Parliament is entering its final week before the winter break, with tensions running high and several key pieces of legislation still to be resolved. The lower house speaker, Milton Dick, has been ejecting MPs from question time, accusing Coalition MP Angus Taylor of demeaning parliament by calling Anthony Albanese a liar. Meanwhile, Andrew Hastie claimed One Nation has declared war on him, and Labor has been goading the Coalition and its media supporters for opposing the budget.
NDIS bill faces scrutiny
Labor's unpopular cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will be a major focus this week. The government has agreed to Greens demands to hold up the NDIS bill until mid-August while a parliamentary inquiry continues. The Coalition has yet to fully articulate its position on the bill, but scrutiny on the changes and potential amendments is expected to intensify.
Coalition sources say Taylor will continue to call the government liars, sharpening the focus on Albanese personally. The opposition has been zeroing in on the unpopular aspects of Labor's budget, including the so-called widow's tax, and accusing the government of presiding over rising inflation and falling living standards.
Tax legislation and Coalition strategy
After the first tranche of Labor's budget measures and tax legislation quickly passed parliament last week, attention now turns to the rest of the slate. The Greens backed Labor's tax changes in exchange for reforms to the NDIS legislation, which the Greens also oppose. This deal allowed Labor to bypass the Coalition entirely, raising questions about the opposition's strategy of dealing itself out of negotiations.
Angus Taylor was asked in a press conference what Australians are getting out of an opposition constantly dealing itself out of negotiations. The Greens, by contrast, stayed at the table and secured concessions. The Coalition's default position of no without trying to negotiate has been described as curious.
Gambling advertising reforms
Labor's contentious gambling advertising changes may be introduced this week after a short consultation period. The plans aim to restrict TV and online wagering ads, but both harm reduction advocates and industry groups have expressed dissatisfaction. Definitions around banning influencers and celebrities from endorsing wagering remain unclear, as do rules for American-produced sports and lifestyle shows featuring gambling promotions.
The Greens have voiced major concerns, while the Coalition has been less committal officially, though more Liberals are raising individual concerns. The gambling ads debate has been ongoing for years, and the Coalition must soon declare its position.
Parliamentary events and horse trading
Vanuatu's prime minister, Jotham Napat, will visit Parliament House on Monday to meet Albanese. Wednesday brings the annual Midwinter Ball, a black-tie event where the prime minister and opposition leader traditionally give light-hearted speeches. However, the last week before a break is also a time for last-minute horse trading and long sitting hours, with MPs and senators possibly rushing from the ball to continue votes and negotiations.
Both sides are united in complaining that some definitions in the gambling advertising exposure draft are confusing and vague. Whether those definitions are tightened in the legislation that goes to parliament is worth watching. Along with the NDIS, the gambling ads issue is one where the opposition's vote and negotiating tactics really do matter.
