Duty calls on online safety

Same bills, new running order

Yesterday the House agreed 89 to 48 to a week's timetable that was in essence was renegotiated on the floor: online safety goes first, and the tax bills are debated today and voted on Thursday. Outside the chamber, the ABC reports (abc.net.au) Greens leader Senator David Shoebridge will pitch a lift in the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $26,000 at the National Press Club today, which the Parliamentary Budget Office costs at $22 billion a year. Here's where to watch.

Today, in the House

The amended schedule meant the tax bills did not start last night. Online safety took the afternoon and evening, and was unresolved at the 10pm adjournment, meaning the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) is up for all remaining stages today. McIntosh (Liberal) has a second reading amendment to decline the bill and Scamps (Independent) one calling for an online services ombudsman; neither changes the bill's text. Coalition speakers have said they cannot support it as it stands, while Steggall (CSA), Chaney (Independent) and Boele (Independent) have all spoken in support.

The tax package is the other big focus today, to be debated together until 10pm, with remaining stages on for Thursday:

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au): second reading resumes
• Income Tax Rates Amendment (Minimum Tax on Discretionary Trusts) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au): debated with Tax Reform No. 3
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 4) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au): introduced yesterday; the Treasurer put it at $3.8 billion in relief, but, the much anticipated fine print.

The R&D tax refund provided via the RDTI in annual company tax returns narrows to companies in their first ten years (15 for therapeutics) even as the turnover threshold lifts from $20 million to $50 million, and a new 50 per cent start-up capital gains discount depends on the company staying registered, reporting annually and passing an ongoing innovation test.

The Domestic Gas Reservation (aph.gov.au) package continues in the Federation Chamber, with remaining stages back in the House tomorrow. Watson-Brown (Greens) and Ryan (Independent) have second reading amendments calling for a 25 per cent gas export tax and for scheme gas to go to households rather than data centres; neither changes the Domestic Gas Reservation Bill’s text.

Also in focus:

• Defence Legislation Amendment (Accelerating Capability and Protecting Bases) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au): second reading resumes, remaining stages tomorrow Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au) and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (National Policing Information Charges) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au): second reading resumes, then continues in the Federation Chamber; no vote today
• government bills listed for introduction: Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Biosecurity and Export Control) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au), Competition and Consumer Amendment (AER Inquiry Powers) Bill 2026 and Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2026.

Today, in the Senate

The Senate's business is Supplementary Budget Estimates (aph.gov.au), which Statekraft app subscribers can watch live. Treasury is up from 9am and the Reserve Bank at 11.15am before the Economics Legislation Committee, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing from 9am before the Community Affairs Legislation Committee. Tomorrow brings the Department of Defence at 9am and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission at 9am.

Yesterday's key matters:

the AFP tabled analysis (abc.net.au) of 55 radicalised children aged 12 to 17, all male and all radicalised at least partly online, and said it handled nearly 800 protective security reports targeting parliamentarians in the first six months of the year

• Finance was told nine electorate offices have been identified for security upgrades
• Home Affairs confirmed the US is seeking Australian biometric data from travellers, with a 31 December deadline

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry defended an $8.8 million grant to the Rushy Lagoon project, and Scarr (Liberal) alleged importers not selected for the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility lost up to $25 million, while the department said the three companies in it reported no business impact

• the National Emergency Management Agency said it had paid $924,664 to KordaMentha and KPMG for payroll reviews, remediation and audits as of 31 August
• Australia Post's chief executive received a $1.2 million bonus on a $1.64 million base salary; he has also announced he will be stepping down at the end of this financial year.

From the committees

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security: Review of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission reform package 2026 (aph.gov.au), advisory report (aph.gov.au) tabled yesterday, supporting both bills subject to 25 recommendations

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (aph.gov.au): Report 6 of 2026, tabled yesterday, recommends approval of five works, with expediency for the Australian Taxation Office fit-out at Festival Tower 2 in Adelaide (aph.gov.au).

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Until tomorrow!

— Mia