At a glance

First Term Wins

Inserting a definition of Australian business in Commonwealth procurement

Every year, the federal government spends over $70 billion on goods and services. I’ve been determined to make sure that Australian small and medium businesses are able to compete for this work with large multinationals on a level playing field.

I got support to establish a Senate inquiry into reforming procurement rules to back Australian businesses. Through the inquiry and following its report, I haveI pushed the Government to define Australian business for procurement purposes including hosting a roundtable with local small businesses and Finance Minister and fellow ACT Senator Katy Gallagher.

In early 2025, the Government inserted a definition for Australian business. This change is a win for local jobs, fair competition, and better outcomes. I think there’s still scope to go further with this definition and will keep pushing the issue.

I’ll keep fighting to make sure public money delivers the best outcomes and that Australian businesses aren’t locked out of opportunity.

Advocacy on housing tax reform 

In April 2023, with crossbench colleagues, I commissioned and released modelling conducted by the Parliamentary Budget Office on options for reform of property tax concessions, including negative gearing and capital gains tax. Of the five options examined, the most substantial would raise $60 billion over a decade and, in the process, improve housing affordability for those who need it most, while protecting existing investments. You can read more about this modelling here. I will continue to advocate for sensible, middle-path reforms to our housing and tax system so that housing is treated as a human right before an investment vehicle.

Blocking an unfair super tax while backing fairer reform

I opposed the Albanese Government’s proposal to tax unrealised earnings in superannuation accounts, a move that would have unfairly penalised Australians holding volatile or long-term assets, including early-stage medical research investments. Working with other crossbenchers, we prevented this poor policy from being legislated.

While I support reducing tax concessions on super balances over $3 million, I couldn’t back a model that taxes people on income they haven’t actually received.

The principle is right: the average Australian retires with just $200,000 in super and I don’t believe taxpayers should be subsidising those with over $3 million at the same rate. We absolutely should be having a sensible conversation about how to use super tax concessions more wisely to support Australians in retirement.

But taxing unrealised gains isn’t the way to do it.

Valuations can fluctuate wildly year-to-year, and taxing “paper gains” that may never be realised is unfair and unworkable.

I will continue to work for effective reform, but I’ll stand up for tax policy that is fair, practical, and grounded in reality.

Negotiated a review of modern awards

We know Australia has a productivity problem and one of the biggest issues business raises with me is the complexity of “modern” awards.

As part of negotiations over the Secure Jobs, Better Pay industrial relations reform bill, I negotiated a commitment to review Modern Awards, with an initial focus on the retail sector which was completed in 2024.

Negotiated a review of small business definitions

Right now, there are multiple different definitions of small business in Commonwealth law. For industrial relations, the official definition of a small business is one that employs fewer than 15 people. This is based on head count (not full-time equivalent) and includes part-time and regular casual staff. That definition is outdated, out of touch with reality and small businesses are telling me it’s not working for them.

Many businesses with 15 or more employees still face the same challenges as bigger businesses: tight margins, limited admin capacity, and growing regulatory demands. They deserve support, not extra red tape.

In 2024, alongside Senator Jacqui Lambie, I secured a commitment from the Government to undertake a comprehensive review of the small business definition.

This is a crucial step toward:

• Reducing unnecessary red tape
• Recognising the pressures faced by small and growing businesses
• Ensuring rules and support actually match the realities on the ground
  

I’ll keep fighting for reforms that back small businesses with smart policy, not one-size-fits-all rules.

Protecting ACT universities from potentially harmful student caps

When the Government introduced legislation to improve quality and integrity in international education, I supported the intent, but pushed back hard on one critical flaw: a blunt cap on international student numbers.

The proposed caps would have severely hurt universities in the ACT, undermining our economy and damaging a sector that supports thousands of jobs and students. I participated in the senate committee inquiry and championed key amendments to the bill that protected what was good (like stronger quality and integrity measures) while removing the poorly designed cap mechanism. I also opposed scapegoating international students for decades of failed housing policy from both major parties, especially here in the ACT where our universities have invested heavily in student accommodation.

Ultimately the bill was shelved but the Coalition is pushing an even deeper cut that again threatens the sector.

The ACT has a world-class university sector that:

• Drives economic growth
• Strengthens international ties
• Funds vital research and education programs

I will continue to push for better protection of education standards without punishing high-performing institutions or shrinking one of Australia’s biggest exports. We need to get the balance right. You can read more here. 

Leading the push to leverage the opportunities in transitioning to a clean economy

From my very first weeks in Parliament, I’ve been driving the conversation about Australia’s clean economic future. One built on our comparative advantage in renewable energy and critical minerals.

In the opening fortnight of the 47th Parliament, I hosted an event to kickstart this national conversation. Since then, I’ve been leading efforts to turn big ideas into real industrial policy that positions Australia to thrive in the global clean energy economy.

I’ve fought for:

• A national focus on household electrification and energy efficiency
• Smarter, more ambitious investment in renewable manufacturing and technology
• A stronger, more strategic ‘Future Made in Australia’ framework - improved and accelerated through crossbench pressure and collaboration
  

We’re at a turning point. The world is shifting rapidly, and Australia has the resources, talent and natural advantage to lead, but only if we act decisively.

I’ll keep fighting for a cleaner, fairer, future-ready economy. An economy that creates good local jobs, builds sovereign capability, and puts Australia on the front foot for generations to come.

What I'm fighting for

Structural reform for a fairer, more productive Australia

Australia urgently needs real structural reform.

Our economy faces a significant challenge: weak productivity growth. Over the last two decades, productivity grew at just 0.9% per year,  and fell to 0.4% in 2023. Without meaningful reform, we risk stagnation and growing inequality.

We need an economic reset that improves living standards, strengthens public finances, and positions Australia to seize the opportunities of the net zero transition.

Fix income tax minimisation

Australia’s personal income tax system is riddled with loopholes. Concessions and tax minimisation schemes, including the capital gains tax discount, negative gearing, trust distributions, and superannuation tax breaks, disproportionately benefit higher income earners and erode the tax base.

Reforming these distortions would reduce reliance on bracket creep, improve fairness, and generate revenue to fund services and rebuild fiscal capacity. I have been focused on reform of capital gains tax discount and negative gearing - you can read more about this below.

Increase JobSeeker

Australia’s unemployment payments are among the lowest in the OECD. A single person on JobSeeker receives just $56 a day, around 20% of average full-time earnings. This level of support does not meet basic needs and acts as a barrier to genuine job-seeking and participation. 

The work of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee that I negotiated to establish also underscores the economic benefit of a stronger income support safety net. Mandala undertook research for the Committee to quantify “the positive social and economic returns that would be gained by increasing JobSeeker to a specified benchmark of 90% of the Age Pension plus supplements”. Their analysis found this would decrease spending on government services by an estimated $71.8 million for a representative group of 20,000 JobSeeker recipients. As the report says, “This is a return to society of $1.24 for every dollar invested. Importantly, the long-run benefits far outweigh any potential costs from reduced work incentives due to an increase in JobSeeker.” 

Raising JobSeeker is a matter of dignity, social equity, and sound economic policy. You can read more about this and other policies in the Addressing Cost of Living section of my website. 

Increase competition

Revitalising National Competition Policy would deliver major benefits. The Productivity Commission estimates reforms such as aligning with global product standards, improving healthcare competition, and lowering medicine prices could boost GDP by up to $45 billion a year and lower consumer prices by up to 1.5%.

A new era of pro-competition policy would raise living standards and reduce pressure on households. You can read more about this and other policies in the Addressing Cost of Living section of my website.

Seize the net zero opportunity

The clean energy transition presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build new industries and boost economic prosperity. With our world-class renewable resources and critical mineral reserves, Australia is well placed to lead on green iron, green ammonia, green hydrogen and battery materials.

Government policy must support this industrial shift, unlocking private capital, supporting local manufacturing, and building sovereign capability in key supply chains.

Improve housing policy

Affordable housing is a foundation of economic mobility and productivity. Reforms must include reducing the CGT discount, reforming negative gearing, and massively increasing public investment through a quadrupled Housing Australia Future Fund.

A National Housing and Homelessness Plan must also drive coordination across jurisdictions and support long-term supply increases. You can read more about this and other policies in the Housing and Homelessness section of my website.

Improve delivery of non-market services

Healthcare, education and disability support account for a growing share of the economy. We must focus on efficiency and quality, not just spending. Transparency reforms, like specialist fee disclosure and provider-level quality reporting, would boost performance and empower consumers.

Sensible reform to overly generous negative gearing or capital gains tax concessions while grandfathering existing investments

Key housing policy powers held by the Commonwealth Government include national tax and social security settings that are long overdue for fundamental reform. These reforms must include phasing out overly generous tax breaks to private landlords, with the resulting additional tax revenue devoted to expanded social housing investment. 

Modelling by the Parliamentary Budget Office shows that on current settings, negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT) discounts are set to cost the budget $165 billion over 10 years. Most of the benefit from these tax concessions goes to the highest income earners. Most property investors in Australia own only one or two properties.

Together with Senator Jacqui Lambie, I commissioned and released modelling conducted by the Parliamentary Budget Office on options for reform of property tax concessions. I believe we can make sensible changes, while rejecting an all or nothing approach. My preferred option would be to grandfather CGT arrangements for existing rental properties and limit the discount to 25% (instead of 50%) for any newly purchased, newly built rental properties. For negative gearing, the sensible proposal would be to limit claiming deductions for the first rental property. 

Replace stamp duty with land taxes and boost build-to-rent

To discourage housing speculation and boost the national economy, the Commonwealth Government should also lead a national program to help other states and territories replace damaging and regressive stamp duty taxes with broad-based annual land taxes. To channel more institutional investment into purpose-built good quality rental housing, the Commonwealth should further extend recent changes in income tax settings affecting build-to-rent housing by equalising GST treatment relative to other forms of housing.

Increasing productivity by helping small businesses to digitise

Small businesses are ready to modernise, but they need the right support.

I’m calling for digitisation tax incentives to help small businesses invest in technology and skills that boost productivity, cut costs, and drive growth. One proven model is the Small Business Technology Investment Boost. That program is a 20% bonus tax deduction on eligible spending for digital upgrades and staff training, including tools for accounting, e-commerce, marketing, and cybersecurity.

In 2023, I moved an amendment to extend the Boost by 12 months. Labor and the Greens voted it down. I would like to see the program reinstated and I’ll keep fighting for smart, targeted support that helps small businesses thrive in the digital economy.

Investing in Research and Development to back Australia’s future

Australia’s investment in research and development (R&D) is falling behind. As a percentage of GDP, our R&D spending is well below the OECD average, and it’s been declining for over the past decade.

This underinvestment puts us at risk of missing out on the breakthroughs, startups, and sovereign capabilities that will define the next century. I strongly support the Strategic Examination of Research and Development, and I’m calling for:

• Increased direct funding for R&D through universities and research institutes
• Policy reforms that link research to startup success
• Stronger support to keep Australia on the cutting edge of global innovation
  

Backing Australian research means backing our future industries, jobs, and prosperity. We can’t afford to fall further behind.

I’ll keep fighting for long-term investment in research and innovation. To meet the huge challenges we face, we need to invest now.

Reform of government procurement to ensure that Australian SMEs compete for government contracts on a level playing field

For too long, local Australian SMEs have been overlooked for government contracts in favour of multinationals. There has been some progress in this term of parliament with updates to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and defining an Australian business. But these reforms need to go further I will continue to advocate for reforms to government procurement that ensure small and medium-sized Australian businesses can compete fairly for contracts, so that they can access their fair share of the $70 - $100 billion the government spends annually on goods and services (which climbed to nearly $100 billion in the 2023-24 financial year). 

Further reforms in this space would create opportunities for local enterprises to win contracts directly, rather than acting as subcontractors to large multinationals. This will result in better value for taxpayer money, fostering retained economic benefits by supporting local business, and build sovereign capacity in industries such as defence and quantum computing. You can read more about my advocacy here and here.

Improving the definition of small business

Right now, there are multiple different definitions of a “small business” in Commonwealth law. For industrial relations law, any business with more than 15 employees is excluded from being classified as a “small business” regardless of whether they have 16 staff or 6,000. This outdated threshold means that genuinely small businesses are being lumped with the same regulatory burdens as large corporations. It’s unfair, and it’s hurting local businesses, especially in Canberra, where costs are already high.

Alongside Senator Lambie, I successfully negotiated a review of this definition and I’ll keep pushing for change. The number should reflect the realities of modern business and the outcome of the review I secured will be key to getting it right.

I’ll continue to work with business owners and industry groups to make sure the definition works for small businesses, not against them.

Increasing the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT)

Australia is one of the world’s top three gas exporters. In 2023 alone, we exported $70 billion worth of gas, yet Australian taxpayers have received $0 in Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) from offshore LNG exports.

In this term of parliament Labor and the Greens voted for changes to the PRRT  that  were so weak that revenue is actually expected to fall.

Source: Budget Paper 1

Worse still, more than half of our gas is exported without paying any royalties. That’s billions in public resources handed to multinational gas giants with no return to the public. Meanwhile Norway has a sovereign wealth fund valued at around $2.8 trillion Australian dollars. That’s the scale of the benefit Australians are missing out on and that could fund desperately needed priorities in health, education, housing and environment.

This system is broken. I’m calling for urgent reform of the PRRT to ensure Australians receive a fair share from the sale of our natural resources. These resources belong to all of us and when they’re sold off, the public should benefit.

I will continue to push for a stronger PRRT that delivers real revenue and real accountability.

We’ve been short-changed for too long. It’s time to fix it.

Ending a fossil fuel handout for fossil fuel companies - redesigning the Fuel Tax Credit scheme

The fuel tax credit scheme is costing Australians over $10 billion every year - more than the federal government spends on army capabilities.This money flows largely to polluting industries. Coal companies alone claim an average of $20 million each, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office. The mining sector is the scheme’s biggest beneficiary.

The OECD and the WTO both classify this scheme as a fossil fuel subsidy and yet it remains untouched. It’s time to fix it.

I’m calling for a redesign of the fuel tax credit scheme to end handouts to polluting industries like coal mining. While I support the provision of the fuel tax credit to farmers, it makes no sense to provide a fossil fuel subsidy to fossil fuel companies. Public money should support decarbonisation and innovation and not bankroll coal and gas profits.

Reforming this scheme could:

• Reduce the structural deficit
• Encourage heavy industries to decarbonise
• Be used to increase the speed of transition to renewable energy
  

The public should not be funding pollution. This money could be better used to support clean energy, regional jobs, and emissions reduction.

Regulate AI to seize opportunity and protect democracy

Artificial Intelligence is already transforming how we live, work, and govern. It offers huge opportunities, from cutting emissions and boosting productivity to revolutionising healthcare and manufacturing. 

But without strong, proactive regulation, AI also poses serious risks. From job disruption and algorithmic bias to deepfakes and political disinformation, AI has the potential to erode public trust, increase inequality, and undermine democracy.

By 2030, up to a third of Australian jobs could be automated. At the same time, AI is being deployed in policing, hiring, and decision-making,  often without transparency or oversight.

Australia needs to act now.

That’s why I’m calling for:

• A comprehensive AI regulatory framework
• An independent AI safety authority, modelled on international best practice
• A legislative ban on AI-generated deepfakes in elections until the technology can be properly regulated
• Watermarking and labelling of AI-generated content
• Urgent copyright reform to protect Australian creators
• Investment in education and retraining to prepare workers for the AI economy
  

AI is a huge technological shift. We must shape it to serve the public good, not just corporate profit.

Let’s lead on innovation and protect democracy while we do.