability, or something else that prevents them not only from achieving their aspirations but even from starting, this does not reflect a good and prosperous society.”
“But I also believe that progressive politics and progressive policy have a different and important perspective to offer. Those on the conservative side consider that existing structures are always worth preserving, because they've worked for some in the past. Progressivism, on the other hand, examines existing structures and then reforms them—moves them forward. It recognises that what worked in the past does not necessarily work right now and will not necessarily work into the future. So, in examining and reforming pre-existing structures, progressivism has the following at the front of its mind: justice; the belief in a level playing field; the recognition that inherited disadvantages are not a fiction—they are real—and that there is a responsibility to address them if a just society is to be achieved.”
“And there are, of course, different and divergent beliefs about what fairness actually means and what makes a good and prosperous society. These are perfectly rational questions, and, with the handing down of this budget, we've seen different answers and different approaches to what fairness is and to what makes a good and prosperous society. On the conservative side, the underlying concern is maintaining the status quo—the belief that sudden change and bold reform carry risks that are easy to underestimate and too hard to undo. Individuality forms the backbone of conservatism, and there are reasons why this must sometimes be prioritised. I believe in the rights of the individual and in personal accountability, and in the right of the individual to aspire to whatever it is they want to aspire to.”
“This government is not afraid to make tough decisions, even when it knows that some Australians won't forgive us for it. Some people can't move past goalposts being changed. But, on the progressive side of politics, we recognise that sometimes they need to shift. When nurses, teachers, social workers and early childhood education workers can't afford to buy a house reasonably close to where they live, the goalposts need to shift. When first homebuyers are locked out of the housing market, over and over and over, the goalposts need to shift, because secure housing, for everyone, is everything. Now, changes and big reform do stir emotions. They bring up genuine human concerns, like a fear of loss or a desire for fairness.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026. The most common refrain that I have heard in my 13 months of being the member for Sturt and engaging my community is this. People say: 'Claire, you've got a majority. When are you going to do something with it?' And, by 'something', people don't mean just delivering the government's agenda. They mean doing something bold, like designing and implementing big and overdue reform. They say to me, 'If you won't do it now, you'll never do it.' They repeatedly ask, 'When are you going to do something?' Well, the answer is now. We are doing something now. And the measures in this budget represent bold reform. Pursuing bold reform and making tough decisions is what you get from the progressive side of politics.”
“I had the privilege recently of spending a week on HMAS Stirling meeting some of the incredible men and women who will be operating the capability that we are investing in as part of Australia's strategy to defend and deter—our strategy of denial—including Captain Amy Braun of the new ship Eyre ; submariners John Lee, Justin Cloney and Byron Williamson; future submariner Dave Court; and MLO Gagan Singh. That is why we invest. We invest because these men and women are putting their hands up to defend our country, and they are doing excellent work on HMAS Stirling . That is why we invest and we will continue to invest in the interests of the Australian people.”
“That is a $3.5 billion down payment for the enabling works that will facilitate the record amount of infrastructure that will need to be built to facilitate the build of the SSN-AUKUS. I have been out to the shipyard and can attest firsthand to the incredible amount of work that is going on at the Osborne shipyard and also to the dedication and commitment of the men and women who are building that infrastructure. There is also a $12 billion down payment at Henderson in Western Australia to help us forge ahead with our strategy of denial.”
“We're also developing an air force that can provide air support for integrated operations, strengthening cyber capabilities to protect networks and systems, and we are enhancing our space capability—space being the fifth defence domain to provide space-based situational awareness and communication capabilities. Why are we doing this? We are in a changing world, with liberal democracies under significant pressure. It is more important than ever that we have a properly thought out strategy of denial that promotes Australian security and regional stability, and we are doing this in partnership with our friends around the region. We have a down payment of $3.5 billion at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, in my home state of South Australia.”
“Through the 2026 Integrated Investment Program, our government is investing almost half a billion dollars over the decade to deliver accelerated capability for the integrated, focused force that we need. This includes a larger and more lethal navy with more surface ships and conventionally armed nuclear powered submarines. We are a maritime continent; it is absolutely imperative that our maritime capability reflects this, not only from a defend-and-deter perspective but to protect our valuable trade and supply chain routes, to protect undersea cables, to protect the Australian people and to protect our economy.”
“Ghost Bat, Ghost Shark, Mogami class frigates, landing craft heavy, landing craft medium, Virginia class nuclear propelled submarines and SSN-AUKUS boats—this will all strengthen our national security and our sovereign defence industrial base, the heart of which is in my great state of South Australia, and build stronger, more diverse international industrial partnerships. We are increasing coordination with our regional partners to promote regional stability and to collectively deter actions against our interests and against the interests in our region. We have done this in spades—Indonesia, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea—and we have built on the relationships that we've established in the region during the fuel security crisis that has been experienced due to the conflict in the Middle East.”
“It has never been more important to do two things: ensure that the brave men and women of our defence force are properly equipped and ensure that Australia's strategy of denial is more than just words—that it's actioned for the good of the Australian people and their long-term sustainable safety and security. Defence is focused on a number of things. First and foremost, it is increasing efforts to develop greater self-reliance over the longer term so that we can more ably and independently deter our adversaries—a strategy of denial. We are prioritising capability acquisition and then sustainment plans to deliver this strategy of denial.”
“The Campbelltown art show also featured spectacular artworks by Matt Cooper, an Iwaidja artist from the Cobourg Peninsula in West Arnhem who is currently based in the Adelaide Hills. Matt's art, which he produces under the banner of Saltwater Stories, focuses on connecting to country and culture, producing flowing, calming works that tell stories of land and sea. His work is truly beautiful, and I hope to maybe one day have a piece hanging on a wall in my house. Thanks must go to curator Sue Eliseo; the Campbelltown City Council, particularly Mayor Jill Whittaker; and Gail Casey, the President of the Rotary Club of Campbelltown, for creating such a beautiful event.”
“A few weeks ago I had the honour of attending the Campbelltown Art show in my electorate of Sturt, which is run in partnership between the Campbelltown City Council and Campbelltown Rotary Club. Beautiful and diverse art was on display, ranging from pottery, sculptures, photography, oils and watercolours. Many of the pieces had a red 'sold' sticker on them, underscoring the importance and popularity of art in our community. I presented the Youth Artist Award to Millie, a 14-year-old student from Saint Ignatius' College at Athelstone. Millie, who was accompanied by her very proud parents, loves art and paints as much as she can, using her bedroom as her studio. Her winning piece, called Lorikeet , was bright and colourful, with texture and movement reflected in the delicate feathers of the bird.”
“My attendance at the Q&A session was hugely enjoyable, with questions covering a broad range of topics, including housing, the environment, water, the role of personal accountability, social cohesion, AUKUS and foreign affairs. Led by June Genders, president, and Ann Jensen, secretary, the Q&A session was an opportunity not only for the residents to discuss with me issues that are important to them but for me to meet and mingle with them over a glass of wine. I learned that the village is home to former doctors, academics, engineers, public servants, mothers and fathers, many of whom are now grandparents or great grandparents approaching well over 90 years of age. These residents continue to dedicate their lives to their community and family, and this ongoing dedication is something to be cherished, recognised and celebrated.”
“The On Statenborough retirement village at Leabrook in my electorate of Sturt is not your ordinary retirement village, as I found out when I visited the village to speak to the residents as part of a Q&A session. The session took place courtesy of what is known as the Coopers Club, which is the social group at On Statenborough. Called the Coopers Club because it occupies the historic former site of the world famous Coopers Brewery, the club features not only a fully licensed clubhouse offering bistro dining, Friday night happy hours and social events in a space that honours its heritage but also kind, community minded, highly intelligent and politically engaged residents.”
“The first signature project developing advanced sensors and systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles demonstrates how Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States will collaborate to detect, deter and respond to threats to critical infrastructure, like undersea cables and pipelines. So AUKUS is not just a defence program; it's a generational opportunity about building capability, creating jobs and securing a future—one where our state, my state, is central to keeping Australians safe. That is what sovereign capability looks like. That is what self-sufficiency looks like. That is what a future made in Australia looks like.”
“AUKUS is the centrepiece of A Future Made in Australia, and South Australia sits at its heart. At Osborne, up to 4,000 Australian workers will design and build the submarine construction yard itself. At its peak, between 4,000 and 5,500 direct jobs will be created to build the nuclear powered submarines, right here in my state. Nationally, AUKUS will support around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years—secure, highly skilled, future-focused jobs. These are not abstract numbers. These are careers for electricians, engineers, fabricators, apprentices—young Australians who will build the most advanced fleet this country has ever operated. And this is more than just submarines. Through AUKUS pillar 2 we are also investing in cutting-edge technologies.”
“Firstly, we need to look at our relationship with the US through the lens of ANZUS, which will shortly celebrate 75 years, on 1 September next year, and is a deep and sustainable alliance. We can't look at it through the lens of just one administration and the challenges that may present. Secondly, these challenges are a reason to pursue AUKUS, to obtain the sovereign capability we need in order to deter and defend with as much sovereign self-sufficiency as we can—Australian boats, Australian crews, Australia first. We are shaping AUKUS to serve our national interest, including through stronger industrial safeguards, workforce development and ensuring that capability is delivered in a way that meets Australia's strategic needs. Nowhere is this clearer than in South Australia.”
“It means that the Australian submariners who'll be crewing the three Block IV Virginia class submarines and the Australian workers, some of whom will be in Western Australia and South Australia, who will be maintaining the three Block IV Virginia class submarines will be crewing and maintaining one platform in this class, not two. This streamlines operations and maintenance and is more cost-effective for the Australian people at the same time as remaining fit for mission. Despite the US actively deciding to continue to partner with us with respect to AUKUS at every single decision point, there are still those calling for us to pull out of the partnership because of the current approach of the US administration to foreign policy, which is not always what we are accustomed to. But I have two comments on this.”
“But what is also clear, and what this government has been clear about to the Australian people, is that at every single decision point the US government has demonstrated its support of AUKUS. It has demonstrated its support of its partnership with Australia. The recent determination that Australia will receive three block IV Virginia class submarines instead of two block IV and one block VI has been painted as disastrous when it is not. It was another decision point where a decision was actively made to keep moving forward.”
“Our national defence strategy is clear: Australia faces its most challenging circumstances since the Second World War while remaining deeply connected to the global economy. In that environment, AUKUS is not optional; it is essential. But with that importance comes a clear responsibility to be transparent about the risks, honest about delivery challenges and unwavering in protecting Australia's national security interests. The Albanese government has been up-front: AUKUS is a complex, multidecade endeavour. And of course there are risks, whether they relate to delivery timelines, industrial capacity or evolving program settings. It's a huge endeavour, and it's perfectly normal that there might be changes or bumps along the road.”
“This is proposed on a per-asset basis, so small businesses can instantly write off multiple assets. In addition, small businesses will continue to benefit from the existing four CGT exemptions, which have a significant impact on exit from a business. Capital gains tax on exits has been the controversy, but the exemption regime will apply to 90 per cent of Australian small businesses, so don't listen to the noise. Get the facts, because when you do you will see that this budget contains many measures that back small business.”
“The recent federal budget contained many measures directed at backing small business, including the hundreds that operate across my electorate of Sturt, stimulating our local economy and providing the goods, products and services our community needs. Under this budget, small businesses will benefit from loss carry-back provisions. Eligible businesses get this offset by choosing to carry back losses to earlier years in which there were income tax liabilities. This may result in a cash refund, a reduced tax liability or a reduction of a tax debt. Small businesses will also benefit from the $20,000 instant asset write-off. Small businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $10 million can deduct the full cost of eligible depreciating assets costing less than 20 grand that are first used or installed ready for use in an income year.”
“This is up from the $50 million asset cap set in 2007. Investors may be able to access tax concessions with respect to investee businesses with assets up to $420 million, up from the $250 million cap set 20 years ago. Tax concessions will be available where venture capital limited partnerships invest in businesses with assets up to $480 million at the time of investment, up from $250 million set in 2002. The budget significantly increases these thresholds that have constrained these programs for over two decades. It deliberately encourages the type of private equity environment we need in this country and supports startups and early-stage companies.”
“Measures in the federal budget with respect to tax incentives for venture capital reflect this government's understanding that we need to create an investment climate which encourages more capital to come into this country and which rewards innovation and risk taking. The budget seeks to improve the early-stage venture capital limited partnership and venture capital limited partnership tax incentives by adjusting for inflation and increasing caps on investee business assets and maximum fund sizes. This measure is getting lost in the noise, but we need to shout about it because it is a measure that directly encourages venture capital investment in Australian businesses. Tax concessions will be available where early-stage venture capital limited partnerships invest in businesses with assets up to $80 million at the time of investment.”
“It is initiatives like this that do deserve to be highlighted and spoken about in this chamber, as they form part of the government's dedicated efforts towards improving harm minimisation. I commend the bill to the House.”
“Importantly, the dominant purpose test that otherwise applies to supporting research and development activities does not apply to these activities, as a more restrictive test is to be applied instead, which speaks to this government's commitment to harm minimisation. I'm pleased to have shared the nature of schedule 4 to this bill with the chamber. There's a lot going on in this parliament at the moment, and I understand everyone wants to talk about the budget, but the details contained in this bill will have a significantly positive effect on the community. They take away the ability to research gambling and tobacco related activities and place an emphasis on harm minimisation.”
“Activities that relate to a gambling-like practice contribute to gambling related harm in the Australian community, particularly by normalising gambling behaviours and increasing exposure. These have been excluded and, again, this is a broad-reaching and appropriate exclusion. Digital games will be unaffected if they don't relate to gambling-like practices. Then we have the supporting research and development activities, and schedule 4 will operate such that an activity that relates to gambling services, gambling or gambling-like practices is also excluded from being a supporting research and development activity.”
“So activities that relate to a gambling service, gambling or gambling-like practice are excluded from being R&D activities. What does this mean? 'Gambling service' will take the meaning in section 4 of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 and includes three recognised types of gambling: wagering, lotteries and games involving chance that are played for money or anything of value and which involve consideration, as well as any other gambling service within the ordinary meaning of that expression. The exclusion proposed in schedule 4 of this bill will quite rightly have a broad application. Then we have the definition of 'gambling-like practice', which is defined by the digital games tax offset definition in the Income Tax Assessment Act.”
“So it is important to highlight to this chamber that the carve-out in schedule 4 of this bill for research and development activities that are conducted for the sole purpose of harm minimisation is critical. This might include research directed at stopping addiction, and targeted and dedicated efforts of researching, measuring and implementing further harm minimisation strategies. Research and development that is focused exclusively on harm minimisation will still be eligible for support and, quite rightly, should be eligible for support. For the sake of clarity, and given the importance of this issue, the amendments operate to exclude certain gambling related research, both as a core research and development activity and as a supporting research and development activity.”
“The Prime Minister, during question time on 25 March 2026, noted that there had been a total of 58,000 registrants, with 38 per cent of those people having chosen a lifetime ban. Eighty per cent had experienced better overall quality of life and better mental health. This is important research that has measured the effectiveness of this self-exclusion system, and the results underscore why research of this nature must continue. Secondly, a key finding was that people who had registered for BetStop and who had nominated a support person were experiencing better outcomes from their registration with BetStop. A reason someone might not nominate a support person is that they are ashamed of their addiction and they want to keep it a secret, but a support person can help by providing accountability as well as care and kindness.”