Live: Hanson seeks to wedge Coalition with Islamic State bill

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has sought to wedge the Coalition by seeking support for a counterterrorism bill from the crossbench.Follow all the updates in our live blog. Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:29amThu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:29amFinance minister defends government's decision to end fuel excise discountFinance Minister Katy Gallagher has defended the government's decision not to extend the fuel excise discount beyond August 2.Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced yesterday the 16 cents per litre discount would end at midnight on Sunday.Speaking to Channel Nine, the finance minister said the excise discount was introduced to lower the cost of petrol when fuel prices skyrocketed in the early stages of the Middle East war."That support was always intended to be temporary assistance whilst petrol was high," Gallagher says."We recognise that people are finding it pretty tough right now and part of our job is to make sure we are managing that, managing the budget."Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:17amThu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:17amYesterday's inflation figures not all 'rosy pictures', shadow treasurer saysShadow Treasurer Tim Wilson says he doesn't think yesterday's national inflation figures are all "rosy pictures".Australia's headline inflation fell for the third consecutive month to 3.8 per cent. Underlying inflation remains at 3.6 per cent.Speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, the shadow treasurer said underlying inflation persisted in the economy, and attributed it to federal government spending."It doesn't mean that there isn't pressure, particularly because government spending continues to be the driver and the government keeps spending beyond its means," Wilson says.Yesterday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed the fuel excise discount would end at midnight on Sunday.Treasury has warned global fuel markets could come under significant strain if the war in the Middle East continues.Asked whether the Coalition would support reintroducing the fuel excise cut if petrol prices spiked again, Wilson said the government should keep a "watching brief" on prices."If we see events like that, of course, the government should consider that, but it should be done on the basis of having inflationary offsets, which isn't what they did last time."Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:10amThu 30 Jul 2026 at 7:10amPauline Hanson tries to wedge Coalition with counterterrorism billPauline Hanson is trying to muster support in parliament for laws to cancel the passports of Australians who have been charged or convicted of a terrorism offence.The One Nation leader has written to fellow parliamentarians in what appears to be an attempt to wedge the Coalition on the issue of Islamic State fighters wanting to return home.According to The Daily Telegraph, last week Hanson wrote to Opposition Leader Angus Taylor offering to vote with the Coalition for tougher counterterrorism laws, but she says she's yet to receive a reply so has turned to crossbenchers for support on her own bill.In a letter outlining her proposal, Hanson says the government should have the power to "refuse, cancel or suspend a passport where a person is subject to an exclusion order or has been charged with or convicted of a terrorism offence".She's also called for a person who "arranges the entry of a terrorist fighter" without authority to face up to 10 years in prison.While the government has consistently said it is not assisting anyone with links to IS to return home, it cannot stop citizens from obtaining passports because they have a legal right to do so.The opposition has acknowledged this too, while calling for the government to be tougher.For Hanson's proposal to become law, it would need the support of Labor in the House of Representatives, which would seem unlikely.Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 6:59amThu 30 Jul 2026 at 6:59amGood morning 👋Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us early this Thursday morning.I'm Josh Boscaini, joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.Pauline Hanson is seeking support in parliament for laws to cancel the passports of Australians who have been charged or convicted of a terrorism offence.Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson says underlying inflation persists despite yesterday's inflation figures showing inflation has fallen.And Australia's early educators will have six months to complete the next stage of national mandatory child safety training.Let's get this show on the road and see what today brings us!