Jacqui Lambie says government 'bending over backwards' to win crossbenchers on workplace reforms — as it happened

Thank you for joining our live coverage of the federal parliament. We'll wrap up today's coverage here.

We'll be back tomorrow with more live coverage on day three of the first sitting week.

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Speaking with the ABC's Afternoon Briefing, Defence Minister Richard Marles admitted the Australian Defence Force has a "capability gap" as Taipan helicopters are grounded and the government awaits new Blackhawk helicopters from the US.

He would not say exactly how many deployable army helicopters the ADF has in use at the moment.

"Where the capability gap is felt most acutely in terms of this sort of helicopter, so Taipan going to Blackhawk," Marles said.

"We've already had this experience over the summer and what we have been doing is deploying Chinooks to deal with the floods that have happened," he said.

"Using Chinooks in a broader range of activities is in part how we are dealing with the capability gap, we're also obviously trying to speed up the acquisition of the Blackhawks.

"We're not shying away from the fact that the capability gap is a challenge."

Watch the full interview below.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has given an interview to the ABC's Afternoon Briefing on the government's Taipan helicopters and the UNRWA. 

Asked whether Australia would be "flying and fully in-service" by the end of 2024, he said grounding the Taipans had been "a challenge".

"We have been speaking with the United States to see if we could expedite the provision of Blackhawks," he said.

"We do now have an additional three coming by the end of this year and indeed earlier within the year, the rear by the end of this quarter, the end of March.

"We will be seeking to have those up and running in a capability sense as quickly as we can in terms of them arriving, and part of that process is what we have done with Britain, where we will lease five ... training helicopters."

It was an animated afternoon in the house today — here's how ABC photographer Ian Cutmore captured the action.

The number of Ukrainians dying from burn injuries is surging, according to doctors from the war-ravaged nation pleading with the Australian government to send extra medical support.

Lviv-based doctor Rudi Myhovych from the Christian Medical Association is in Canberra, hoping to tap into Australia's world-leading approach to treating burns victims.

"We hope to get [a] team of plastic burns doctors to Ukraine for the short term," Dr Myhovych told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing.

The problem isn't limited to military burns, he said, but also civilians — for example children getting burnt while playing with candles during electricity cut offs.

The number of cases is "unbelieveable" with a death rate of more than 80 per cent, Dr Myhovych said.

"[Australia has] wonderful experience and knowledge and products that can help Ukraine."

Read the full story below.

Coles has pointed to wage rises, supplier cost increases and high energy prices as some reasons for high grocery prices in recent months.

The supermarket chain said it recognised Australian households were being challenged by cost of living pressures in its submission to a federal Senate inquiry into supermarket prices.

"As one of Australia's largest supermarkets, we take seriously our core role in providing essential goods to Australians," the submission reads.

"We are always looking at ways to deliver value to our customers and are committed to helping lower the cost of living."

• You can read the full story by political reporter Monte Bovill here: 

Greens leader Adam Bandt and Greens senator Barbara Pocock held a press conference earlier today claiming the Greens had won workers the "right to disconnect".

This has been a big part of the workplace laws overhaul discussion today — basically letting people refuse to answer their phone outside of  hours. 

Mr Bandt was asked by reporters if he was concerned the reforms might now get watered down during negotiations with crossbenchers.

"[We are] not privy to all of the other discussions that might be going on with others and we'll have to just have a look at amendments as and when they come," Mr Bandt said.

"We would like to see strong protections for workers in this country, but from our perspective, knowing what we know now, we'll support the bill and want to see it pass into law."

We all saw the reports of tens of thousands of Australians being forced to wait months for new passports after travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic were eased.

You may well have been among them.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been roundly criticised by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) for failing to adequately prepare for the deluge of passport applications which came once Australia's international borders opened.

The ANAO found the department was expecting a surge in demand, but didn't act on its own modelling, leading to massive delays.

• Read about their findings here: 

So what did we learn from today's Question Time? Not much, however, let's catch you up:

Coalition continues to question PM's integrity

Integrity and allegations of lies look set to dominate the weeks (if not months) ahead.

It's the second day of the parliamentary sitting year and the government's proposed tax cuts are still riling up those on all sides of the House of Representatives.

Leader of the opposition Sussan Ley put this question to the prime minister regarding the backflip on stage 3 tax cuts: "Isn't it now clear, prime minister, Australians cannot trust a word you say?" And she wasn't the only member of the opposition to bring the PM's integrity into question.

The PM accused Ms Ley of being "Churchillian", referring to a walk back of comments she made not accepting proposed tax changes before they were formally announced: "We will fight this legislation in the parliament. We don't even know what it will look like. You know, 'We'll fight them on the beaches.' It was Churchillian, Mr Speaker! Churchillian!" Mr Albanese said.

Dixers in question

Dorothy Dixers might be a punish to sit through but they give you a sense of what the government wants to talk about.

Today's Dixers were about cost of living/the stage 3 tax cut changes — giving the government a chance to give themselves a pat on the back for all the changes.

Two members of the Coalition were asked to leave the chamber because of interjections; it almost felt as if that side of the chamber were playing a game of yell any time the words "cost of living" were used by the government.

Everyone loves Nemesis

ABC's Nemesis docco got a little mention, it was regularly used in sledging of the Coalition by the government during the first Question Time of the year yesterday, and is still providing value for them today.

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, accused Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor of sitting down to watch Nemesis with a "hot choccy" in an old "back in black" mug, a reference to the budget of 2019-20 — it seems we may have forgotten about The Killing Season.

Scomo's final lap

The former PM Scott Morrison was accused of not coming to Canberra for parliament. He's very much back (even though he's retiring this month).

Mr Morrison, who spent a few Question Times last year glued to his phone, seemed to be a little chattier than usual but after a few quips to the PM and asides to his seatmate, NSW MP Alex Hawke, he went back on the phone – I always wonder what app he's scrolling, I'll take any suggestions.

The level of noise in the house increases remarkably as the PM responds to a question from the member for Casey about his commitment to the previous goverment's stage 3 tax cuts.

The speaker again calls for order, saying "there is far too much noise on my left".

He then asks the member for Fairfax to leave.

"Resume your seat and keep walking out of the chamber," the speaker says.

"This is Question Time, not the Academy Awards."

Another question from Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor who asks the treasurer when they began "work on the legislated Stage 3 tax cuts".

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it is a "matter of public record" made clear over the summer that the federal government was planning the tax cuts.

"We indicated that privately as well," he says.

"I think people know that we have been looking for more ways to provide more help to more people over the course of the summer.

"And it became increasingly clear to us in the lead-up to the cabinet decision that the tax system had an important role to play there."

The member for Makin asks how the Albanese government is helping Australians undertake education and training and keep more of what they earn.

The Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O'Connor answers.

"In response to the worst skills shortage in 50 years, this government responded quickly by initiating programs like fee-free TAFE, and indeed struck the first national schools agreement with state and territory governments in a decade, which will deliver the reforms that are required to supply the skills to a much-needed, rapidly changing, modern economy.

"Last year, we smashed our 180,000 fee-free TAFE target by ensuring that 300,000 Australians are enrolled in courses, ensuring that they are acquiring skills in demand for our economy, for businesses and for workers.

"The National Skills Agreement will see the creation of centres of excellence, bringing together TAFEs and universities to ensure that they collaborate so they supply the skills that are very much needed.

"As a result of the great success and uptake of fee-free TAFE, we're making available a further 300,000 places starting this year."

Independent Monique Ryan has asked whether the government will support her "Clean Up Politics" act, which would mean "the mandatory publication of ministerial diaries". 

Attorney-General  Mark Dreyfus replies, saying the government is "committed to upholding a high standard testify integrity, transparency and accountability".

He notes the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which launched July 1 last year.

But, he says, access to ministerial diaries would be "alien to the Commonwealth's freedom of information system, which does not provide for the automatic publication of any category of document".

"Access to official documents of government is available under the Freedom of Information Act by request," he says.

"Each request is subject to assessment, which is governed by statutory requirements, it's governed by a series of exemptions — each of which need to be considered."

Member for Bennelong asks Labor about the benefits of the stage 3 tax cuts for those working in female-dominated industries, especially early childhood education.

The question is answered by the  Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth Anne Aly.

"Our tax cuts are good for middle Australia, they're good for women, and they're good for the economy. They are what the Treasurer calls a better way.  A better way that sees working women in Australia get, on average, a tax cut of $1,649 a year," she says.

"A better way that sees hardworking early childhood educators get a tax cut, on average, for an early childhood educator on $46,000 a year, getting a tax cut of $829.

"Now, under the previous plan, how much do you think an early childhood educator got in a tax cut? Zero. Not a dollar. Not a cent."

An early childhood teacher who earns $69,000 a year will receive an additional $1,404 as a tax cut, Aly says.

LNP Member for Flynn Colin Boyce has asked whether the government will "rule out any changes to family trusts".

Mr Boyce says farming families and small businesses rely on family trusts for their assets.

Anthony Albanese has told the house Labor has "made it very clear" what their tax policy is.

"I did ... put forward a clear policy plan that those opposite — including the member who asked the question — I assume, is voting for," he says.

"That's our tax policy. That's what we've put forward. That's what we are legislating here.

"And that's what those opposite, who spent so much time, so much time saying they were going to fight it, they were going to roll it back, are now saying they will vote for."

Memzies member Keith Wolahan asks about an interview with ABC's 7.30 with the treasurer.

He says, "the treasurer confirmed the timing of the government's decision to break its promise on stage 3 was purely political and, quote, 'We didn't want to wait, frankly, until after the Dunkley by-election'.

"The Prime Minister claimed his word is his bond. Isn't it now clear Australians can't trust a word he says?"

This is very similar to the majority of questions coming from the opposition today so far.

Anthony Albanese says the LNP has described Labor's tax cut policy as "an egregious error, a betrayal, treachery, trickery, absolutely shameful, class warfare, war on aspiration, lifetime tax on aspiration, divisive, regressive, morally bankrupt, handful of dollars, inflationary, a big tax grab, Marxist economics".

"They said all that before they declared they were gonna vote for it," he says.

"[You] can't be taken seriously unless you say the decision that this government has made, you say, is wrong, and therefore the original position should have remained in place.

"If you do that, you will vote against this legislation, and you will commit, as the deputy leader of the opposition did, to roll it back.

"Unless you do that, you're not fair dinkum, it's all about politics, it's all just wind."

Adam Bandt asks if Labor plans to axe "unfair negative gearing and capital gains tax handouts to help fix Labor's housing crisis?"

"Or do people have to win the lottery to get a home under Labor's plan?" Bandt asks.

The prime minister answers, saying "the key to the solution for housing in this country is housing supply".

He points out the target to build 1.2 million houses over the next decade.

Mr Albanese also says he hopes the Greens will support higher and medium-density housing, where appropriate.

"I also look forward to the Greens senators and members voting for our Help to Buy Scheme, which will include — to provide incentives for people to be able to get into private home ownership, which the member says is his objective."

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley accuses the PM of "breaking every one" of his promises on tax cuts.

She asks: "Is it clear Australians cannot trust a word you say?"

Members have again been warned to "not make as much noise".

Minister for Defence Richard Marles has been asked how tax cuts will help members of the Australian Defence Force.

Mr Marles says "every member of the defence force ... will receive a tax cut under Labor's tax plan".

"Since coming to power we've been completely focused on cost of living pressures," he says.

Peter Dutton asks the prime minister: "Isn't every Australian worse off as a result of your broken promises and bad decisions?"

Anthony Albanese takes this as "a much more general invitation into the difference this government has made".

He lists a number of figures around inflation, budget surplus, wage growth and an employment growth to a very rowdy parliament.

The speaker calls out a number of members for "making too much noise".