Wednesday, 09 September 2026

House of Representatives

Mr Tim Wilson MP:

I have two things today. First, I want to support the member for Canning. No-one who has lacked the courage to serve in uniform should have the audacity to call someone who has a traitor. I'm proud to call the member for Canning a friend and colleague, and I am proud of and thankful for his service to our country.

But I do know what cowardice is. Cowardice is going to an election saying you'll do one thing and then doing the exact opposite after the election. This is the Prime Minister. This is the Treasurer. This is the Albanese government. Today we have learned that it is going to be a tax event to have a child. This is an outrageous assault on small businesses, grieving widows, victims of domestic violence and now, of course, families who simply choose to have a child. Where will it end? Childbirth is now becoming a taxable event under the Albanese government. This is what happens when we have a government that simply cannot kick its spending addiction.

Here is the simple question for our prime minister: will he humiliate his treasurer a fourth time and repeal this tax, or will he back a tax on newborn Australians and target Australians simply because they want to have children? A baby should be a blessing. It should not be a tax bill.