A handful of major policy stalemates appear to have been resolved as federal parliament returns to Canberra after the winter break.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Liberal leader Angus Taylor are due to meet on Tuesday to hash out amendments to get Labor’s gambling reforms over the line.
It is expected to include laws to curb inducements which target problem gamblers to keep betting.
The amended bill could pass the lower house by the end of the week, which has left some crossbenchers fearing it is the end of the line for reform.
Independent MP Kate Chaney welcomed a ban on inducements but was adamant anything short of a full phase-out of gambling ads ignored years of evidence.
“We need to be really clear that we are fiddling around the edges of a deeply flawed bill,” Ms Chaney told AAP.
“This is a case study in everything that frustrates the Australian public about our political system.
“Australians are so frustrated that they see decisions being made for the benefit of vested interests, not in the public interest … this is another nail in the coffin of trust in the major party system.”
Ms Chaney will be putting forward her own amendment to create an independent review in a few years’ time to assess the effectiveness of the reforms.
The major parties have agreed to get changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the news media bargaining incentive through the Senate.
Peak disability groups warned people will die under the proposed measures to curb spending and alleged fraudulent activity with the scheme.
The prime minister addressed the Labor caucus on Monday, flagging more reform on the horizon.
“The legislation that we will be having in this second half of the year will set us up to go into 2027 even stronger,” Mr Albanese said.
“I hope you all took the advice and did have a few days off during the break, but now it’s back to work.”
The extension of a 15 per cent pay rise for early education and care workers first announced in June is due to be introduced to parliament, as well as legislation to increase the passenger movement charge which will bump up the cost of international travel from Australia by $10.
One Nation’s first successfully elected lower house MP David Farley will also deliver his first speech to parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
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