Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used a parliamentary question to criticise Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's speech at the Midwinter Ball, which was reportedly poorly received. Responding to a Liberal MP's query, Albanese said, 'If I was someone on that side, led by this leader of the opposition, I wouldn’t be mentioning last night. I would pretend it was all a bad dream!'
The question came from Liberal MP Ben Small about 'Aussie legend' Joseph Dowd, who has spent over $17,000 on billboards critical of tax changes and bid $16,000 to play the prime minister in a tennis match at the ball. Albanese pivoted to defend his government's stance on negative gearing and capital gains taxes, stating he prioritises first-home buyers over wealthy individuals.
Other parliamentary developments on the final sitting day before the winter break included the passage of legislation to return human oversight to an aged care algorithm criticised as 'cruel', and a law allowing registered nurses to prescribe specific medications under the PBS. The Senate also passed gambling reform measures pushed by Liberal MPs.
Separately, two teenagers were arrested after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed outside a Melbourne hospital, and wildlife officials urged Tasmanians to give a popular elephant seal space. The federal police charged a second man in an alleged people smuggling venture, while the head of NSW Catholic schools stood aside amid a corruption probe.
