Live: Albanese to meet with state leaders to talk fuel security

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PoliticsABC News·Jun 21, 2026·10 min read

Live: Albanese to meet with state leaders to talk fuel security

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will convene a virtual meeting of the national cabinet to discuss fuel security.

Follow all the updates in our live blog.

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Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 8:24am

Labor defends housing tax changes as auction clearance rate falls

By Courtney Gould

A drop in auction clearance rates has Labor frontbenchers defending changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax amid concerns house prices could fall.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government expected house prices to continue to rise, just at a slower rate than they had in recent years.

"It used to be that the average house cost about four years of the average wage. Now it's about eight and a half years of the average wage. People just can't keep up with that, because they've been competing with property investors for those houses," she told Seven.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Murray Watt said he wasn't surprised there was some cooling in the auction markets.

"If that makes it more possible for Australians to get into the housing market for the first time, that's a good thing," he told ABC News Breakfast.

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 8:10am

Hanson's remarks on paid parental leave 'very confronting': Hume

By Courtney Gould

Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume was also asked for her response to Pauline Hanson's address to the National Press Club last week.

Hanson declared industrial relations needed a "complete overhaul" and made comments sceptical about the value of child care.

Hume tells ABC's Radio National Breakfast the One Nation leader's remarks on child care and paid parental leave were "quite confronting".

That being said, Hume also expressed concern about child care becoming one of the fastest-growing areas of the budget.

"Yet it's not delivering on the flexibility that people need. There are still childcare deserts out there where people can't access child care. Something needs to be done," she says.

On IR laws, Hume says Labor has "added more red tape and complexity", but she wanted to wait and see what reviews into the laws come up with.

"I would point out that I think that Senator Hanson missed the point of some of that legislation. She was talking about same job, same pay legislation as if it was about gender equity and equal pay, and that's not at all what it's about. So I think it's important to understand the purpose of the legislation before you pass comment on it."

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 8:02am

Hume takes aim at Labor, Greens for Senate 'horse trading'

By Courtney Gould

As negotiations continue over the government's tax changes, one thing is clear: the Coalition doesn't want a bar of it.

Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume reiterated the Coalition's opposition to the proposal as she criticised the Greens and government for "horse-trading" support.

It comes after Labor opened the door to an extended NDIS inquiry in return for the Greens' vote on changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing.

"We know that's exactly what it is that they do. This is their modus operandi. But I think it actually speaks volumes of Labor's priorities. If they're willing to extend an inquiry into NDIS to get what it is that they want over the line in terms of taxes, clearly they're not all that serious about cutting expenditure," she tells ABC's Radio National Breakfast.

But Hume adds she has no problem with an extended inquiry.

She notes she's never negatively geared a property and questioned how many of Labor and Greens MPs could say the same.

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:58am

How does the process run to adopt a new NACC commissioner?

By Courtney Gould

All you aspiring anti-corruption watchdog bosses out there reading the blog, it's time to get your resumes together.

A selection panel will be convened to look at the applications, and once someone is chosen, it will be sent off to a parliamentary joint committee for the NACC.

The committee doesn't have a veto, but they will be asked for their input by the government. Attorney-General Michelle Roland noted that the committee gave the tick of approval to the previous pick, Paul Brereton.

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:44am

Could a 'refresh and reset' of NACC lead to more public hearings?

By Courtney Gould

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has just joined ABC Radio National Breakfast to discuss the hunt for a new anti-corruption watchdog boss.

Rowland says the opportunity to "refresh and reset with new commissioners" is "opportune".

Asked if that would include holding more public hearings, Rowland says she's going to leave that up to whoever is appointed to the job.

"Firstly, I don't direct the NACC. I respect its independence," she says.

"I think that will be a matter for the new commissioners to determine a way forward."

Rowland says the NACC has received 7,500 referrals and "finalised the vast majority of them" since it was launched in 2023.

"So whilst I don't seek to direct the NACC in any way, I do point out that they are some of the pieces of work that have been done that many people might not know about," she says.

Key Event

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:36am

No signs of growing outbreak of bird flu in Australia: Watt

By Courtney Gould

Australia is well prepared to tackle an outbreak of bird flu, Environment Minister Murray Watt says.

An outbreak would have a severe impact on wildlife, but Watt says a bird found with the H5 strain in Western Australia was nowhere near a poultry farm.

"It's a wildlife matter at this point in time. In terms of the species, as I say, we know that bird flu can not only impact birds, but also mammals as well … And, really, the ones that we're most concerned about are our most endangered species, whether it be particular types of birds, the Australian sea lion, which is an endangered species and could catch bird flu as well," he told ABC's News Breakfast.

"We are as well prepared as we possibly could be for this, but it is a risk that we need to take seriously."

Over the weekend, authorities in WA received 16 separate reports of sick or dead birds from the public. But Watt said those cases weren't a sign of a growing outbreak just yet.

"I am aware there have been reports of other dead birds, but it's unclear whether that's related to bird flu or the many other reasons that birds die every single day."

Key Event

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:31am

Government on the hunt for new anti-corruption watchdog boss

By Courtney Gould

The federal government has opened applications to find a new commissioner and deputy commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Last month, the NACC's inaugural commissioner, Paul Brereton, resigned from the role three years into a five-year term, saying the public focus on him personally was distracting from the body's role.

His deputy, Nicole Rose, announced her resignation in early May.

In a statement, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland says the NACC has the opportunity to "refresh and reset", and she looks forward to appointing the "best possible candidates" to the vacant roles.

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:27am

Greens coy on whether it will accept longer NDIS inquiry in return for CGT support

By Courtney Gould

Late on Friday, it emerged the government was open to a delay in its proposed overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Labor was open to holding a longer inquiry, delaying the legislation's passage until August, in exchange for the Greens' support on changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing.

Greens leader Larissa Waters was reluctant to give too much away while speaking with ABC's AM.

"We are having those discussions but we are using everything we've got to make sure that these cuts are actually stopped completely but at the very least inquired into even further," she says.

Asked if more hearings on the NDIS would take place in the coming weeks, Waters responds:

"I can give you clarity that the Greens will always push to stop these cruel cuts and that we will use every lever we possibly can to try to see these cuts stopped."

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:18am

Ryan again rules herself out of joining new teal-led party

By Courtney Gould

Monique Ryan has again ruled herself out of joining a teal-led party amid fresh reports the group could be moving to formalise the push.

The idea of a teal-led party emerged last month after Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender indicated they were open to forming a party. Ryan, as well as Kate Chaney, said they weren't interested. A report in the Australian Financial Review this morning suggested the new party could launch as soon as the coming weeks.

Speaking with Nine on Monday, Ryan said her feelings hadn't changed.

"I think Australians are understandably really fed up with political parties and that's why they're looking for other alternatives," she said.

"I don't have any intention of joining a party. I'm very, very happy as an independent."

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:11am

Extension of fuel excise cut at lower rate the 'right call': Labor

By Courtney Gould

Sticking with the fuel excise. Labor frontbencher Tim Ayres called the tapering of the cut as the "right call" amid ongoing uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz.

"It'll make some difference. It's a careful judgement. It's the right call in the interests of Australian motorists," he told Nine.

"We're still in an environment where there is uncertainty in terms of security in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz."

The 50 per cent discount, which has knocked 32 cents off each litre of petrol, will drop back to 16 cents between July 1 and August 2, before tapering off altogether.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet with his state counterparts for a national cabinet on fuel security later this morning.

It comes as the first shipment of urea locked in with industry and the Indonesian government arrives in Brisbane.

Key Event

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 7:04am

Trucking body calls for government to suspend road user charge amid uncertainty

By Lexie Jeuniewic

Australia's largest road freight transport association is calling on the federal government to rethink its decision to wind down the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge reduction, and instead scrap the charge entirely until the end of the year.

Over the weekend, the government announced an extension to the fuel excise cut at a lower rate, along with the partial return of the road user charge (RUC). From April through to June 30, the RUC was removed, but from July 1 to August 2 it will increase to around 16 cents per litre.

CEO of the National Road Transport Association, Warren Clark, says the government's current plan for the RUC will negatively impact the road freight industry.

"This is not someone taking a joy ride in their car. This is a company providing an essential service to keep this economy going, to keep this country competitive on a world stage," Clark tells AM.

"We need the road user charge at zero until the end of the year. The reason that we say that is because, you know, it's so uncertain what's going to happen. Small business, trucking businesses, transport operators, they need certainty on, you know, what their costs are going to be, or some sort of certainty."

Clark says suspending the RUC for another six months would help keep costs down for the sector.

"It helps their cash flow. It keeps these guys in business. It keeps things moving."

Mon 22 Jun 2026 at 6:57am

Good morning 👋

By Courtney Gould

Hi friends, welcome to our politics live blog. I'm Courtney Gould from the ABC's Parliament House team, here to guide you through the day.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will convene a virtual meeting of the national cabinet to discuss fuel security, a day after he confirmed the fuel excise cut will be extended for another month (albeit it at a lower rate of 16c a litre.)

Meanwhile, parliament is back. Can you believe we're at the start of another sitting fortnight? The governent is hoping it can get a deal with the Greens done and pass its changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing this sitting.

Let's just jump right into it.

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