Australian news and politics live: Littleproud presses Collins on US beef import standards

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Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has touted the Albanese Government’s record of strengthening trade ties and opening new markets after previous icy relations under the former Coalition government.

In responding to a Dorothy Dixer by new WA Bullwinkle MP Trish Cook, she said the Government had secured 230 agriculture-related market access wins since coming to office, including 29 entirely new markets.

She highlighted recent successes in restoring trade with China, including for wine, lobster, and barley, and expanding access for growers from mainland Australia.

“We want good Australian jobs from these and we want to support our agriculture sector. That is because, of course, our Government has a proud record of delivering better trade outcomes for our farmers,” she said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has doubled down on Labor’s decision to tax unrealised capital gains in superannuation, arguing the move is about protecting and strengthening the system for the long term.

Dr Chalmers rejected criticism from the Opposition, accusing them of having a long history of undermining superannuation.

“We will not be taking lectures on superannuation from those who always try to diminish and

undermine and vandalise super at every turn from (former Prime Minister) John Howard on,” he said in Question Time.

“The reason these changes are so important is because we need to make sure that the generous concessional treatment for super is sustainable.

“That is why we announced this change two and a half years ago (and) there’s been an election between then and now, there are good reasons to make the concessions more sustainable.”

Anthony Albanese has outlined a series of cost-of-living measures introduced by the Labor Government, following a question from the government benches during Question Time.

He pointed to recent wage increases, expanded Paid Parental Leave with superannuation, and incentives for apprentices entering construction as key achievements.

“On 1 July we had the increase of 3.5 per cent in wages. We have Paid Parental Leave and an additional two weeks, and superannuation is paid for the first time on Paid Parental Leave,” Mr Albanese said.

He also highlighted energy subsidies, support for students and workers, and a popular excise freeze.

“We have the subsidies for batteries so solar panels could store the energy in order to also replace pressure off the grid… cutting student debt by 20 per cent, benefiting 3 million Australians by an average of $5,500 each,” he said.

He added that the government had introduced legislation to protect penalty rates for 2.6 million workers and joked that Australians may “have a shout” to celebrate the freezing of the draft beer excise.

“We are focused on delivering policies we took to the election to make Australians’ lives better,” he said, while noting that the Opposition remains “more divided and chaotic than ever.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has torn into the Coalition for being fractured over its climate stance, referencing Barnaby Joyce’s net zero repeal bill.

It has been an ongoing saga since Mr Joyce announced he would be introducing the private members’ bill on Wednesday morning.

“Next week the Member for New England is going to introduce his anti-net-zero bill on behalf of the Coalition. I received a copy of the bill yesterday through unusual channels. They’re leaking like a sieve over there,” he said.

He said after reading through it appears that he will be asking the Coalition to vote on whether to dismantle the legislative foundation for Australia’s carbon markets, emissions targets, clean energy support, and net zero transition.

“The coalition (does) not want us to reduce emissions, they want to stop measuring them,” Mr Bowen claimed.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has accused the Opposition of being in “total nuclear meltdown over net zero policy”.

“Those opposite are in a total nuclear meltdown over net zero policy,” he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has used speaker Milton Dick’s decision to kick Wright MP Scott Buchholz out of question time to have a crack at the Coalition’s poor numbers in the house.

Mr Buchholz had been ejected under Standing Order 94(a).

“Nobody knew he was on the frontbench until you asked him to leave it,” Dr Chalmers said, which was met with laughter from the roaring 94-majority behind him.

Speaker Milton Dick has ejected Wright MP Scott Buchholz from the House of Representatives under Standing Order 94(a).

The Standing Order is used when the speaker believes an MP has displayed disorderly conduct or has ignored the Speaker’s authority.

“I want to remind members that Question Time is an important part of our democracy,” Mr Dick said.

There’s been a fiery exchange between Nationals’ leader David Littleproud and Labor’s Agriculture Minister Julie Collins over Australia’s decision to loosen biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports.

Mr Littleproud has asked if she can confirm whether US beef will be held to “equivalent” biosecurity requirements as Australia.

Ms Collins started her response calmly reiterating that the decision had been made by her department after a robust assessment. However, towards the end she was yelling across the aisle to say Australia’s standards are strict and among the best in the world.

Speaker Milton Dick had to intervene, remarking to the riled up MPs: “I don’t know why this is so controversial”.

Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor has asked his counterpart Richard Marles about the circumnavigation of Australia by Chinese Communist Party warships earlier this year.

He has asked if the Prime Minister has implied that Australia’s actions in the South China Sea justify China’s unannounced live-fire military exercises off the NSW South Coast.

Mr Marles has slammed Mr Taylor as being reckless with his language on the issue.

“It is a place where words matter. The shadow portfolio he holds… comes with an enormous amount of responsibility for the national interest,” he said, adding political interests must not come at the cost of what’s best for the country.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared that Labor has a “big agenda to deliver” under their whopping 94-majority and vowed to attack budget repair across the term.

He has used the answer to a Dorathy Dixer, accusing Coalition of having poor budget management and leaving Labor to “inherit” a mess.

“We manage the budget in a responsible way,” he said.

“We turn to Liberal deficits into two substantial Labour surpluses. The latest advice is that when the final budget outcome comes out in September, it will show that the deficit, within the year just finished, is much smaller as well.”