Prime Minister Anthony Albanesecalled MPs back to Canberra for the meeting to discuss the cost of living and other issues for the government on January 24,almost two weeks before parliament resumes on February 6.
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor challenged Labor to announce significant help rather than a “transparent attempt” to look like it was doing something.
“This is just more chaos from a distracted government,” he said.
Health Minister Mark ButlerCredit:Alex Ellinghausen
The Coalition has previously attacked Labor for calling MPs to Canberra for one or two days,estimating a move to recall parliament in late 2022 cost taxpayers $1 million due to the cost of flights,Commonwealth cars and accommodation.
The cost of the Labor meeting this week would be less than half that amount,given it involves a maximum of 103 caucus members rather than all 226 members of parliament.
Labor MPs welcomed the meeting but avoided any remarks that might be seen to put pressure on Albanese and cabinet ministers to make changes to any specific policy.
The member for Bennelong in NSW,Jerome Laxale,said last year’s federal budget had been well received and this year’s budget on May 14 would need to expand that help.
“It is clear to me that the next budget will need to broaden the eligibility of support,” he said.
The member for the western Sydney seat of Macarthur,Mike Freelander,said the meeting was good news and showed the government was willing to look at measures to help on household costs.
The gas deals follow the government’s plan in December 2022 to cap prices and impose tougher controls on exports under laws that were passed despite objections from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Coalition.
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Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King said Woodside and Esso had promised to supply 260 petajoules of gas over the period to 2033 in new commitments that mean they cannot export the gas.
The gas will be supplied under enforceable undertakings that exempt the companies from the price cap for the committed gas but expose them to action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission if they do not meet their pledges.
This follows deals with gas exportersSenex and Australia Pacific LNGlast November to divert 300 petajoules to the domestic market over the next six years.
TheACCC estimates household,commercial and industrial demand requires up to 447 petajoules each year.
The call to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance comes in a report to be issued on Monday that says Australians are spending record amounts on shelter while suffering severe rental stress from a depleted supply of social housing.
“The big problem with Commonwealth Rent Assistance is that a lot of people who need it aren’t eligible for it,” said Maiy Azize,campaign spokeswoman for Everybody’s Home,a group backed by social service and not-for-profit agencies.
“It’s difficult to get it if you’re in a share house,and we know that people who are on the lowest incomes are in share houses.”
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While the government increased rent assistance by 15 per cent in the budget last May,Grattan Institute economist Brendan Coates said this should be lifted to 40 per cent.
“It’s true that inflation will slow,but the lives of renters are going to get worse before they get better,” Coates said.
Rents for people already in a lease agreement were likely to keep rising for another 18 months to two years,he said.
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