- The parliamentary session on May 26, 2026, highlighted urgent concerns regarding cost of living and housing affordability, reflecting various perspectives from members of Parliament.
- Rowan Holzberger, MP for Forde (ALP), articulated the urgent need to address the housing crisis, pointing out how past economic policies have fostered rising homelessness and a decline in homeownership, particularly for younger Australians (Page 115). He proposed looking into immigration policies from Canada as a potential way to alleviate housing pressures and advocated for closing loopholes that allow non-citizens to benefit from housing schemes intended for Australian citizens (Page 115).
- Concerns were also raised regarding the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reform. A member, Hans, shared a personal account illustrating how reforms would complicate his ability to support his son’s housing aspirations, highlighting the negative impact of CGT increases on investment opportunities for Australian families (Page 110).
- Aaron Violi, MP for Casey (LP), criticized the government’s budget, asserting it failed to provide relief for the cost of living, citing rising inflation rates worsened by governmental policies (Page 115-116). Violi emphasized that the proposed taxes would particularly harm young Australians striving to invest in property and burden families with increased financial pressures (Pages 116-118).
- In contrast, Ali France, MP for Dickson (ALP) defended the government’s budget as beneficial for workers and families, noting tax cuts and increased Medicare funding aimed to assist Australians facing cost-of-living challenges (Pages 118-120). She outlined that Queensland received significant infrastructure funding, suggesting a commitment to improve housing and public resources.
- The issue of housing affordability was echoed by Julian Leeser, MP for Berowra (LP), who highlighted considerable community backlash against the budget’s provisions, noting survey feedback indicating a widespread perception of negative impacts due to tax changes (Page 120). Leeser criticized the proposed tax measures on discretionary trusts, calling them detrimental to families preparing for future needs and small business owners facing unexpected financial burdens from the revised rules (Page 120).
- Throughout the session, there was a unified call from various MPs to prioritize addressing the pressing issues surrounding housing policies and the cost of living, emphasizing the need for thoughtful reforms that genuinely support average Australians.
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