What the House debated on 29 June 2026: Medicines shortages, online safety, FIFA World Cup tribute, and local industry preference

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the House debated on 29 June 2026: Medicines shortages, online safety, FIFA World Cup tribute, and local industry preference

On Monday 29 June 2026, the House of Representatives sat from 10:00 am with Speaker Milton Dick presiding. The sitting day covered three bill introductions including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Amendment (Local Industry Preference) Bill 2026 and the Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026. Debate continued on the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sex-based Rights) Bill 2026. Private Members' Business included motions on taxation, plastic waste, housing and vocational education. Question Time featured exchanges on the budget, environment heritage listing, and a statement on indulgence for the Socceroos' FIFA World Cup campaign. The Petitions Committee presented its 12th report and the Education Committee reported on building Asia capability.

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Evidence review

Bills introduced and debated

Three government bills were introduced on 29 June. The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Amendment (Local Industry Preference) Bill 2026 was presented and read a first time, proposing amendments to Commonwealth procurement rules to favour local industry. The Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026 was also introduced, aimed at strengthening enforcement of Australia's social media age restrictions.

Debate continued on the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sex-based Rights) Bill 2026, with the second reading debate resuming. The Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill 2026 was reported as returned from the Senate without amendment, meaning it has completed its passage through both chambers and awaits Royal Assent.

Evidence review

Question Time: Budget, environment and World Cup

Question Time on 29 June opened with the Leader of the Opposition, Angus Taylor (Hume, LP), asking the Prime Minister about the budget. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, ALP), responded. Further questions covered environment and heritage listing, raised by Bob Katter (Kennedy, KAP) and answered by Tony Burke (Watson, ALP) in his capacity as Minister for Home Affairs and the Arts.

During Question Time, the Speaker acknowledged the presence of distinguished visitors in the gallery. A notable statement on indulgence was made by the Prime Minister at 3:06 pm, paying tribute to the Socceroos' FIFA World Cup campaign. The Hansard records the Prime Minister saying: 'The Socceroos represent so much about what we love about our country.'

Evidence review

Private Members' Business: Taxation, plastics, housing and skills

Private Members' Business occupied significant time. Simon Kennedy (Cook, LP) moved a motion at 10:32 am 'condemning the Government for using sneaky and dishonest tactics to impose' taxation measures. The specific tax policy at issue is not detailed in the debate title but the motion framing suggests opposition criticism of government revenue measures.

Dr Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, IND) moved a motion on plastic waste at 11:00 am, noting that 'Australia is among the highest' generators of plastic waste per capita. Cameron Caldwell (Fadden, LNP) moved a housing motion at 12:06 pm, claiming the government was reducing housing affordability. Matt Smith (Leichhardt, ALP) moved a motion on vocational education and training at 4:46 pm, commending government investment in the sector.

It is important to note that Private Members' Business motions are not binding on the government. They serve as expressions of the House's view and are often used to highlight issues or put political positions on the record. The claims made in these motions — for example, about government tactics on taxation or housing outcomes — represent the mover's characterisation and have not been independently verified.

Evidence review

Committee reports

The Standing Committee on Petitions, chaired by Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, ALP), presented its 12th report for the 48th Parliament at 10:01 am. The report covered petitions received and ministerial responses, including a response on restoring eligibility for reduced taxation relating to Petition EN6786.

The Education Committee, represented by Tim Watts (Gellibrand, ALP), reported at 12:00 pm on 'Security and prosperity in Asia: building Asia capability in Australia through the education system'. The report examined how Australia's education system can build the skills and knowledge needed to engage effectively with Asian economies.

Evidence review

Statements and other business

A statement on indulgence was made on international relations between Australia and Vanuatu, with the Prime Minister addressing the House. The Speaker made a statement acknowledging Dr Glenn Worthington. The Auditor-General's reports Nos 43 and 44 of 2025-26 were presented covering artificial intelligence use in the public sector and other matters.

In the adjournment debate, Dan Tehan (Wannon, LP) spoke on renewable energy and the My First Speech Competition. Constituency statements included Dr Sophie Scamps speaking on the Waves Without Waste Expo in her electorate of Mackellar. Members' statements covered infrastructure (Bob Katter), private health insurance (Alex Hawke, Mitchell, LP), and the gas industry.

Evidence review

Key themes of the sitting day

Several themes emerged from the sitting day of 29 June 2026. The government continued its legislative agenda with bills on online safety, local industry procurement, and secrecy provisions, while the opposition used Private Members' Business and Question Time to challenge the government's record on taxation and housing affordability.

Crossbench members drove debate on specific policy areas — plastic waste reduction, health policy, and vocational education — reflecting the multi-party dynamics of the 48th Parliament. International engagement featured through the statements on indulgence for Vanuatu and the Socceroos' World Cup campaign. The diverse agenda spanning technology regulation, social legislation, environmental concerns and trade policy illustrates the breadth of issues competing for parliamentary attention in the current term.

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