Australian politics live: Greens deputy Mehreen Faruqi not able to represent the Senate as part of delegations

Much of parliament’s business this week is being occupied with first speeches from the dozens of new MPs, which have brought pathos and laughs into the chambers.

But the real political theatre will come at 2pm today when the first Question Time gets underway; the first showdown between Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley.

Parliamentarians have been used to a reasonably even split between the parties in the chamber over the past 15 years, so even the audio dynamics will be vastly different with Labor’s domination of the lower house.

You can expect ministers to be trying for their best performances and jokes as they play to a larger friendly audience – though some might be a bit rusty, given there hasn’t been a question time for four months.

On the Opposition’s side, MPs will be dialling up the outrage in order to get noticed – with half the number of voices, they’ll have to shout twice as loud to be heard.

Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan has likened former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack to a couple of bulls fighting in a paddock after a private member’s bill to repeal net zero.

“They’re two steers fighting in the neighbour’s paddock. Let them fight,” the Liberal MP told Sky, saying Mr Joyce was entitled to bring forward private members’ bills in the Coalition.

“They’re two steers, they’re over in the paddock doing what they’re doing.

“I’m not going to comment on internal National Party politics. That’s a private members’ bill.

“They’ll obviously have their process they’ll follow. As I’ve said, I love these challenges and I’m looking forward to them.”

Education Minister Jason Clare also put the tougher laws dealing with childcare safety to Parliament this morning, which would give the government powers to withhold funding from childcare centre if they persistently fail to meet quality standards.

“The purpose of this bill is not to shut childcare centres down, it’s to raise standards up,” Mr Clare said.

“This is not about leaving parents stranded without care for their children because of fixable or minor shortcomings at their service. But this legislation is also not an idle threat to services.”

The legislation also allows regulators to make spot checks on childcare services, sets up greater transparency with more details published about breaches and the actions taken against operators

The nation’s education ministers and attorneys-general will meet next month to consider further measures, including a national working with children checks regime and allowing regulators to require centres to install CCTV.

Nationals leader David Littleproud has said he is “definitely” open to changing his stance on net zero emissions, reflecting growing momentum within his party to abandon the 2050 target.

This comes as former Nationals leader Michael McCormack supported Barnaby Joyce’s proposal to scrap the target, with both Coalition parties currently reviewing their climate and energy policies after the Coalition’s election loss.

Mr Littleproud did not confirm a personal view on the net zero target but expressed doubt regarding the transition to renewable energy, saying it was “tearing families apart” in regional areas.

“I’m open … I wanted to make sure we do this calmly and methodically, and understanding the human toll, the economic toll and the social toll this is having on our communities,” Mr Littleproud told Sky News.

US President Donald Trump has announced a trade deal with Japan he says will result in Japan investing $US550 billion ($A842 billion) into the United States and pay a 15 per cent reciprocal tariff.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump added that Japan will open to trade for cars, trucks, rice and certain agricultural products, among other items.

“This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan,” he said.

Mr Trump’s announcement follows a meeting with Japan’s top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, at the White House on Tuesday, according the Asahi newspaper.

A group of right-wing senators who turned their backs during an Acknowledgement of Country inside the federal parliament have been sharply criticised.

The four One Nation politicians took the action in the Senate chamber when the statement of respect was read out as part of the traditional ceremonial opening of parliament on Tuesday.

Cabinet minister Clare O’Neil lashed the Pauline Hanson-led party, saying it was disappointing their action became a point of focus, despite the shows of unity earlier in the day during Welcome to Country ceremonies.

“It was disrespectful and rude and childish,” she told Seven on Wednesday.

“Whatever your views about the Welcome to Country - we’ve got First Nations people who have been invited to come to parliament, to extend that hand of friendship and invite us and talk about 65,000 years of heritage that they bring to our beautiful, great country,” she said.

“To treat people that way on the first day of parliament, I think, it was absolutely appalling.”

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Nationals leader David Littleproud says he is “pretty relaxed about the situation” of his leadership future following an article in The Australian where former leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce criticised the net zero target.

Both Mr McCormack and Mr Joyce declined to rule out challenging Mr Littleproud’s position.

Mr Littleproud highlighted his support for nuclear energy, opposition to the Voice to Parliament referendum, and advocacy for divestiture powers as examples of his strong leadership.

“I’m not arrogant because I respect the position I’ve got,” he told Sky News.

“If you are focused on yourself, you’re not focused on what you are trying to achieve.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley declined to comment on speculation about a potential leadership challenge to Nationals leader David Littleproud.

“These three blokes are pretty good at speaking up for themselves, I’ve always found ... I just might let them do that and focus on the business of opposition, as leader of the opposition. What happens in the Nationals party room, I always say, is a matter for the Nationals party room,” Ms Ley said on Nine.

The comments come amid renewed speculation after an interview in The Australian with former Nationals leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce, in which McCormack refused to rule out a challenge to Littleproud.

Ley affirmed that she maintains a good relationship with Mr McCormack, Mr Joyce, and Mr Littleproud, emphasising that the opposition’s key priority should be holding the government to account.

One of the Liberal party’s most respected strategists says the federal Liberal party should follow the example of Queensland LNP Premier David Crisafulli in appealing to young voters who have rewritten Australia’s electoral map, to recover from its “catastrophic failure” at the last election.

Tony Barry, former deputy state director for the Liberals in Victoria and now director at the apolitical research RedBridge Group, called on young conservatives to lead the charge., Latika M Bourke reports.

But he warned them to stick to economics and not culture wars, citing the example of Queensland Premier David Crisafulli in matching Liberal policies with the everyday concerns and values of voters.

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Education Minister Jason Clare is now introducing the bill to cut people’s student debts by 20 per cent – long promised as the first proper business of the new Parliament.

“This is a big deal for everyone with student debt today, 3 million Australians,” he tells the House of Representatives.

“More money in your pocket, not the government’s, when you really need it.”

The Government has been doing a full media blitz this morning on the measure, with the PM releasing social media videos, Mr Clare talking to morning television, and both of them meeting university and vocational education graduates for cameras to talk about how they’ll be better off once the bill passes.