Live: Shadow minister says he wants to see 6pc drop in entry-level house prices

Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg says he wants to see a 6 per cent drop in entry-level house prices.

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Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 8:27am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 8:27am

Jane Hume says Coalition open to doing deal with Greens to extend inquiries

By Joshua Boscaini

Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume has left the door open to doing a deal with the Greens to extend an inquiry on Labor's budget measures in exchange for a longer inquiry into NDIS savings.

Labor passed its budget measures unamended through the lower house, but it needs the support of the Greens to get it through the Senate.

The Greens haven't said whether they'll support it and have raised concerns about the level of ministerial discretion in the legislation.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Hume says a two-day inquiry into the budget measures isn't enough, given Labor hasn't taken the measures to an election.

"I don't think we should be afraid of scrutiny of the NDIS changes either. I think the Coalition have made it very clear that we support change to the NDIS. It has been a program that has run well out of control," Hume says.

"We shouldn't hide from scrutiny. I think it's well worth having a look at. If that's what the Greens would like in exchange for a longer inquiry into tax measures they support, I think that's perfectly fair."

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 8:06am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 8:06am

Coalition to introduce laws to reinstate human decision-making in aged care assessments

By Jack McKay

The Coalition will introduce laws to parliament, it says, that will reinstate human decision-making into the aged care assessment process.

An algorithm-assisted Integrated Assessment Tool is used to help determine the level of funding an individual should receive for at-home funding support.

The federal government has defended the technology after it was the subject of hundreds of complaints.

The opposition has suggested its bill would ensure any computerised tool supports, rather than replaces, a qualified assessor.

In a statement, Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston urged the government to back the changes.

"Our bill puts the assessor back in charge and makes sure the decision belongs to the human, not the computer," Ruston said.

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 8:04am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 8:04am

Government will examine its contracts with KPMG

By Joshua Boscaini

The assistant treasurer has been asked whether the federal government will ban financial firm KPMG from all government contract work.

KPMG has recently been caught up in a swirl of scandals, including allegations that its audit partners accessed confidential client documents to win contracts and reports of the mistreatment of a whistleblower.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino says the federal government will be examining all KPMG contracts in place.

"There's also briefing coming up from the department, from Treasury to me in relation to whistleblower activity in light of this," Mulino says

"I've recently put out a discussion paper seeking views from stakeholders on whether we need to strengthen our whistleblower arrangements. That went out a couple of weeks ago with views sought by the end of July.

Asked if the government will legislate to regulate consultants in firms, Mulino says it's not a straightforward are but is something the government will look at in the whistleblower inquiry.

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:53am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:53am

Assistant treasurer says budget measures aren't aimed at reducing house prices

By Joshua Boscaini

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino says the federal government's budget measures are not aimed at targeting house prices.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Mulino says Labor wants to see a more affordable arrangement overall, along with more supply.

"We remain absolutely committed to more supply. That remains an absolute priority for the government. On top of all the measures in the first term, there are more supply measures in this budget," Mulino says.

Asked whether he thinks a 17-hour inquiry is enough to consider "once-in-a-generation reforms", Mulino says discussions have been "exhaustive".

Labor needs the support of the Greens to pass the bill through the upper house, but the minor party hasn't indicated how it will vote.

So, is Mulino confident the government will pass its budget measures before the mid-winter break? Mulino doesn't say.

"There is an acknowledgement by the Greens that change is needed, and now we'll get down to the detailed discussions."

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:28am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:28am

Mark Butler defends Help to Buy Scheme being accessed by permanent residents

By Joshua Boscaini

First up, Health Minister Mark Butler and Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume have appeared for their regular morning spot on Channel Seven.

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil confirmed in Question Time yesterday that the government's Help to Buy Scheme had been accessed by 51,000 permanent residents.

The health minister has defended extending the scheme to permanent residents who pay taxes in Australia.

"Permanent residents are here forever. They're building careers, they're building businesses, they're having children. We want them to enjoy the full Australian dream, which includes getting into housing," Butler says.

Butler says the federal government has cracked down on foreign home ownership and investment.

However, the deputy Liberal leader says the government subsidised scheme should be restricted to Australian citizens.

"This is a supply-side crisis, and yet you're fuelling demand by allowing non-citizens to access government subsidised schemes," Hume says.

"Subsidising a scheme like this with taxpayer money is one of the privileges of being a citizen, and I think most Australians would feel the same way."

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:27am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:27am

US senate committee endorses Trump's ambassador pick

By Brad Ryan in Washington DC

Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Australia has cleared a key hurdle for confirmation by the US Senate.

David Brat appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month. He's a former Republican congressman and economist who has most recently been working at the religious Liberty University in Virginia.

Today, the committee voted 14-8 in favour of confirming his nomination. (There are 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats on the committee.)

Brat has no obvious connections to Australia, has expressed doubts about free trade, and is supportive of Trump's tariffs – the source of "ideological disagreement" between the two countries, as the prime minister puts it.

But Brat told his confirmation hearing his big priorities would be critical minerals and commercial diplomacy, defence cooperation including AUKUS, and partnership in the Indo-Pacific. He said he loved "everything about Australia" and made a point of emphasising his fanaticism for tennis.

"I follow your pros, the Open, and of course, the game of Prime Minister Albanese. I'm looking forward to sports diplomacy across the board."

Brat's confirmation still needs to be ticked off by a vote of the full Senate, but the committee's endorsement means that is all but certain.

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:10am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:10am

Coalition's Andrew Bragg says he wants to see 6 per cent drop in entry-level homes

By Joshua Boscaini

Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg says he wants to see entry-level house prices fall by at least 6 per cent.

The shadow housing minister has attributed the most recent rise in house prices to the government's 5 per cent home deposit scheme.

Speaking to 7.30, Bragg says he thinks it's a "great shame" that a person on an average wage can't get access to a house.

"I'm not worried about people who have great wealth and already have terrific opportunities. I'm worried about the people who can't get access can't get access to the Australian dream," Bragg says.

Asked if he thinks Opposition Leader Angus Taylor agrees with that position, Bragg says it's just an example.

"Our point is that we want to see affordability improve, which, of course, you do by building more houses and not having crazy ideas like having a 5 per cent deposit scheme which is not means-tested, which is not capped, and then not having migration calibrated with house building," he says.

"There are a lot of factors here that you can deploy to stabilise and improve affordability. That's our focus: affordability."

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:05am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:05am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to today's federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us here early this Thursday morning.

I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.

The prime minister is expected to give a speech today where he'll reportedly continue his defence of the government's budget.

I'm otherwise not sure what today could throw at us so let's get into the day and see what happens!!