Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the Albanese Labor government's toxic taxes, as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the Albanese Labor government's toxic taxes.

I have to say, as we commence the second half of this year, what an absolute disgrace! This government has been exposed. What kind of a prime minister legislates a widow's tax? Well, sadly for the Australian people, that would be Mr Anthony Albanese. This is a tax that can hit when your spouse dies. This is a tax that can hit when a marriage breaks down. But, worse, it's a tax that can hit victims of domestic violence trying to rebuild their lives. That is why this matter is urgent and that is why the Senate should suspend its standing orders.

We need to hold this government to account—a government that likes to laud itself as standing up for women, a government that likes to laud itself as being the only people who can save those who are less fortunate. Yet, at the same time, don't worry about what comes out of their mouths; look at their actions. They have legislated a widow's tax, they have legislated a tax that hits victims of domestic violence and they have legislated a tax that hits Australians when their marriage breaks down. As I said, that is why we should support the suspension motion.

This is not theoretical. As we have now seen, there is a domestic violence survivor in Australia who has reportedly now been unable to refinance because of Labor's new tax laws. That is just an absolute disgrace. She is potentially now being forced to sell an asset she has spent more than 15 years building. Think about what that means and think about it in the context of this procedural motion to suspend the standing orders. This is a woman trying to rebuild her life after domestic violence, and now, because of the Albanese Labor government, because of those opposite, she may face another financial penalty because of the tax law imposed by those opposite.