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

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the routine of business—namely, the Albanese government's toxic taxes on housing, savings, investment, small business and younger Australians as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the consideration of legislation—namely, the Albanese Labor government's toxic taxes on housing, savings, investment, small business and younger Australians.

When you actually read the motion, it is a very simple one. All it says to the government is 'tonight, yes, we are sitting until 10.30 Prime Minister.' We agree we should sit until 10.30 pm. However, what is missing from the government's guillotine and their dirty deal with the Australian Greens is the ability of the Australian Senate—and for those who are here today, the role of the Australian Senate is, on your behalf, to actually interrogate the government; in other words, to ask the government questions about the legislation that it is ramming through the Australian Senate tomorrow morning—to go into committee. What does that mean? It means, at the end of second readers, the Senate goes into committee and we are able to interrogate the government in relation to the tax changes that the government are very happy to tell the Australian people are possibly some of the most substantial changes to taxation legislation that will be going through the Australian Senate.

What is worse for the people listening in to this debate is not only are we unable currently to ask one question of the government in relation to their proposed changes, but the government have today dumped on the Senate around 30 amendments. In other words, the government are so not sure about their own legislation—with the dirty deal that they've done with the Australian Greens to put through their toxic tax changes—they have now had to dream up 30 different amendments to the legislation. And the bad news is we have no ability to ask the government any questions in relation to 'Well, hey, hold on, what in God's name are these amendments going to do to the legislation?' Because remember this: prior to the election, Mr Albanese told the Australian people on no less than 50 occasions that he would be making no changes to negative gearing and no changes to CGT.

The dirty deals being done with the Australian Greens—who have never seen a tax they don't like, and would like to double it—mean we have no ability on behalf of the Australian people, as senators elected to represent the Australian people, to ask any questions about these changes. This is a government that like to stand up and say they're so sure about this legislation, that it is the right thing to do for our country, but not when presented in the next few minutes with the opportunity to allow the Australian Senate to do its job and to question the government about the impact of their changes. Remember, this bill is going through tomorrow. The dirty deal has been done with the Australian Greens. They will push through higher taxes, whilst, at the same time, not actually taking up our offer to deal with the NDIS bill to make it more sustainable.

These are the questions that I have for the government: If you are so confident in your taxation changes—getting rid of negative gearing and getting rid of the capital gains discount—why will you not allow the Senate to ask you questions? Why are you reluctant? In fact, you're not reluctant, you're full-on avoiding any form of scrutiny in relation to your taxation bills. What exactly are you afraid of?

I'm going to answer my own question. I'll tell you what they're afraid of. They are afraid that we will find out just how bad these bills are going to be. They are afraid that we will interrogate the 50—I was about to say 'lie'. President, I apologise. I stopped myself from saying 'lie'. We will interrogate the 50 times that this prime minister said to the Australian people he would not make these changes. What are the questions that you don't want answered? Well, I'll tell you what one of those questions is: the impact on the Australian people. What are the consequences you don't want examined? What are the flaws you don't want exposed?

Again, we are sitting until 10.30 tonight, but we have no ability to ask this government questions. They rammed this through a committee. Two days was all we were given, and, sadly, the committee stage brought up more questions that need to be answered. Amendment after amendment after amendment has been dumped on the Senate. All we are asking the government today is for an opportunity to ask you questions in a committee stage.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this suspension motion by Senator Cash. The government has negotiated, and been prepared to negotiate, across the chamber on passage of our legislation. We have reached agreement with the Australian Greens on how to do that. As part of that negotiation and agreement, we ensured there was enough time for every senator that wanted to speak on these tax bills to speak on these tax bills. That is what we have provided for in this motion. It's not our problem if there's a number of senators that don't want to speak on the bill. You haven't—

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

What about asking questions about this? We want to ask you questions.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, can I say Senator Paterson, Senator Ruston, Senator McLachlan, Senator Askew, Senator Antic, Senator Liddle—none of those senators have chosen to speak on this bill.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Cash! You were heard in silence.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

We have provided, because we knew that there would be a lot of interest in this bill, the opportunity for every senator to participate. The motion allows for that.

In relation to Senator Cash's criticisms about our committee stage, there is a committee stage. The committee stage is tomorrow. You can ask as many questions as you like, and I commit that my answers will be short and to the point so that you're able to ask as many questions as you would like, as you have been afforded through estimates, through the committee process, through question time and through every other forum. You have been asking questions. I sat at estimates. We had a lot of questions there. I know Senator Darmanin chaired the Economics Legislation Committee. There were two days for people to ask questions. All of that is standard process for the passage of legislation through this chamber.

This is the first engagement the government probably has had about seeking cooperation or collaboration on the tax bills with the opposition. You didn't engage at all. The only engagement that was had on this bill was how to delay it for six months alongside a delay to the NDIS for six months.

Forgive us if we feel that some of this may be a little bit disingenuous. Senator Cash, you don't like the bill. You don't want it to pass. I think you've made your mind up about the answers to the questions, but you've chosen not to engage on it other than to seek to delay this bill for six months. We have reached agreement with the majority of this Senate for these bills to pass. It's important that these bills pass. You have all the time in the world, if you choose, to speak on these bills.

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

All the time in the world?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

We've provided that time tonight. If your senators choose not to speak and don't want to participate in that, that is an individual decision for them. We will work through the speakers list. There are a number of second reading amendments to go through before we get to the committee stage, but we have negotiated an orderly way for this bill to proceed through the Senate, which gives senators the respect they deserve.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

It being 10.10 am, pursuant to order, we will move to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 and the Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026.