After a long summer break, politicians have returned to Canberra for the first sitting week of 2025, in what could also be the final sitting week before the federal election is called.
The federal election must be held by 17 May. The date has not yet been announced, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton have started making their election pitches.
Antisemitism, the cost of living, and a "free lunch" policy were among the key points of discussion on the first day of the parliamentary year.
Politicians head to church
Albanese, Dutton, and several MPs attended a church service at St Christopher's Cathedral on Tuesday morning.
The service is a tradition to mark the opening of the parliamentary year in Canberra.
Albanese's reading from the First Letter of Peter counselled attendees not to repay evil with evil but with blessing instead.
"I have optimism for the year ahead and optimism that we can create a better future for Australia if we seize the opportunities that are before us," he told reporters after the service.
Dutton also spoke to reporters and said the service had been a "very nice start" to a busy parliamentary year.
He said he believed there was a "mood for change" in Australia and that he was ready for the election.
"I believe it will be tough. It will be always hard fought but I do believe that we can win and that will be a decision for the Australian people," he said.
Antisemitism motion passes parliament
Parliamentarians kicked off the first sitting day of the year voting on a motion to condemn antisemitism introduced by independent MP Allegra Spender.
, the motion urged "all parliamentarians to work constructively together to combat the scourge".
Albanese and Dutton joined several politicians in condemning antisemitism as they threw their support behind the motion.
"I know I speak for every member of this house when I say that this kind of hateful prejudice has no place in Australia," Albanese said on Tuesday.
"Our country is better than that, and our country is a better place because of our Jewish community."
In the upper house, Liberal senator James Patterson's attempt to amend the motion to include mandatory minimum sentencing for antisemitic attacks evoked an emotional response from Senator Jacqui Lambie.
She said the motion should rise above politics, telling the Jewish community: "We have your backs."
"We don't always get this right, but we have you and you're in our sights. And we love you, and we will do everything we can to protect your families," she said before the motion passed both houses unanimously.
The 'sloppy' free lunch policy
The Coalition has outlined a policy to give small businesses a tax deduction if they take staff or clients out for lunch.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the policy would cost between $1.6 billion and $10 billion a year depending on whether all eligible businesses claimed the maximum amount, according to costings prepared by Treasury.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has criticised the Opposition's 'free lunch' policy. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
"This would smash the budget."
Albanese has also criticised the policy, describing it as the "worst, sloppiest policy put forward by any Opposition that I've seen in my entire time since I've been in parliament".
The Opposition has not released its costings for the policy, but its treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor disputed Chalmer's figures.
Cost of living relief
The cost of living has been a prominent issue throughout the Albanese government's time in power and was again a point of discussion on Tuesday.
Dutton criticised the government over the cost of living in his opening remarks before the Coalition caucus meeting.
During Question Time, he asked Albanese whether he would apologise to Australians for saying they would be better off under a Labor government.
In response, Albanese pointed to government initiatives, such as energy bill rebates and subsidised childcare and medicine.
"When we came to office, real incomes were going backwards, inflation was going up, rising, at a six in front of it, and indeed, we had people's living standards going backwards," he said.
He said the Opposition would not have introduced any similar initiatives.
"If they had their way, there wouldn't be cheaper medicines. If they had their way, it wouldn't be cheaper childcare. If they had their way, there wouldn't have been any rebates on energy bills. If they had their way, there wouldn't be tax cuts for every taxpayer," he said.
"And we now know that they have come up with a cost of living plan but it's just not for workers, it's for workers to pay for some of their mates to have lunch."
Chalmers also addressed the cost of living when questioned about Labor's "responsible economic measurement".
He said Labor had delivered "substantial" and "sustained" progress.
"Under this prime minister, inflation is down, wages are up, unemployment is low, we have delivered two budget surpluses, we got the debt down, and we have rolled out cost of living relief at the same time," he said.
Throughout Question Time, the government highlighted policies, including , , , investing in Medicare, and rising wages.
The government is also set to introduce new legislation this fortnight, which would guarantee families three days of childcare each week.
Greens continue to push for ban on gambling ads
On Tuesday morning, the Greens communication spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said she had written to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland detailing a partial ban on gambling ads.
The bill would be a compromise on the Greens bill currently in the Senate, which proposes a total ban.
"It’s been increasingly clear that neither the Labor party or the Liberal party will now accept a total ban, they’ve been crab-walking away from this for the last 18 months and the community is becoming increasingly desperate for something to be done," she told ABC Radio National.
Sarah Hanson-Young has proposed a compromise on The Greens' push for a ban on gambling advertisements. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Hanson-Young said she had offered the compromise out of "frustration and disappointment" after the Labor party did not follow through on recommendations from late Labor MP Peta Murphy to ban gambling ads.
"At least do something before the election. The government promised to move on gambling, this is unfinished business for the parliament and we’re offering a pragmatic pathway through," she said.
"All sides should back it."
Who is predicted to win the 2025 federal election?
The most recent Newspoll had the Coalition ahead 51-49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
But a Roy Morgan poll on Monday showed it was 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis, likely driven by inflation figures and the prospects of a rate cut.
It means the election could result in a hung parliament, with both major parties requiring the support of minor parties and independents to form a minority government.
— Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
