Australia politics live: Labor’s big reforms face test as parliament returns; national cabinet to debate fuel security

Greens mull offer on NDIS and property tax from Labor

There are two very big pieces of legislation right now that the government wants to get through: its changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, that it wants the Greens to pass, and reforms to the NDIS which it needs the Coalition’s support for.

Both bills have just gone through very short Senate inquiries – which neither the Greens nor Coalition were particularly happy with.

Greens leader Larissa Waters is asked by the ABC’s AM program this morning, whether her party would pass the tax changes in exchange for a longer inquiry into the disability insurance scheme.

Waters says:

We take these issues on their merits, Mel [Clarke], and we’ll have a chance to talk about how these tax reforms we don’t think are actually going to fix the housing crisis. They could have, they could have been designed to do so.

We are doing everything we can to try to stop this cruel NDIS bill that will see more than 340,000 people left without the ability to have a shower or even leave the house in some cases. So we are having those discussions, but we are using everything we’ve got to make sure that these cuts actually are stopped completely, but at the very least inquired into even further. We saw through the inquiry last week the scale of the depravity of these cuts and the real human impacts that they would have.

Labor faces heat over cooling house prices

Labor MPs are facing a slate of questions over falling house prices in some capital cities – which means they’re walking a bit of a messaging tightrope between wanting younger people to get into housing, and ensuring that people who already own housing don’t go way backwards.

(Although a Resolve poll in the Nine papers this morning shows that of a poll of 1800 people, 54% supported lower house prices, while 11% said they were opposed).

Murray Watt says it’s a good thing if a bit of cooling in the auction market makes it easier for young Australians to buy a first home.

He also points out that Treasury modelling showed price growth would slow.

Allowing young Australians, in particular, to get into the housing market for the first time, was the central focus of our budget, and that’s why we put forward those changes around both negative gearing and capital gains tax.

We’re not surprised to see some level of cooling in auction markets. And if that makes it more possible for Australians to get into the housing market for the first time, that’s a good thing.

So our modelling from Treasury did suggest that there may well be a short-term impact in housing prices, but that they would continue to grow over time.

The environment minister, Murray Watt, says a widespread outbreak of bird flu in Australia could severely impact wildlife, but that Australia is well prepared.

So far, he says an outbreak in Western Australia is also nowhere near a poultry farm, but the government is working closely with the industry.

The government confirmed on Friday that a wild migratory bird had been found in WA and died from the H5N1 virus.

Watt tells ABC News Breakfast:

There’s no doubt, James [Glenday], that if we were to have a widespread outbreak of this deadly strain that would have a very significant impact on wildlife in Australia.

There’s no evidence at all, that this has affected poultry stocks in Australia. 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 on birds, but also mammals as well …

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

Search begins for new Nacc commissioners

The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, has opened applications for the new leaders of the National Anti-corruption commission, following the resignation of Paul Brereton.

Rowland said a new commissioner and deputy commissioner would be appointed through an open, competitive and merit-based selection process.

Applications will be assessed by an eminent panel, charged with preparing a shortlist of suitable candidates for the attorney-general’s consideration.

Rowland will then ask the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti‑Corruption Commission to approve her preferred candidates for each role, before recommending them to the governor general for appointment. Applications close on 13 July.

Rowland said:

The government is committed to strengthening the Nacc, including by continuing to make appointments through an open, competitive and merit-based selection process.

This is an opportunity for the Nacc to refresh and reset, and I look forward to working across the Parliament to appoint the best possible candidates for these roles.

Brereton quit in May, saying criticism of him was “drawing attention away” from the commission’s work.

Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you for the final sitting fortnight before the winter break.

With just days before the end of the financial year and some key legislation Labor is desperate to get through, expect some drama in the house and plenty of deal-making behind the scenes.

Last week the government announced significant concessions on its capital gains tax legislation, the question is, will it be enough to get the Greens over the line. Those talks will be happening over coming days – with the Coalition promising to repeal the legislation if it gets into power.

And this morning the prime minister is convening a national cabinet meeting on fuel security, days after promising to extend the fuel excise cut (albeit at a lower rate). Overseas, Iranian negotiators have suspended talks with the US in Switzerland.

I’m here with our news blogger Nick Visser, who’s making a cameo appearance in the national capital this week – so stick with us!