Amendments rejected; scrutiny dialled ⏫

Expect the expected

Second reading debates on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and the Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) concluded as expected in the House yesterday. The government pushed through second-reading stages, successfully voting down key amendments introduced by the Opposition and Independent MP Kate Chaney to prepare the bills for their third and final readings today before heading to the Senate next sitting.

The House Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water public hearing for its Inquiry into solar panel reuse and recycling in Australia (aph.gov.au) highlighted a severe lack of capital investment for specialised machinery required to reclaim valuable copper, silver, and silicon before millions of aging panels hit Australian landfills.

Other matters today for the House include resumption of second reading debates on a series of Bills and the Minister for Home Affairs will propose the establishment of a Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and Organisations.

Yesterday's Budget Estimates hearings raised myriad issues as questioning continued apace, including on Australia's efforts to engage with and support transition for artificial intelligence in the Economics committee. Today:

• Community Affairs will focus on social security and whether the Budget's measures help or hinder in this regard, including changes to the NDIS
• Economics will turn to questions stemming from the Budget measures for the RBA and ATO
• Education and Employment will focus on education and schools
• Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will focus on foreign affairs and regional trade security given global volatility.

Forward this to colleagues if you haven't already - the context for what's happening is gaining more and more importance for everyday issues. Or, point them to (statekraft.au).

Until tomorrow, with the last day of this sitting period only focused on Estimates.

— Mia