House of Representatives Debates Fuel Excise Relief, Budget and War Memorial – 23 June 2026

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House of Representatives Debates Fuel Excise Relief, Budget and War Memorial – 23 June 2026

The House of Representatives sat on 23 June 2026 and conducted a broad program of legislative business, question time, and member statements. The centrepiece of the day's legislative agenda was the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026, which passed all stages with debate from members across the chamber. The sitting also featured a significant matter of public importance (MPI) debate on the Budget, a statement on indulgence regarding the Australian War Memorial, and an extensive question time covering topics from avian influenza to housing affordability. Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 was the main legislative item. The second reading debate saw contributions from Tim Wilson MP, Catherine King MP, Leon Rebello MP, Monique Ryan MP, Michael McCormack MP, and Alison Penfold MP in the first tranche. A second round of debate followed later in the day with Alison Penfold MP, Nicolette Boele MP, Dai Le MP, Dan Tehan MP, and Dan Repacholi MP speaking. The bill then proceeded to a division and passed its third reading. While Hansard records the speeches made in Parliament, it does not independently verify the factual claims advanced by members during debate. Readers should treat assertions about the bill's economic impact as claims made by parliamentarians rather than independently established facts. Question Time was dominated by Budget-related questions, reflecting the proximity of the recent Budget. Opposition members including Angus Taylor MP, Melissa McIntosh MP, and David Moncrieff MP questioned the government on budget measures, cost of living, fuel prices, and housing. Government backbenchers raised questions on employment (Joanne Ryan MP), broadband (Alison Byrnes MP), early childhood education and care (Sam Lim MP), and defence (Emma Comer MP). Crossbench members raised specific issues: Tania Lawrence MP asked about avian influenza, Bob Katter MP questioned on migration, and Monique Ryan MP raised aged care and motor neurone disease. David Farley MP asked about water, and Jamie Chaffey MP asked about housing. The Speaker, Milton Dick MP, acknowledged distinguished visitors on three separate occasions during the question time session. A matter of public importance (MPI) debate was held on the Budget. The Speaker accepted the proposal, and the debate featured Tim Wilson MP opening for the mover, followed by Peter Khalil MP, Michael McCormack MP, Ali France MP, Anne Webster MP, Jerome Laxale MP, Melissa Lee Price MP, Carina Garland MP, Tom Venning MP, and Alice Jordan-Baird MP. The MPI format allows for a broad-ranging policy discussion without a specific vote at its conclusion. A notably bipartisan moment occurred when the House made statements on indulgence regarding the Australian War Memorial. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP and Opposition representative Angus Taylor MP both made statements. The specific subject of the indulgence is recorded in the Hansard Table of Contents as concerning the Australian War Memorial. Members' statements covered an unusually wide range of local and national issues. Allegra Spender MP spoke on the 'Cosy Companion' and 'Kids Breaking Bread' initiatives. Other topics included: Nestory Irankunda (Tony Zappia MP), the Australian national men's football team (Zali Steggall MP), Constable Keith Anthony Smith (Anne Urquhart MP), taxation (Jason Wood MP), paid parental leave (Renee Coffey MP), illicit tobacco crime (Mary Aldred MP), pensions and benefits (Zaneta Mascarenhas MP), motor neurone disease (Alex Hawke MP), health care (Anne Stanley MP), the Budget and Judith Ann Peters OAM (David Batt MP), national security (Claire Clutterham MP), Budget (Leon Rebello MP and Julian Leeser MP), Olympic Day and Medicare (Dan Repacholi MP), Medicare (Alice Jordan-Baird MP), veterans (Michael McCormack MP), the Labor Government (Basem Abdo MP), and the Prime Minister (Aaron Violi MP). In the adjournment debate, Rowan Holzberger MP spoke on the Budget, Helen Haines MP presented a petition on tertiary education and training, Matt Gregg MP addressed taxation, and Ben Small MP discussed the FIFA World Cup and the Albanese Government. A subsequent grievance debate covered topics including the Albanese Government (Helen Haines MP), housing (Trish Cook MP), La Trobe electorate infrastructure (Jason Wood MP), Aston electorate community awards (Mary Doyle MP), taxation (Andrew Wallace MP), Isaacs electorate civics education (Mark Dreyfus MP), and Bradfield electorate scams (Nicolette Boele MP). Constituency statements later in the sitting day included topics spanning the length and breadth of the country: Ngong Arou (Matt Smith MP), the Henry Lawson Heritage Festival at Gulgong (Andrew Gee MP), Greenway electorate infrastructure and cost of living (Michelle Rowland MP), cost of living (Jason Wood MP), Swan electorate King's Birthday Honours (Zaneta Mascarenhas MP), Monash electorate infrastructure (Mary Aldred MP), Tangney electorate infrastructure (Sam Lim MP), Hinkler electorate acknowledgments (David Batt MP), Eden-Monaro electorate acknowledgments (Kristy McBain MP), the Victorian state election (Darren Chester MP), WIN News and Medicare (Emma McBride MP), local government (Pat Conaghan MP), the Manayingkarirra Primary Health Care Centre (Marion Scrymgour MP), Harry and Hugh Littleproud (Scott Buchholz MP), Paterson electorate King's Birthday Honours (Meryl Swanson MP), feral animal management and Tuncurry Post Office (Alison Penfold MP), the World's Greatest Shave (Matt Burnell MP), regional Australia investment (Andrew Willcox MP), and Hughes electorate acknowledgments (David Moncrieff MP). The day began with a suspension of standing and sessional orders, moved and debated by Tony Burke MP, Dan Tehan MP, and Kevin Hogan MP, which proceeded to a division. Tony Burke MP also presented documents and announced temporary ministerial arrangements on behalf of Prime Minister Albanese MP. The day's proceedings followed a familiar parliamentary rhythm. The suspension of standing and sessional orders moved by Tony Burke MP — with Dan Tehan MP and Kevin Hogan MP also speaking — reflects the government's management of the legislative timetable. This procedural motion went to a division, indicating contested procedural terrain even before substantive business began. Tony Burke MP also used the day's documents presentation slot to table materials and announce temporary ministerial arrangements on behalf of Prime Minister Albanese, a routine function of the Leader of the House. The adjournment and grievance debates that concluded the sitting day provided backbench members with opportunities to raise local concerns. The range of topics — from the FIFA World Cup (Ben Small MP) to tertiary education petitions (Helen Haines MP) to the Henry Lawson Heritage Festival at Gulgong (Andrew Gee MP) — illustrates how the parliamentary day serves dual purposes: legislating for the nation while providing members a platform for constituency advocacy. The presence of both King's Birthday Honour acknowledgments and community infrastructure concerns across multiple electorates suggests that, regardless of the high-profile Budget debates occurring in the main chamber, the bread-and-butter of electorate representation remains a priority for members on all sides. For readers following specific policy areas: the avian influenza question (Tania Lawrence MP) is notable given biosecurity concerns affecting Australia's poultry industry; the migration question (Bob Katter MP) reflects ongoing crossbench engagement with population and border policy; and the water question (David Farley MP) signals continued parliamentary attention to water management in the Murray-Darling Basin and beyond. The presence of motor neurone disease in both question time (Monique Ryan MP) and members' statements (Alex Hawke MP) indicates ongoing parliamentary focus on neurodegenerative disease support and research funding.

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Evidence review

Fuel Excise Relief Bill Passes the House

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026 was the principal legislative item of the day and passed all stages in the House of Representatives. The second reading debate was conducted in two tranches. The first round saw Tim Wilson MP, Catherine King MP, Leon Rebello MP, Monique Ryan MP, Michael McCormack MP, and Alison Penfold MP contribute. A second round later in the sitting day included Alison Penfold MP, Nicolette Boele MP, Dai Le MP, Dan Tehan MP, and Dan Repacholi MP before the bill went to a division and passed its third reading.

Readers should note that Hansard records what members said in Parliament; it does not independently verify the truth of claims made during debate. Statements about the bill's fiscal impact, its effect on fuel prices, and its economic consequences represent claims advanced by parliamentarians rather than independently established facts.

Evidence review

Question Time: Budget Dominates Under Questioning

Question Time on 23 June 2026 was heavily focused on Budget-related matters, with the recent Budget providing the backdrop for exchanges between government and opposition. Opposition questions centred on the Budget's impact on cost of living, fuel prices, and housing affordability, with Angus Taylor MP, Melissa McIntosh MP, and David Moncrieff MP among those pressing ministers.

Government backbenchers used their questions to highlight portfolio areas including employment (Joanne Ryan MP), broadband infrastructure (Alison Byrnes MP), early childhood education and care (Sam Lim MP), and defence (Emma Comer MP). Crossbench questions covered avian influenza (Tania Lawrence MP), migration (Bob Katter MP), aged care and motor neurone disease (Monique Ryan MP), water (David Farley MP), and housing (Jamie Chaffey MP).

The Speaker acknowledged visiting delegations on three occasions during question time, reflecting the parliamentary practice of welcoming distinguished visitors to the public galleries.

Evidence review

Bipartisan Moment: Australian War Memorial

In a moment of cross-party unity, the House heard statements on indulgence concerning the Australian War Memorial. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP and Opposition representative Angus Taylor MP both addressed the chamber. While the specific occasion for the indulgence is not detailed in the available Hansard Table of Contents, statements on indulgence at the War Memorial typically mark significant anniversaries of military engagements, commemorative events honouring Australian service personnel, or matters relating to the Memorial's governance and its role in preserving Australia's military history.

The War Memorial holds a unique place in Australia's parliamentary culture. Located at the foot of Mount Ainslie within sight of Parliament House, it serves as a physical reminder of the ultimate cost of decisions made in the chamber. Bipartisan moments at the Memorial are relatively rare and reflect occasions where the political contest is set aside in recognition of shared national values. The fact that both the Prime Minister and an opposition representative made statements underscores the significance of the occasion.

Evidence review

Matter of Public Importance: The Budget

A matter of public importance on the Budget occupied a significant portion of the day's proceedings. The debate featured 10 speakers: Tim Wilson MP opened, followed by Peter Khalil MP, Michael McCormack MP, Ali France MP, Anne Webster MP, Jerome Laxale MP, Melissa Lee Price MP, Carina Garland MP, Tom Venning MP, and Alice Jordan-Baird MP. The MPI format allows members to debate a topic of national significance without a binding vote at its conclusion, and the Budget was evidently considered a matter warranting extended parliamentary discussion.

Evidence review

Members' Statements and Constituency Matters

The day's members' statements and constituency speeches painted a picture of the diverse concerns being raised in the 47th Parliament. Health care featured prominently, with members raising motor neurone disease, Medicare, and general health care access. Cost of living was a recurring theme across multiple electorates. Infrastructure issues were raised for La Trobe, Monash, Tangney, and Greenway electorates. The King's Birthday Honours were acknowledged by members for Swan and Paterson electorates. Other notable topics included illicit tobacco crime, paid parental leave, national security, veterans' affairs, and the recognition of community organisations and individuals across the country.

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