The referendum question and proposed constitutional amendment bill passed the House on Wednesday and is set to pass the Senate when it returns later this month. It means the government is on track to deliver the referendum in the final quarter of this year, and public campaigns for both sides are set to ramp up.
As Senate Estimates continued, so too did consulting giant PwC’s woes, with the deepening scandal dominating the week’s hearings across all departments.
Pharmacists step up campaign against dispensing changes
The opposition used Question Time this week to highlight the pharmacy lobby’s campaign against the government’s budget announcement to allow patients access to 60-day scripts, rather than 30-days.
It came as government backbenchers also questioned the PM and Health Minister about the policy’s impact on community pharmacies, and health bureaucrats spent hours in Senate Estimates hearings defending the government’s consultation and planned implementation of the transition to 60-day dispensing.
Pharmacists argue the loss of income as a result of the changes will force them to scale back services in other areas, or risk closure of pharmacies. The government insists the measure increases access to vital medicines for patients with chronic disease, and that the savings will be reinvested back into community pharmacies.
Economy, cost of living front of mind as inflation figures released
New inflation figures released by the ABS this week were used by the opposition to increase pressure on the government over it’s economic strategy, although the argument fell a little flat in Question Time on Tuesday when Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor confused monthly and yearly inflation data.
The figures heighten expectation the RBA will lift rates again when it meets next week, after it restarted the hikes in May following a one month pause.
Meanwhile, RBA governor Phillip Lowe copped some flak for suggesting at Estimates this week that more Australians should move into share houses or back in with their parents to increase housing supply in a tight market. With the government yet to confirm Lowe’s reappointment when his term expires in September, many expect it was the last Estimates hearing appearance for the man in charge of Australia’s monetary policy since 2016.
Coalition backs welfare rise, NACC timeline confirmed
The opposition has supported the government’s $40 a week increase to Job Seeker and pension payments after it’s amendment to increase the income free threshold for jobseekers was, as epxected, rejected by the government.
Not wanting to wear the political cost of voting against the increase, the opposition had made it clear they thought the increase did nothing to incentivise jobseekers to move off the payment and into employment.
Having passed the referendum bill through the House, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced the delivery of another election commitment – confirming the National Anti Corruption Commission would be operational by 1 July, in just under a month’s time.
The AG refused to confirm the new body would or could investigate the PwC tax scandal as one of it’s first items of business.
WA Premier steps down
The week’s biggest political news came all the way from the West, with Labor’s long-serving leader stepping down on Monday.
Citing the pressure of the COVID years, McGowan said he had made the decision to resign some time ago. He will exit the Parliament altogether, causing a by-election in his safe seat south of Perth.
McGowan’s deputy Roger Cook will succeed him as leader, with Transport Minister Rita Saffioti endorsed by the party room as Deputy Premier.