Australian Politics Round-up: Migration, Renewable Energy, and Tax Overhauls

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has stepped up for a press conference to announce the expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).

The scheme will be expanded from 100 kilowatts to one megawatt, be targeted at schools, supermarkets, factories and farm buildings and will be introduced on October 1.

But Bowen has been asked about reports the home affairs minister has been preparing a package of measures to achieve a quick and drastic cut to net migration.

He's refused to be drawn on whether cabinet discussed the matter.

"You've never heard me comment on a cabinet discussion in private or in public," Bowen says.

"There's always a balance to be struck which is something our political opponents don't often remember. A lot of businesses rely on a very well calibrated immigration system to provide the workers that, frankly, it's difficult for the domestic market to supply."

The cost of installing solar at schools, supermarkets, factories and farm buildings will be slashed by about 20 per cent under the expansion of a federal government scheme.

Speech excerpts seen by the ABC show Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen will announce the expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) from 100 kilowatts to one megawatt during an address at the National Press Club.

The government estimates retailers could save almost $70,000 by installing a 250kW solar system, while a large retail complex or logistics warehouse could save more than $230,000 on an 850kW system.

The move comes after households and businesses took up batteries in droves after the introduction of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program in 2025, which allowed a subsidy worth about 30 per cent of the up-front cost of a system to be claimed.

On Monday, the government announced changes to its News Bargaining Incentive, the scheme which pushes digital companies like Meta and Google to pay for content made by Australian journalists that appears on their platforms.

One of the original requirements of the scheme was for companies to reach payment deals with at least four local media outlets. By doing that, they avoided a higher levy on their revenue.

But under the changes, the tech companies will have to reach deals with six companies, instead of four.

While this means more companies will get a piece of the pie, it also means outlets like Nine Entertainment and News Corporation, which had already struck deals with the tech companies, will get less.

That's because there is a cap on the amount any one company can get from the scheme, set at one-sixth of the tech platforms' total payment.

It means tech companies are not incentivised to provide more funding to one company over another, regardless of size.

Nine is warning job losses could be on the way.

"The issue isn't the number of media deals, it's the proportionality," Nine CEO Matt Stanton said.

"We feel deeply misled. The proposed bill now directly penalises those Australian media outlets who have invested more than any others in quality, investigative journalism."

Jason Clare has sidestepped questions about whether the government will make concessions with the Coalition or the Greens to pass its gambling advertising legislation through parliament.

Gambling companies have denied claims at a Senate inquiry that they offered a high-spend customer access to illicit drugs and escorts.

The education minister says those matters should be investigated by police, but hasn't said whether the government should go further with the legislation before parliament.

"I think this government has done more than any other government to tackle gambling and the harms associated with gambling," Clare says.

"The legislation that's in the parliament right now makes some important changes to stop gambling advertising on television and on radio."

Education Minister Jason Clare has stepped up in Sydney for a press conference to discuss March's NAPLAN results.

The latest results show one-third of Australian students are not meeting "challenging but reasonable" expectations in literacy and numeracy.

Asked whether he believes NAPLAN is the best way to check in on the progress of children, Clare has backed the test and says it's "very important".

"For mums and dads, it helps them to know where their children are at. For teachers, it provides information on where different students in the classroom are at," Clare says.

NAB has revised its house price forecasts, now predicting prices will drop 5 per cent in Australia's eight capital cities over this year.

The bank says it expects prices in Sydney and Melbourne to decline by 10 per cent, and 2 to 4 per cent falls across mid-sized capitals.

Speaking to News24, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says the government wants to see houses stabilise and increase gradually over time.

The minister says house prices are influenced by factors such as interest rates and global factors.

"What we want to see is more first home buyers, and more people into the housing market, and that's certainly what our government's policies have always been about," Collins says.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has postponed a speech at the National Press Club where he was expected to unveil far-reaching changes to Australia's migration settings in a bid to quell public anger and growing support for One Nation.

Burke was due to appear on Thursday but withdrew on Tuesday afternoon. A government source did not offer a reason for the delay but said the speech would be rescheduled in the near future.

Three sources familiar with the government's thinking told the ABC the minister had been preparing a package of measures to achieve a quick and drastic cut to net migration. It is understood the proposal was considered by cabinet on Monday.

Among the measures canvassed were tougher family visa rules, a cap on the number of backpackers in the country and restrictions on the work and appeal rights of asylum seekers. Sources said internal deliberations had been highly contentious.

Liberal MP Simon Kennedy says he thinks the Coalition will "stand up" for stronger gambling advertising reforms.

Kennedy says the federal government's gambling advertising bill ignores inducements and will allow more gambling ads.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Kennedy says the prime minister and communications minister are out of touch with their own backbench.

"I think the Coalition is going to stand up for children, going to stand up for gambling addicts and vulnerable people, and work with whoever to get this done," Kennedy says.

"I think the prime minister and the communications minister are on their own here. Not only are they out of touch with the Coalition, the Greens, the crossbench, they're out of touch with the Labor backbench."

Asked whether he would cross the floor if the Coalition took a position on the bill he doesn't agree with, Kennedy doesn't rule it out and says he'll do "whatever it takes" to strengthen the laws.

Labor MP Josh Burns has disputed concerns from the Greens that the government's gambling advertising bill is weaker than the status quo.

Yesterday, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the bill before parliament as it stands is "weaker" than the status quo.

At the two-day inquiry, gambling companies denied claims they offered a high-spend customer access to illicit drugs and escorts.

Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, Burns says the government will engage in "good faith" with the Greens and Coalition to pass its gambling advertising bill.

"I'll have the power under our reforms to turn off gambling advertising right in our home. So I'm going to have a gambling advertising-free home thanks to the legislation," Burns says.

"Anyone who says that this isn't a worthwhile reform is basically saying the status quo where my kids and my home is subjected to gambling advertising is better than having a gambling advertising free home"

Tim Wilson has questioned how much time the government will give businesses to review a draft bill on Labor's budget measures.

The treasurer has released draft legislation for consultation to close unintended consequences of Labor's federal budget tax overhaul, including the so-called "widow tax".

Widowers, divorcees and domestic violence victims could have faced less favourable tax treatment on investment properties previously shared with a partner under Labor's budget.

Speaking to News24, the shadow treasurer has welcomed the changes but says he won't give Labor points for a "patch-up job".

"We know already that there are widows that are being hit by Jim Chalmers' higher taxes, but what he's done is given an edict basically to the banks not to implement the law.

"It should be done, it should have been done properly the first time and the best way to do it to make sure it goes through a process, make sure we get input for people who are impacted."

ACT senator David Pocock has accused the prime minister of taking policy from the gambling lobby and "selling it as getting the balance right".

Yesterday, gambling companies appearing before a Senate inquiry denied claims they offered a high-spend customer access to illicit drugs and escorts.

On Monday, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Reverend Tim Costello spoke about a young man he said received funding for travel, escorts and drugs from Sportsbet and TAB.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Pocock says the inquiry has shown Labor's gambling ad laws won't change the normalisation of gambling amongst young people.

"The PM is basically taking policy from the gambling lobby and selling it as getting the balance right, and Australians see straight through it," Pocock says.

"It's no surprise you're not seeing much posting on social media from Labor members. They're not proud of this.

"This is a real opportunity for the Senate, for the Coalition, for the crossbench, to say to the government, 'We're going to actually protect young Australians, and we're going to amend your weak laws to ensure that they do something.'"

Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt has confirmed an independent review is underway into the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

The review, commissioned by BOM's chief executive Stuart Minchin in consultation with Watt, will examine how it can best meet the needs of Australians.

Last year, it was inundated with feedback after rolling out a new $96 million website upgrade.

Watt says the review's findings will help guide future strategy.

"I think it's always a good idea for government agencies to look at their performance about the services that they're delivering to the Australian public. We know that the Bureau of Meteorology is a particularly respected and valued organisation," Watt says.

Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie says the release of draft legislation to close unintended consequences of Labor's budget measures amounts to a "backflip".

Widowers, divorcees and domestic violence victims could have faced less favourable tax treatment on investment properties previously shared with a partner under the government's budget.

Under draft legislation released for consultation on Tuesday, Australians who inherit an ownership stake in an investment property from a spouse would keep the negative gearing treatment that applied before their partner's death.

Speaking to Channel Seven, McKenzie has repeated the Coalition would repeal Labor's budget measures if it's voted into government.

"I think what we're seeing with another backflip from Labor is confirmation of Labor's economic incompetence," McKenzie says.

"The fact that nearly three months after the federal budget is handed down, we're having to again have to fix up a mess of Labor's making."