First week of parliament focused on cost-of-living relief

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Federal parliament returns with the Albanese government keeping the focus on cost-of-living relief. Buoyed by positive economic figures, the Prime Minister says the year has begun with a sense of optimism for what's to come.

Transcript

00:00for what could be the final fortnight of parliament this side of an election.

00:05We begin 2025 with a great sense of optimism.

00:10With the clock ticking, Labor's fast-tracking a childcare bill

00:14to scrap the so-called activity test and expand access to care.

00:18Guaranteeing three days of subsidised care

00:22for all of our children.

00:24Guaranteeing three days of subsidised care

00:27for every child, three days a week.

00:30We're prepared to work with them to make it happen.

00:33With the childcare changes gaining support,

00:35the Special Minister of State is hoping to clinch a deal

00:38three years in the making to cap political donations

00:42and bring in real-time disclosures.

00:45The argument for change perhaps underscored by the release today

00:49of six-month-old donations data.

00:52Illustrating the changing political landscape,

00:55Climate 200 backers Marcus Katsaris and Rob Keldoulas

00:59revealed to be the nation's biggest donors,

01:02tipping around $1 million each into the fundraising vehicle

01:06that helped sweep Teal candidates to power.

01:09Cardboard King Anthony Pratt made a similar donation to Labor.

01:13Gold Coast mathematician Duncan Turpey

01:16poured more than half a million dollars into the Greens,

01:19while Merriton Properties owner Harry Trigubuff

01:22and Hancock Prospecting Chair Gina Reinhart

01:25donated more than $1 million combined to the Liberals.

01:28Like the donation laws, the childcare changes

01:31won't come into effect before the election.

01:33The government's bringing on a vote in part

01:36to test whether the Coalition will support

01:39more cost-of-living support for families.

01:41The Prime Minister today contrasting Labor's plan

01:44with the Coalition's policy to give small businesses

01:47a tax break for entertainment expenses.

01:50They don't want workers to get a tax cut,

01:53but they do want bosses to get a free lunch.

01:56We want to see small businesses doing well

01:58at a time when we're seeing record levels of insolvency.

02:00The Coalition says that's the cost of Labor's plan.

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