Pat Conaghan's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2026-02-05T22:06:03+00:00
items: Economy | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Cowper Electorate: Roads | Statements | House debates
items: Cost of Living | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
items: Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
items: Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
items: Corporate Governance: Superannuation Industry | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Low-Income Superannuation Tax Offset | Motions | House debates
items: Energy | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Economy | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Regional Australia: Roads | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Superannuation | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates

Economy | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: This week Australian mortgage holders and small business owners were slugged with the 13th interest rate rise since this government came into power—an unlucky number for what increasingly...
encoded: This week Australian mortgage holders and small business owners were slugged with the 13th interest rate rise since this government came into power—an unlucky number for what increasingly feels like an unlucky country. Once upon a time, we considered ourselves the lucky country, the land of the fair go, where, if you worked hard, you got ahead. Now, we're the country of the most rampant inflation problem of any major advanced economy. Since May 2022, gas prices are up 42 per cent, electricity is up 38 per cent, milk is up 24 per cent and eggs are up a whopping 37 per cent. These are the basic household goods that our people pay for. In my electorate of Cowper, the average household income is certainly on the low side of the national scale. They're small business owners, farmers, retail workers and modest retirees. Every day I hear about the choices they're being forced to make to keep their heads above water—choosing between mortgages and medicine or electricity bills and groceries. I hear from businesses who can no longer afford their input costs but can't put their prices up because their customers can't afford to pay for it. It's no wonder the insolvency rate reached its highest level in 35 years. And how did we get here? It's because this government is more focused on ideology than sound fiscal management. There's a Treasurer more concerned with headlines than households. And it's those that can least afford it that ultimately pay the price. For the next decade, the federal budget is a sea of red because Labor keep spending with reckless abandon on their own pet projects. In fact, they've added $50 billion of discretionary spending this year alone. Public spending is currently growing twice as fast as the rest of the economy. The government sector is getting fat while the taxpaying private sector and small businesses are starving. This government's answer to everything is more debt. Take our housing affordability problem. Labor's answer is a five per cent deposi…
date: 2026-02-05T09:55:00+00:00

Cowper Electorate: Roads | Statements | House debates
type: item
description: This week I've been inundated with calls and emails from frustrated constituents who have once again been negatively impacted by the closure of a main access road in my electorate, Waterfall Way....
encoded: This week I've been inundated with calls and emails from frustrated constituents who have once again been negatively impacted by the closure of a main access road in my electorate, Waterfall Way. The 185 kilometre artery road sustains the lifeblood of the Dorrigo plateau region, connecting agricultural industries and communities to essential services. It's importance and natural beauty are matched only by its unreliability. These communities need a viable alternative route, and, frankly, it needed to be done years ago. While these pathways have proven difficult to map out in the past due to the multifaceted government solutions required to effectively manage this issue, in recent years, all representatives have come together and effectively scoped the best way forward. I'd like to commend mayor Steve Allan and MPs Michael Kemp and Brendan Moylan for driving this forward at a state and local level. But now it needs to be funded properly. Funding that had been earmarked in 2022 by the coalition at a state and federal level has since been rejected with the change of government. Since then, we've had a rolling procession of ministers who are there for the pics and the platitudes but never bring their chequebooks for the solution. It's time for our isolated communities to be recognised and safeguarded. We need a solution, and we needed it yesterday.
date: 2026-02-05T13:42:00+00:00

Cost of Living | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
type: item
description: Before the member for Eden-Monaro leaves the chamber, I refer to her last contribution. In the past, with disasters in my area and in previous times, we have worked very closely together. Where...
encoded: Before the member for Eden-Monaro leaves the chamber, I refer to her last contribution. In the past, with disasters in my area and in previous times, we have worked very closely together. Where credit is due, I will certainly give the member that credit. However, your last speech was rank with hypocrisy in saying we were looking at ourselves—looking backwards, not looking forward. What was the last question in question time about? Was it about the interest rate rise that will cause the majority of households to pay another $1,300 a year? No, it wasn't about that. Was it about the housing crisis? No, it wasn't about that. Was it about the fact that electricity prices have gone up 38 per cent? No. Was it about gas going up 42 per cent? No? What was the question about? Was it about the economy? Was it about how people are suffering? No. It was about why standing orders were suspended. All they wanted to do was talk about what's happening in this bubble. They didn't want to talk about what's happening to people on the ground. The point of that is that it was completely political. The last question in question time—the show people want to watch to hear answers to questions from those across this side—was deliberate and political and had nothing to do with people because you don't care. The government doesn't care. It was complete spin. It was a very deliberate question, to take the shine and the spotlight away from a failing Treasurer and a failing government and a failing economy. What we see is that that will continue. We see the unlucky No. 13. This is the 13th rate rise since this government came into power—$1,300 a year. These are normal people who are being affected. In my electorate, we don't have the highest mortgages. But with this interest rate rise—and I've already spoken to people in my electorate—people are now deciding whether they pay for food or whether they pay for pharmaceuticals. These are business owners. These are farmers, pensioners, students and pe…
date: 2026-02-04T16:20:00+00:00

Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I move the amendment on sheet 2 circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 30), after section 19AABC, insert: 19AABCA Temporary freeze in indexation for tap spirits...
encoded: I move the amendment on sheet 2 circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 30), after section 19AABC, insert: 19AABCA Temporary freeze in indexation for tap spirits Temporary freeze in indexation (1) Despite any other provision of this Act, subsection 19(1) applies, in relation to a tap spirit and each CPI indexed alcoholic beverage rate, as if the indexation factor were 1 for each of the following indexation days: (a) 1 August 2026; (b) 1 February 2027. Note 1: This means the rates as they are on 31 July 2026 will be unchanged for the next year. Note 2: When indexation resumes in August 2027, the indexation factor for 1 August 2027 will be applied against these unchanged rates (see subsection 19(1)). (2) In this section: CPI indexed alcoholic beverage rate means a rate of duty in the following: (a) the rate column of subheading 2208.20, 2208.20.10, 2208.20.90, 2208.30.00, 2208.40.00, 2208.50.00, 2208.60.00, 2208.70.00, 2208.90.10, 2208.90.20 or 2208.90.90 in Schedule 3; (b) the rate column of an item in the table in Schedule 4A or a later Schedule that relates to a subheading in Schedule 3 specified in paragraph (a). indexation day has the same meaning as in section 19. tap spirit means: (a) an alcoholic beverage not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol stored in an individual container: (i) of at least 8 litres but not exceeding 48 litres; and (ii) designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system; or (b) an alcoholic beverage exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol stored in an individual container: (i) of at least 4 litres but not exceeding 20 litres; and (ii) designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system. This relates to having spirits on tap. I've already spoken at length about that, and I commend it to the House.
date: 2026-02-04T11:04:00+00:00

Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I move the amendment on sheet 1, circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 23), after section 6L, insert: 6M Temporary freeze in indexation for tap spirits (1) Despite any...
encoded: I move the amendment on sheet 1, circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 23), after section 6L, insert: 6M Temporary freeze in indexation for tap spirits (1) Despite any other provision of this Act, subsection 6A(1) applies, in relation to a tap spirit and each CPI indexed alcoholic beverage rate, as if the indexation factor were 1 for each of the following indexation days: (a) 1 August 2026; (b) 1 February 2027. Note 1: This means the rates as they are on 31 July 2026 will be unchanged for the next year. Note 2: When indexation resumes in August 2027, the indexation factor for 1 August 2027 will be applied against these unchanged rates (see subsection 6A(1)). (2) In this section: CPI indexed alcoholic beverage rate means a rate of duty set out in: (a) item 2 of the Schedule; or (b) subitem 3.1, 3.2 or 3.10 of the Schedule. indexation day has the same meaning as in section 6A. tap spirit means: (a) an alcoholic beverage not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol stored in an individual container: (i) of at least 8 litres but not exceeding 48 litres; and (ii) designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system; or (b) an alcoholic beverage exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol stored in an individual container: (i) of at least 4 litres but not exceeding 20 litres; and (ii) designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system. The amendment on sheet 1 would require the Treasury to conduct a comprehensive review of Australia's alcohol tax system by 2 November 2026. This amendment is about one simple truth: on our current course, the Australian way of life is being taxed and inflated away by the government prioritising ideology and spin over the lives of everyday Aussies. While inflation is easing overseas, Australia's inflation again rose in December. When the cost-of-living crisis is being added to by a further 3.8 per cent, it's becoming an emergency. Australians are doing it tough. Young fam…
date: 2026-02-04T10:43:00+00:00

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I move the amendment as circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 23), after section 6L, insert: 6M Temporary freeze in indexation for tap spirits (1) Despite any other...
encoded: I move the amendment as circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 23), after section 6L, insert: 6M Temporary freeze in indexation for tap spirits (1) Despite any other provision of this Act, subsection 6A(1) applies, in relation to a tap spirit and each CPI indexed alcoholic beverage rate, as if the indexation factor were 1 for each of the following indexation days: (a) 1 August 2026; (b) 1 February 2027. Note 1: This means the rates as they are on 31 July 2026 will be unchanged for the next year. Note 2: When indexation resumes in August 2027, the indexation factor for 1 August 2027 will be applied against these unchanged rates (see subsection 6A(1)). (2) In this section: CPI indexed alcoholic beverage rate means a rate of duty set out in: (a) item 2 of the Schedule; or (b) subitem 3.1, 3.2 or 3.10 of the Schedule. indexation day has the same meaning as in section 6A. tap spirit means: (a) an alcoholic beverage not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol stored in an individual container: (i) of at least 8 litres but not exceeding 48 litres; and (ii) designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system; or (b) an alcoholic beverage exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol stored in an individual container: (i) of at least 4 litres but not exceeding 20 litres; and (ii) designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system. This is a straightforward amendment that would extend the government's pause on indexation of draught beer excise so that it also applies to on-tap spirits from 1 August 2026. We welcome the pause on the draught beer indexation. In fact, it was Nationals policy going back some time. We've said very clearly that pubs, clubs and hospitality venues deserve support, especially in our regions where our locals play an important role in our communities. But this particular amendment goes to something more important, and that is fairness. Because under the government's approach, if you o…
date: 2026-02-04T10:22:00+00:00

Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
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description: Today I rise with a heavy heart, alongside colleagues on all sides of this House, to acknowledge and mourn the lives lost in the tragic and senseless attack at Bondi. Like so many Australians, I...
encoded: Today I rise with a heavy heart, alongside colleagues on all sides of this House, to acknowledge and mourn the lives lost in the tragic and senseless attack at Bondi. Like so many Australians, I was shaken to my core by the images and the stories that followed—stories of ordinary people enjoying an ordinary day in a place that symbolises freedom, community and joy. Bondi is one of our country's iconic locations. It is where families gather, where visitors are welcomed, where life is lived freely without fear. On 14 December, 2025, that freedom was shattered. As the sun dipped towards the horizon and families laughed together as the celebrations of Chanukah by the Sea commenced, a nightmare unfolded—a terrifying act of hatred that took 15 precious lives and wounded many more. That night should have been filled with candlelight and laughter. Instead, it became a moment of horror. That this place and this celebration became the scene of such evil and violence has left our nation grieving and deeply saddened. Today, we remember those whose lives were taken. Each of them was more than a victim of an act of violence. They were loved, as parents, children, siblings, partners, friends, colleagues and community leaders. They had plans, dreams and futures that will never now be realised. To their families and loved ones I offer my deepest condolences. No words spoken in this chamber can ease your pain, but I hope you know that the grief you carry is shared by everyone in this place and by this nation. We also acknowledge those who were injured, both physically and psychologically. The trauma of that day does not end when the headlines fade. Healing will take time, and it will require ongoing care, compassion and support. We must ensure that those affected are not forgotten once the immediate shock has passed. In moments of darkness, it is easy to focus on the horror, but today it is also right and necessary that we recognise the extraordinary acts of bravery and humanity that…
date: 2026-01-19T12:36:00+00:00

Corporate Governance: Superannuation Industry | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: I'm calling on the Albanese government to start helping the families caught up in the biggest super failure in Australian history—First Guardian and Shield. Twelve thousand Australians have...
encoded: I'm calling on the Albanese government to start helping the families caught up in the biggest super failure in Australian history—First Guardian and Shield. Twelve thousand Australians have had more than a billion dollars of their super put at risk. These are everyday people who have worked hard, saved and trusted in the system, but they have lost their super because this government and ASIC failed to protect them. Rather than supporting the victims, the focus now seems to be on developing new laws. If we have learnt anything from this debacle, it's that the answer isn't always more laws. Often, ASIC and government just need to do their job. The government has the power under section 23 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act to take action and give some hope to many of those affected by Australia's biggest super failure. They say they're waiting on advice from Treasury so they can seek more advice from APRA. My advice is simple: do the right thing. Every day of delay adds to the anxiety of people who have already lost enough. Tragically, one victim has already taken his life. This isn't a bailout; it's about delivering justice for the honest families who were let down by this government and ASIC. Don't make them wait through endless court cases. These are real people. They're good, hardworking Australians who have done the right thing. Now it's time for this government to do the same thing.
date: 2025-11-27T13:53:00+00:00

Low-Income Superannuation Tax Offset | Motions | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak on this motion, which claims that only the Labor government will protect Australian super. Well, if that's how Labor want to be judged, they should hang their heads in shame,...
encoded: I rise to speak on this motion, which claims that only the Labor government will protect Australian super. Well, if that's how Labor want to be judged, they should hang their heads in shame, because the facts are clear: Labor is not protecting your super. On this government's watch, more than 12,000 Australians—many nearing retirement—are facing over a billion dollars in losses from their super following the collapse of First Guardian and Shield. This is the biggest failure in Australian history. It happened under Labor, and they've been asleep at the wheel since. That's not what protecting your superannuation looks like. I've met some of these people. These aren't rich people. These aren't wealthy people. I've met a detective from Queensland. I've met members of the Save Our Super group like Melinda Kee; Peter Spencer-Franks, a bus driver; Brad Waterman; Denise Cocquyt, a teacher; and Mike Poland, who I met last week in Perth. They've lost everything. On a personal note to them: thank you for coming to see me to tell me your story. More so, thank you for stepping up despite what you're facing, despite you working all your life and now having no super because of a failure by government and a failure by ASIC, which I'll get to. You stand up, and you will be the face, and you will fight and advocate on behalf of those 12,000 other Australians. Thank you. These are Australians who played by the rules. They trusted that the system would protect them, but it failed and they tell me they've been left with nothing. The government ignores them. Their letters go unanswered, or they're answered by bureaucratic nonsense. They just want the government to acknowledge that they exist—that's all—and to work with them. People caught up in these failures have been pushed to the brink, and there is a real human cost. Very, very sadly, one person has taken his own life over this. I want to say this to those impacted. I will work with you. Please take one day at a time. Lean on your fa…
date: 2025-11-24T16:51:00+00:00

Energy | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: This government is obsessed with ideology over results and self-promotion over the needs of Australian people, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Labor's failing energy policy. Net zero at...
encoded: This government is obsessed with ideology over results and self-promotion over the needs of Australian people, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Labor's failing energy policy. Net zero at any cost is hurting families, hurting industry and hurting our nation's sovereignty. And for what? So that our illustrious minister for climate change and energy can cling to relevance by securing a COP31 'president of negotiations' title. While that might provide him with a personal ego boost, it doesn't provide a boost to our economy or the average Aussie's household budget. Household electricity bills are up a whopping 39 per cent, making power prices the single biggest contributor to inflation. If your bill is up 39 per cent, then you know that the businesses who manufacture, distribute and sell every product on our supermarket shelves are also forced to pay the increase in energy costs to consumers. Australia has already been cutting its emissions at roughly twice the pace of the OECD while producing just one per cent of the globe's total emissions. Why are everyday Australians expected to carry more of the global burden than they create? We have to focus on what is right for our country, our economy and our people, and that's affordable, reliable energy. There is a cheaper, better and fairer way forward, and the coalition are committed to delivering it.
date: 2025-11-24T16:24:00+00:00

Economy | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: Why is it that everyday Australians are expected to pay for this government's policy backflips and failures? After realising that you can't tax imaginary money in unrealised capital gains, the...
encoded: Why is it that everyday Australians are expected to pay for this government's policy backflips and failures? After realising that you can't tax imaginary money in unrealised capital gains, the Treasurer's 'new and improved' super tax 2.0 is reportedly going to be even more complicated and will add costs onto super funds that will be passed on to every single member, not just those with large balances—well, for those who still have balances, anyway, unlike the 12,000 Aussies who lost their life savings after this government ignored ASIC warnings. Then there's the failed $9 trillion net zero policy, driving up the price of not just your monthly energy bills but every single product on our supermarket shelves. Australians deserve a cheaper, better, fairer energy policy, but instead our homegrown industries are being driven offshore and inflation rates are being pushed above the threshold that would finally trigger some relief for mortgage holders. Speaking of mortgage holders, how's your five per cent deposit scheme working out? Rather than going full throttle on the real issue of housing supply, Labor has introduced a bandaid inflationary policy that, within its first month, has added $10,000 to the national house price. As the saying goes, you always pay more under Labor.
date: 2025-11-04T13:54:00+00:00

Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: The passage of the Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025 will be supported by the coalition. The development of this bill represents practical and necessary follow-up...
encoded: The passage of the Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty Implementation) Bill 2025 will be supported by the coalition. The development of this bill represents practical and necessary follow-up action to the signing earlier this year of what is generally known as the Geelong treaty. It also has a much longer and more formal name, which is the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But, whatever you prefer to call it, this arrangement represents a key element underpinning the trilateral AUKUS partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was signed in Geelong on 26 July 2025 by Australia's current defence minister, Richard Marles, and his UK counterpart, John Healey. In broad terms, this represents a shared commitment between our two nations to collaborate closely on the design, construction, operation, sustainment and regulation of nuclear powered submarines, the central capability under Pillar I of AUKUS. To be more specific, the bill gives domestic legal effect to article XXI of the treaty. That article provides that neither nation will impose customs duties, excise or similar charges on certain goods imported or exported in connection with the treaty. In practical terms, it means that, when eligible goods are imported into Australia or exported to the United Kingdom for use under the Geelong treaty, they can be traded freely without the burden of additional customs and excise costs. This bill achieves that by inserting item 58A into schedule 4 of the Customs Tariff Act 1995, establishing a duty-free rate for qualifying goods used under the treaty; defining 'Geelong Treaty' within the Customs Tariff Act to provide legal clarity; and ensuring that the changes apply not only to future imports but also to any qualifying goods that have already been imported and are awaiting customs processing wh…
date: 2025-11-04T13:06:00+00:00

Regional Australia: Roads | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I had the privilege of being the chair of the road safety committee back in 2019-20. Further to that, I had the privilege of actually going to the third international road safety convention....
encoded: I had the privilege of being the chair of the road safety committee back in 2019-20. Further to that, I had the privilege of actually going to the third international road safety convention. There were representatives of countries from all around the world concentrating on how we reduce the significant road toll in every single country around the world. We know that in Australia alone last year there were around 1,200 deaths. Despite the efforts of governments, despite the efforts of councils, despite the efforts of agencies in the sector, nothing seems to budge. There was a common thread and a shared international philosophy across four areas: first, people make predictable mistakes that can lead to road crashes; second, the human body has a limited physical ability to tolerate crash forces before harm occurs; third—this is the big one—a shared responsibility exists among those who fund, plan, design, build, manage and use roads and vehicles to prevent crashes that result in serious injury or death; and finally, all parts of the system must be strengthened to multiply their effects so, if one part fails, road users are still protected. I'll go back to the third area: shared responsibility exists among those who fund—government, plan—government and design—government. We are now seeing that one part has failed—that is, the Labor government's funding to our regions to fix our roads. While the last speaker might have said, 'We're spending this much here and that much there,' the government is not spending it in our electorates, not spending it in Nationals electorates. I know because I go and speak to my mayors, the councils and the councillors, and I speak to our people who use those roads. Imagine the outcry. Deputy Speaker Swanson, I would imagine you're getting the same outcry in your electorate. Our people are being told—victim shamed—'Your speed limits are going to be reduced from 100 kilometres an hour down to 70 kilometres an hour because you can't be trusted t…
date: 2025-11-03T16:55:00+00:00

Regional Australia: Roads | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.
encoded: I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.
date: 2025-11-03T16:45:00+00:00

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: We did. The Nationals did.
encoded: We did. The Nationals did.
date: 2025-11-03T18:14:00+00:00

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: They are—thank you—small-business owners, who do more hours than I like to think of, and they deserve a break. I know that, when we put that policy out there, I was getting phone...
encoded: They are—thank you—small-business owners, who do more hours than I like to think of, and they deserve a break. I know that, when we put that policy out there, I was getting phone calls, text messages and emails saying, 'Thank you for thinking about us.' This is not about us making money; this is about us reinvesting into our communities to ensure we're here for the future, to ensure that we can spend that money on the Saints soccer team or the Rovers Cricket Club or a charity for cancer. This is what the pubs and clubs do, and so do the small brewers. They're small businesses. They're out there contributing to the economy of regional and rural communities, and, at the end of the day, the government coffers. Not only do we have an obligation to revisit this—and, again, we will support it; it is a fraction of what is required to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the hospitality industry. On that note, this bill is a small and temporary step in the right direction. But Australians deserve more than small steps; they deserve a real plan to bring prices down, lower inflation and deliver tax relief.
date: 2025-11-03T17:39:00+00:00

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak on the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and a related bill, the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025. The coalition will support these bills, because...
encoded: I rise to speak on the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and a related bill, the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025. The coalition will support these bills, because freezing a tax on beer is common sense, and we won't stand in the government's way. But there is much more that needs to be done. Let me start with a bit of background to these bills. Australians face automatic tax increases on alcohol twice a year: on 1 February and on 1 August. That means that every six months excise goes up automatically, regardless of business conditions. It happens whether inflation is high or low, whether the economy is struggling or strong, and whether pubs and clubs can afford it or not. It's a system that runs on autopilot, and right now that autopilot is flying straight into an inflation storm. Just last week we saw inflation break through the Reserve Bank's target band again. That's bad news for mortgage holders, bad new for families and bad news for small businesses, who already face higher costs at every single turn. And drinkers get hit by inflation twice: once through rising prices and again through higher excise. This bill gives small relief from the excise but does nothing to tackle the rising prices. So any pause, any breathing space for pubs, clubs and everyday Australians, is worth supporting. But we should also be clear about what this measure actually delivers. This freeze saves less than 1c per pint. It does nothing about the high inflation we continue to see under Labor. High inflation means that the prices of your groceries, your power bills and your mortgage continue to go up. Under this government, we've already seen food prices go up by 15 per cent, housing by 19 per cent, insurance by 30 per cent, gas by 38 per cent and electricity by a whopping 39 per cent. Households need genuine action on the cost of living, not 1c on a beer. This change is nothing more than crumbs from the Treasurer's table. Yet, for many mid-north-coast hosp…
date: 2025-11-03T17:39:00+00:00

Superannuation | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: I have a point of order on relevance. I appreciate that the minister is entitled to preamble, but the question was in relation to how many times the government ignored warnings from Treasury and ASIC.
encoded: I have a point of order on relevance. I appreciate that the minister is entitled to preamble, but the question was in relation to how many times the government ignored warnings from Treasury and ASIC.
date: 2025-10-30T14:50:00+00:00

Superannuation | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Recent collapses like Shield and First Guardian have put over $1 billion of Australians' hard-earned retirement savings at risk. How many times has the...
encoded: My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Recent collapses like Shield and First Guardian have put over $1 billion of Australians' hard-earned retirement savings at risk. How many times has the government ignored warnings from Treasury and ASIC to effectively regulate these schemes?
date: 2025-10-30T14:49:00+00:00

Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise to speak on the Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2025. This is a remarkable piece of legislation and not for the good reasons. What we have before us today...
encoded: I rise to speak on the Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2025. This is a remarkable piece of legislation and not for the good reasons. What we have before us today is a bill that seeks to retroactively validate more than a decade's worth of unlawful fees collected by ASIC because of a mistake made under Labor back in 2011. This is no small administrative oversight; it is a drafting error of at least $150 million that sat hidden in law for 14 years. And now Labor is seeking parliamentary approval to make it all go away by passing the biggest retrospective tax validation in Australia's history. Let's step through how we got here. In 2011, under the Gillard Labor government, the parliament introduced legislation that impacted indexation of ASIC company review fees. But it turns out the legislation was botched. That mistake meant that, since 2011, legally, indexation was improperly applied to a variety of ASIC review fees, including late payment fees, the 10-year prepayment fee and the special-purpose company fee for charities and not-for-profits. That means that, each year, ASIC published the index amount, charged them and collected the revenue from millions of Australian companies without a proper legal basis to do so. It wasn't until late 2024, during an internal ASIC legal audit, that the error was finally discovered. Fourteen years after Labor's regulation took effect, ASIC realised it had been charging the wrong amounts all along. While this was a drafting mistake, and we accept mistakes can happen, the scale of this mistake is breathtaking. More than 1.5 million registered companies have paid the affected fees. Another 800,000 deregistered entities were charged. And nearly half a million more were invoiced but hadn't yet paid. All told, somewhere between $150 million and $200 million has been over-collected due to the indexation that wasn't legally valid. This is an extraordinary fix to ask the parliament to agree to, and it deserve…
date: 2025-10-29T10:15:00+00:00