If the Coalition wants to take some real paint off the government over its more contentious budget measures, it won’t get much of a better chance than another week of Senate estimates
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Senate estimates rarely uncovers many major scandals any more.
Whereas the fortnight-long committee hearing processes could often be compulsive viewing for political junkies, exploding any number of government dramas – big and small – into the public gaze, recent years have seen estimates become more dour affairs. Ministers and departmental officials have become too seasoned at stonewalling questions, often the testiest exchanges being about whether witnesses are allowed to dodge an inquiry and take a question on notice.
This week could be a test for the government though, with the second week of estimates headlined by Treasury, housing, NDIS and industry. Key and contentious budget measures – from negative gearing and CGT changes and their effects on housing, to disability cuts, to gas policy and why the government hasn’t taken up popular calls for a new tax on exports – will be front and centre, just as Labor is working overtime to put out spot fires about what their tax proposals will (or won’t) do.
The Coalition opposition’s campaign against the budget is only intensifying, whipping up fury about Anthony Albanese’s “lies” on tax changes. The Nationals last week made the bizarre demand, endorsed by Angus Taylor, for an early election – despite Redbridge polling suggesting both Coalition parties would be almost entirely wiped out were an election held today, replaced by One Nation as the official opposition, and Labor holding on to government anyway.
If the Coalition wants to take some real paint off the government over its budget – which the Guardian Essential poll finds has failed to win over voters – it won’t get a better chance than another week of Senate estimates. Judging from last week, however, when major Coalition lines of inquiry focused on culture war issues over transgender people or probing SBS about how Australia voted at Eurovision, there’s some questions over the questions they’re choosing.
But there is no shortage of worthy lines to pursue. What will the housing tax changes mean for first home buyers and investors? What about renters? What about house prices? What will the NDIS changes mean for people currently on the scheme or those who will need it in future? For those who may be shifted off the NDIS, what help will they receive, and where will it come from?
With a public holiday in Canberra on Monday, both estimates and parliament won’t begin until Tuesday. The busy week in Canberra is compounded by a visit from Solomon Islands’ new prime minister, Matthew Wale, on Wednesday; he and senior cabinet ministers will be feted in Parliament House when they arrive for a leaders’ meeting with Albanese, as Australia seeks to bolster its ties with the crucial Pacific nation, which has also been simultaneously deepening relations with China.
News over the weekend that Australia expects significant cost savings by buying a third secondhand American nuclear submarine for the Aukus program, instead of at least one brand new model, is also likely to feature heavily in estimates when the defence department gets up. The ever-growing price tag on the nuclear submarine program has been a constant topic of Senate questioning, so the week could see an updated dollar figure.
The budget legislation will also continue making its way through parliament. With the Coalition seeing an all-out assault on the budget as its best chance of making a political dent so far this term of parliament, it’s obviously more likely that attracting the Greens’ support will be Labor’s priority for getting their budget changes over the line in the Senate. Where the Greens land on the proposals, and if they extract any updates or sweeteners for their support, is yet to be seen; we’ll be keeping a close eye on Nick McKim and Larissa Waters this week.
Taylor’s outburst at the end of last week’s parliament, calling Albanese an “arrogant prick” in question time, is also something to keep an eye on. It could have just been a frustrated error from an opposition leader under pressure to make an impression, after continually being outfoxed by Albanese in parliament, but it’ll be interesting to see if Taylor adopts a new, more combative style.
Taylor didn’t back down or publicly apologise for the remark when he did a morning media blitz the next day. That same day, Tony Abbott – a Taylor ally, and the most bareknuckle combative opposition leader in recent memory – was elected unopposed as Liberal party president.
Whether Taylor starts taking more leaves out of Abbott’s book, in attempts to wrestle ascendancy back from Labor, will be one to watch.
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