Declare the Albanese government has failed to fix the cost-of-living crisis and must deliver immediate relief — back it or block it?

One Nation's Sean Bell moved an urgency motion saying the government has failed on cost of living, with milk, bread, groceries, petrol, gas and electricity all rising and forcing families, pensioners and small businesses to cut back on essentials. One Nation and the Coalition backed it, citing power price and childcare rises and a broken promise to cut power bills by $275.

Labor and the Greens attacked the motion. Labor said One Nation votes against its cost-of-living measures and offered no solutions; the Greens said both One Nation and Labor serve corporate donors and blame migrants. The Senate passed the motion 21 votes to 19.

🗳 A public mood-check, not a scientific poll. Vote to reveal how the chamber voted.

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📄 Senate Hansard, 1 Jul 2026 — Cost of Living

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The strongest case each way

For · One Nation (Sean Bell)Basic staples keep rising — milk over $5, bread $4.70, electricity up 21%, petrol up 8% — while the government raises taxes and spends more. Families, pensioners and small businesses are being squeezed and deserve immediate relief.

For · Coalition (Matt O'Sullivan)Real wages are not keeping up: meat and seafood up 5.4%, dairy up 5.2%, and childcare up 27% since the government took office despite a promise of cheaper care. Australians feel the pressure every time they shop, fill up or open a bill.

For · One Nation (Tyron Whitten)The Prime Minister promised to cut power bills by $275 but retail electricity keeps climbing because of subsidies and confidential contracts. Government spending of borrowed money leaves higher taxes and debt for future generations.

Against · Government (Labor)It is absurd for One Nation to move this motion — they offer no policy and repeatedly vote against relief measures like tax cuts, wage rises, cheaper medicines and banning supermarket price gouging. Labor points to five tax cuts, expanded paid parental leave and Medicare investment as real action.

Against · Greens (Penny Allman-Payne & Nick McKim)Both Labor and One Nation serve corporate donors and landlords rather than ordinary people. The Greens say the real drivers are big corporations and billionaires profiteering, and accuse One Nation of blaming migrants to distract from the true culprits.