Fortnight done; hyper-busy coming

What a fortnight!

This is a longer than regular edition today as a result. Across the last two weeks, Krafted. has delivered summary details of the following into your inbox.

Week 1 (committees), the:

• Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee held a public hearing for its inquiry into the illegal tobacco crisis in Australia (aph.gov.au); report due by 30 June 2026
• Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee held a public hearing for its inquiry on offshore processing and resettlement arrangements (aph.gov.au); report due by 17 June 2026
• Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee tabled its report for the inquiry on the Customs Legislation Amendment (False Trade Marks Infringement Notices) Bill 2026 (aph.gov.au).
• Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services held a public hearing for its inquiry into Small Business Insurance (aph.gov.au); report due by 27 October 2026
• Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee tabled its inquiry report on the Review of the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020 (aph.gov.au).
• Senate Select Committee on the Taxation of Gas Resources (aph.gov.au) tabled its inquiry report, without agreed recommendations
• submission window closed for inquiries of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (x3) and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Week 2 (sitting, committees, Budget), the:

• Senate Economics Legislation Committee tabled its inquiry report on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Regulations 2026 (aph.gov.au)
• the Appropriation Bills supporting Budget 2026-27 were tabled and second readings completed
• Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee tabled its report on the inquiry into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 (aph.gov.au) (see below for my summary)
• Budget and Budget Reply speeches were, of course, delivered
• submission window closed for an inquiry of the Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works.

Submissions close today for the Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into epilepsy in Australia (aph.gov.au).

Headline points from the Leader of the Opposition's Budget reply speech (liberal.org.au) delivered last night (the next election is due by September 2028):

• the Coalition will fight Labor's housing tax reforms in the Senate and repeal them if elected
• and, if elected:
• index income tax thresholds to inflation from 2028-29
• tie the immigration cap to housing construction; along with new measures to refine visa processing and deporting 70,000 overstayers
• restrict the NDIS and 17 welfare programs to Australian citizens
• abolish net zero policies and lift the ban on nuclear generated energy
• measures for fuel reserves expansion and incentives for new refineries including biofuels and coal-to-liquids, and designate two "National Strategic Priority Projects" by law: the Browse Basin gas field (WA) and the Taroom oil field (Qld)
• allocate $5 billion for housing infrastructure
• establish a Future Generations Fund to pay down debt and invest in infrastructure, with 25% reserved for regional Australia
• deliver a first-ever National Security Strategy, re-establish the position of a dedicated National Security Adviser and deliver 3% of GDP spending on defence.

In yesterday's Question Time, the Liberal Party also focused on a so-called 'death tax' in the Budget papers, referring to the Budget's proposed changes to family trusts.

Also from yesterday, the summary of the report on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 for those tracking this: the committee recommended the Senate pass the bill, noting the bill's built-in flexibility for the minister to delay the start date of the amendments (slated as 1 December 2027) by up to 12 months on three occasions. The main objections to the Bill have been the start date (by all major telco carriers) and apparent uncertainties within the Bill's implementation path (the Greens lodged dissenting comments).

Thank you for reading so far - any and all feedback welcomed. If you know of colleagues who would benefit from Krafted., forward this edition to them or encourage them to sign up directly at (statekraft.au).

A reminder that I bring Krafted. to you on sitting weeks, so see you the week after next which includes Budget Estimates (senators questioning public servants).

— Mia