All sides of politics have got straight to work since the 48th Parliament opened this week. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Federal Government has wasted no time getting down to business since the reopening of parliament, tabling major pieces of legislation on Wednesday (23 July) with more laid out today.
Following its bill to reduce student debt as the first piece of legislation, Labor then introduced another, promising to lift child safety in early education and care services.
That legislation aims to give the Commonwealth the power to cut off funding to providers and centres that fail to meet safety standards, breach the law, or otherwise put children’s safety at risk.
New laws will also allow federal officers to perform spot checks without warning to detect fraud and non-compliance across the sector.
Education Minister Jason Clare said the bill was not about shutting centres down, but rather about raising standards.
“This is about making sure the safety and quality in child care centres is what parents expect and children deserve,” the Minister said.
“We are determined to do what needs to be done to rebuild confidence in a system that parents need to have confidence in.
“It’s a system that more than a million mums and dads rely on to care for and educate the most important people in their world – their children.”
Education ministers across jurisdictions will also meet next month to discuss a proposed rollout of CCTV cameras in child care centres.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has promised no obstruction from her side, saying the protection of children is above politics.
She said she was horrified at the recent news accounts of child abuse in child care centres.
“I’m pleased with the government’s efforts around child care, because it’s too important to get that wrong, and I have said we want to be above politics in the interests of caring for families,” Ms Ley said.
The Opposition Leader has also vowed to work constructively with the government on the student debt legislation, but warned that the Coalition was not going to give a “blank cheque of goodwill” on everything Labor wants to do.
Over in the Senate, the Opposition tried unsuccessfully to amend a government motion to sanction Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi for holding up a protest sign in the chamber during the Governor-General’s address on parliament’s opening day.
Senator Faruqi’s poster read: “Gaza is starving. Words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel.”
Government Senate leader Penny Wong called for Senator Faruqi to be formally reprimanded and banned from joining any overseas delegations for the entire term of this parliament.
“She disrespected the rules of the parliament by holding up a sign for the duration of the Governor-General’s address on the opening day of parliament,” Senator Wong said.
“Senator Faruqi demands respect, but she does not offer it. She denigrates anyone who doesn’t agree with her on everything regularly, including personally.”
The Coalition moved an amendment to go further and suspend Senator Faruqi. The amendment was lost, but the government’s original motion passed.
Senate President Sue Lines said the Greens Senator had breached the standing orders by inappropriately drawing the Governor-General into a political debate.
“Senator Faruqi, you are a champion in this chamber for respectful debate and behaviour,” the Senate President said.
“You have used the processes of the Senate and its committees to reinforce the expectations of behaviour standards.
“These standards and expectations that you expect also apply to you.
“Your actions during the Governor-General’s address were utterly disrespectful and showed a complete disregard for the rules, the traditions and the customs of this place.”
At no time did Senator Faruqi back down or resile from her actions.
“You are all on the wrong side of history. Instead of sanctioning me, maybe you should think about sanctioning Israel,” she said.
Today (Thursday), the government introduces to the House of Representatives legislation to protect penalty rates and overtime.
Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth said her Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 will prevent variations to awards that would reduce or remove an employee’s penalty rates or overtime rates.
“If you rely on the modern award safety net and work weekends, public holidays, early mornings or late nights, you deserve to have your wages protected,” she said.
“This legislation will prevent award variations from reducing or removing penalty rates and overtime rates. It will ensure the wages of around 2.6 million modern award-reliant workers are protected.
“Millions of hard-working Australians rely on penalty rates and overtime rates to keep their heads above water, which is why this bill is so critical and should receive the support of both the Opposition and the Greens.”
