Cost of living — bills, debates & Question Time

Motion · SenateDebate only

Cost of living · Grocery prices and net zero

Declare that grocery prices have soared because of net-zero policies, energy costs, foreign land ownership and red tape on farmers — back it or block it?

One Nation's Pauline Hanson moved that the Senate note grocery prices have skyrocketed because of net-zero policies, high energy costs, foreign ownership of farmland, and regulatory burdens on farmers. She and colleagues argued electricity prices — driven by renewables and international climate agreements — flow through to the cost of food, and that Australia should use its coal, gas and uranium for cheap, reliable power.

The Coalition backed the theme, saying the government has no plan for the cost of living and that energy costs are embedded in every grocery item. Labor rejected the blame, arguing One Nation and the Coalition repeatedly vote against wage rises, tax cuts and energy bill relief. The debate ran about 68 minutes with no vote taken.

🗳 A public mood-check, not a scientific poll. Vote to see where the room stands.

🗳 be the first to weigh in🏛 1h 8m debated

📄 Senate Hansard, 2 Jul 2026 — Grocery Prices

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The strongest case each way

For · One Nation (Pauline Hanson)Hanson argued the government's net-zero push has driven electricity prices up dramatically, and because energy underpins all food production, transport and refrigeration, grocery bills keep climbing. She said Australia is energy-rich yet imposes costs that push families into poverty, citing charity reports of people skipping meals and living in cars.

For · CoalitionCanavan and Cash said the cost of living is the top issue for Australians and the government has no plan for it, pointing to broken promises to cut power bills. They argued higher energy costs are silently baked into every product at the checkout, and that Australians now pay far more for food, electricity, insurance and rent than four years ago.

Against · Labor (Tony Sheldon)Sheldon argued One Nation and the Coalition talk about helping families but repeatedly vote against the very measures that would — minimum wage rises, tax cuts, penalty rate protections, price-gouging rules and energy bill relief. He said their attack on "red, green and blue tape" is really about stripping workers' rights while protecting big business at the top of the supply chain.

Urgency debate · SenatePassed 21–19

Cost of living · Blaming the government for rising prices

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.

🗳 be the first to weigh in🏛 37m debated

📄 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.