What was debated: Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This is the main budget spending bill for 2025-26, approving about $83.4 billion for the day-to-day running of government, including Defence, health, the NDIS, foreign affairs and Home Affairs. The debate was a portfolio-by-portfolio 'consideration in detail', where members questioned and defended spending in education, defence, the economy, workplace relations, agriculture, climate and energy, justice, communications, industry, home affairs, social services, health and Indigenous affairs. Coalition members also complained that several senior ministers did not attend to answer questions.
Arguments made in support
Government members said inflation and interest rates are down, over a million jobs were created, and two budget surpluses were delivered while giving cost-of-living help.
Government speakers highlighted extra school funding, cheaper child care, a 20 per cent cut to student debts, bulk-billing incentives, urgent care clinics and cheaper medicines.
The Government said it is lifting Defence spending, including $12 billion for the Henderson shipyard, and supporting recruitment and veterans' claims.
Government members pointed to renewable energy approvals, home battery discounts, critical minerals support and more biosecurity funding for farmers.
Government speakers also cited longer paid parental leave with super, over $4 billion to address gender-based violence and record legal assistance funding.
Arguments made against, or for changes
The Coalition said the budget had worsened by $58 billion over two years, debt was nearing $1 trillion and spending was growing faster than the economy.
Coalition speakers said living costs, energy prices and GP out-of-pocket costs had risen, and that apprentice numbers had fallen by about 100,000.
The Coalition said Defence was underfunded, criticised the live sheep export ban and tribunal backlogs, and raised questions about the return of 'ISIS brides'.
Independents called for fiscal rules, revenue-neutral tax reform, more disaster and climate resilience funding, and more spending on preventive health and integrity agencies.
The Greens raised concerns about weapons parts exports to Israel and possible US government stakes in Australian critical minerals.
152 speeches by 93 members in the House over 4 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 30 July 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 7 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 8 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 9 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
What was debated: Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This bill approves $195.1 million to run the parliament's own departments for the rest of 2025-26, mostly for the Department of Parliamentary Services. It was debated together with the main budget spending bills, so almost all speeches were about the federal budget in general rather than this bill. The Coalition said it would not oppose the bills but criticised the government's economic management.
Arguments made in support
Government members said the budget bills fund cost-of-living help, including tax cuts, energy bill relief, cheaper medicines and a 20 per cent cut to student debt.
Labor speakers pointed to more Medicare urgent care clinics, bulk-billing and housing support as reasons to back the bills.
Government members said they had delivered budget surpluses, lower inflation and low unemployment.
Independent Helen Haines welcomed funding for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program in the bills.
Arguments made against, or for changes
The Coalition did not oppose the bills but said government spending and debt are too high and living standards have fallen.
Coalition speakers called for fiscal rules to limit spending, and criticised energy costs and the renewables rollout.
Coalition members said regional roads, water and infrastructure were not getting enough funding.
Helen Haines said some election commitments were funded as budget line items without an open grants process, which she called poor practice.
34 speeches by 26 members in the House and Senate over 7 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 30 July 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 1 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 2 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 3 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 4 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 9 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 28 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Australia's Voice
0 Yes
1 No
The last column counts members who did not vote. Party counts are for current members.
2 votes were cast by people who have since left Parliament.
Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.