Tax

Fast-track Labor's tax reform bills through their first stage — back it or block it?

The government moved to bring on two tax bills quickly — skipping the usual formalities, taking them together and reading them a first time. The package would change capital gains tax and negative gearing rules. The Coalition tried to have the fast-track handled as a separate question so it could argue against it, saying the bills had been rushed through a short, inadequate Senate inquiry and would raise taxes on housing, savings, small business and family wealth. The government moved to end the debate and pushed the bills through their first stage 32 votes to 23. The full second-reading debate on the bills' merits is still to come.

Change capital gains tax and negative gearing, and add new tax offsets — back it or block it?

These two bills change the tax rules on investment gains. Schedule 1 changes the capital gains tax discount, schedule 2 changes negative gearing, schedule 3 creates a 'working Australians tax offset', and schedule 4 adds a $1,000 standard deduction for work-related expenses. The Greens said they had secured amendments and would support the bills passing. The Coalition said it opposes schedules 1 and 2 but supports schedules 3 and 4. The debate ran nearly two hours and no vote was counted on this item.

Pass the government's tax reform bills — a minimum tax on capital gains and tighter property deductions — back it or block it?

Debate time on these two tax reform bills had already been capped by an earlier order, so the Senate moved straight to voting on a long list of amendments and then final passage. The core changes include a minimum 30% tax on certain large capital gains (with carve-outs for people on pensions and other social security payments) and new limits on tax deductions tied to residential property, plus small business capital gains provisions.

The government's own amendments (sheet AU131) were actually rejected, 11 votes to 40. One Australian Greens amendment — adding superannuation borrowing rules and inserting 'and superannuation' into the bill's title — was agreed to, 33 to 26, so the bill was reported with amendments. Amendments from the Coalition, One Nation, David Pocock and the Jacqui Lambie Network were rejected. The bills then passed, 35 votes to 25.

Pass the tax reform package with a $250 tax cut, $1,000 instant deduction and first home buyer help — back it or block it?

This was the final stage of the government's tax reform bill, agreeing to changes made by the Senate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the package delivers a $250 tax cut for working Australians, a $1,000 instant tax deduction, and support for first home buyers locked out of the housing market. He said the reforms also rebalance the tax system to better align income earned from work with income earned from assets.

No other member spoke in the recorded exchange. The House first voted to end debate (90 to 47), then voted to accept the Senate's amendments (98 to 39), passing the bill.

Overhaul capital gains tax and negative gearing rules — back it or block it?

These bills change how investment gains are taxed. They replace the flat 50% capital gains tax discount with a model that only discounts gains above inflation, set a minimum tax rate on capital gains, limit negative gearing, and stop self-managed super funds borrowing to buy residential property. A working Australian tax offset is included alongside.

Labor says the changes raise $3.6 billion but are more than offset by a $6.4 billion tax offset returned to 13.3 million taxpayers, and level the playing field for first home buyers. The Coalition, One Nation and crossbencher David Pocock pushed back over costs, process and unresolved detail. Debate ran 104 minutes in committee before the time allotted expired — no vote was counted.

Overhaul capital gains tax and negative gearing while cutting income tax for workers — back it or block it?

This package cuts income tax for workers and changes property and investment taxes. It creates a permanent tax offset of up to $250 for about 13 million workers, and lets people claim a $1,000 standard work deduction without receipts. It limits negative gearing to new-build homes from July 2027 (existing investments protected), and replaces the flat 50% capital gains discount with a system that adjusts for inflation plus a 30% minimum tax on net gains. Labor says it makes housing fairer for the next generation and helps 75,000 more people buy a home. The Coalition and One Nation oppose the capital gains and negative gearing parts (but back the tax cuts). Independent David Pocock backs the goal but says the bill was rushed and wants amendments. The debate ran nearly two hours and was interrupted — no vote yet.

Declare Labor's tax package a 'toxic' burden on hard work and investment — back it or block it?

Coalition Senator Richard Colbeck moved an urgency motion demanding the government explain why Australians are 'paying the price' for what he calls a toxic tax agenda struck through a deal with the Greens. The dispute centres on changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, plus other budget tax measures. The Coalition says the changes break election promises and hurt young savers, small businesses and self-managed super funds. Labor says its budget cuts taxes for millions of workers and steers negative gearing toward new housing. The Greens say the real problem is that Labor won't tax gas corporations and is instead squeezing disabled Australians via NDIS cuts. The Senate voted the motion down 22 to 32.

Formally accuse Labor of misleading voters by raising taxes it promised not to — back it or block it?

Senator Andrew Bragg (Coalition) moved an urgency motion asking the Senate to declare that the Albanese Government misled Australians before the election by promising no tax rises, then pursuing higher taxes on superannuation, savings, investments and small business. The debate centred on Labor's move to change the capital gains tax discount, cut negative gearing benefits and apply a 30 per cent rate. The Coalition and One Nation argued the changes broke election promises, would raise rents, deter investment and shut young people out of concessions. Labor said it is reforming an unfair concession that mostly benefits the wealthiest and is already cooling house prices; the Greens said neither major party makes billionaires pay their fair share. The Senate voted it down 24 to 33.