Independent senator David Pocock has labelled the government's rush to legislate its tax overhaul "farcical".Follow all the updates in our live blog.Collapse all postsFilter PostsAll12Key Events1Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:48amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:48amHanson tries to clarify stance on paid parental leaveBy Courtney Gould(ABC News: Ian Cutmore)One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has tried to clean up remarks she made about parental leave last week.Hanson seemed to suggest that woman should not be paid by employers while on parental leave, during her appearance at the National Press Club.Speaking to Seven this morning, she said she was "taken completely out of context"."It's up to companies if they want to to have it in their policy to give it it to it to their workers," she said."So there's no way, shape or form that I am actually saying to get rid of it. I think it's been very beneficial to women to get back into the workforce. So that was totally taken completely out of context"There are businesses that cannot afford it. It's okay for government, taxpayers pay for it. You put another pressure on on the small businesses, pay for maternity leave. They'll actually fold."It's not compulsory for businesses to offer paid parental leave but many do as an incentive for attract workers. However, businesses are required to offer 12 months of unpaid leaveTue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:29amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:29amHanson has no problems with Roberts-Smith's attendance at War Memorial eventBy Courtney GouldOne Nation leader Pauline Hanson also weighed in on Ben Roberts-Smith's invitation to an Australian War Memorial event.Roberts-Smith was invited to the opening of the $550m extension to the AWM, as were the other recipients of the Victoria Cross.The former Special Air Service Regiment soldier faces five counts of war crime murder relating to his deployments in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012 and involving what investigators allege were unarmed Afghan nationals.He has categorically rejected the allegations and said he plans to fight to clear his name in court.Hanson told reporters she has no problem with Roberts-Smith attending."Why shouldn't he [be there]? He hasn't been convicted. He may have been charged. He's still innocent until he's been proven guilty," she says."I'm hoping to actually, you know, catch up with him and say hello to him, to give him my support."Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:24amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:24amWhy would I knock Trump, Hanson asksBy Courtney Gould(ABC News: Ian Cutmore)One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was stopped by reporters in the halls of Parliament House this morning.She was asked about a recent survey that suggested Australians trust in China has grown as belief in the United States hits a record low, and how she'd deal with the two relationships."We do have a working relationship [with China[ but we also have an ally in the United States. So I'm sure if that any problems around the world happen, we'd be relying on America to come to our aid.On if she trusts Donald Trump, she says that's not up to her but the American people.But Hanson adds that she is "all for" a number of his policies, including his stance on immigration and restricting transgender rights."That's my policies. Why would I knock someone on the same page as me?" she said.Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:12amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 8:12am'Not for me': Pocock not joining teal partyBy Courtney GouldIndependent senator David Pocock has ruled himself out of joining a teal-led party.Pocock set the cat amongst the pigeons last month when he confirmed there were conversations underway to formalise an alliance of the so-called teals. Reports in the Australian Financial Review this week suggest the party could be announced within weeks.But the independent senator told ABC Radio National Breakfast he wouldn't be joining."At this stage, I just don't think it's for me. I'm an independent senator for the ACT, and anything I do would comes from the community here," he says."There's plenty of people who've asked me to do something bigger, but at this stage I just don't think it's for me. [But] I'm really interested to see how it goes for the independents that are working on that."Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:57amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:57amMarles 'comfortable' with Ben Roberts-Smith invitation to AWM eventBy Courtney GouldBen Roberts-Smith is invited to the opening of a $550 million expansion to the Australian War Memorial later today.The former Special Air Service Regiment soldier faces five counts of war crime murder relating to his deployments in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012 and involving what investigators allege were unarmed Afghan nationals.He has categorically rejected the allegations and said he plans to fight to clear his name in court.(ABC News: Ian Cutmore)Richard Marles says it's appropriate Roberts-Smith, as a Victoria Cross recipient, was invited."The Victoria Cross recipients have been invited to this, which is appropriate, I'm comfortable about that," he told ABC News Breakfast."What will be opened, the Australian War Memorial, it's an utterly fantastic extension to what is, I think, the most sacred building in our country."We are very much looking forward to that. The prime minister will be there. It's a very significant moment for the nation."Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:50amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:50amMarles won't say if government considering Greens's push on self-managed superBy Courtney GouldDeputy Prime Minister Richard Marles won't say if we should expect any further changes to the government's plans to wind back the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing.The government is negotiating with the Greens as it seeks support for the bill in the upper house. Last week, Labor confirmed carve-outs for small business and start-ups.The Greens want the government to remove the ability to buy investment properties through self-managed superannuation funds to avoid the CGT changes.Marles tells ABC News Breakfast he's confident the government will "find a pathway" to pass the legislation."I don't want to predict the workings of the Senate, we will continue to work with senators and talk about how important it is to pass this budget. And we do this with a sense of confidence and optimism," he says.So, does that include conceding a delay in passing an overhaul to the National Disability Insurance Scheme to get the Greens on board?"I won't speculate on that," he responds.Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:37amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:37am'Different circumstances': Marles shrugs off comparisons of UK and AustraliaBy Courtney GouldRichard Marles has shrugged off comparisons between Australia and the UK amid a rise of right-wing populist parties Reform and One Nation, rejecting events overnight as an omen for Anthony Albanese. Keir Starmer was elected as prime minister in a landslide election win in 2024. But after struggling in the polls he confirmed he'd be stepping aside as PM.Marles is asked by Nine if it all feels a little close to home."I think there are different circumstances here," he says."Having lived through this in the earlier part of my career, the way politics plays out is very specific to particular parts of the world. And what we’re seeing happen with what’s playing out in Britain is obviously a matter for them."Marles says the focus for the government needs to be tackling cost-of-living pressures.Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:23amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:23amArrival of H5 bird flu 'not unexpected'By Courtney GouldAgriculture Minister Julie Collins has also been out and about this morning, following confirmation a second bird has tested positive to the H5 bird flu.Speaking with ABC's News Breakfast, she assures Australia is "well prepared" to tackle the arrival of the virus."This is obviously concerning but not unexpected," she says."We're still determining whether or not this is widespread in Australian wildlife or whether it is just a few isolated cases at this point in time for migratory birds."(ABC News: Ian Cutmore)Collins reiterates there is no evidence the H5 strain has made its way into poultry farms after Inghams put their West Australian operations into lockdown yesterday."Industry has been developing plans, as have farmers right across the country, in terms of biosecurity and what they would need to do should it become established in Australia," she says."But I would reiterate that at this stage there is no evidence [of the virus] in our poultry or our agricultural systems."Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:10amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:10amPeople are looking for 'easy' answers: Rae on rise of right-wing populist partiesBy Courtney GouldAged Care Minister Sam Rae has weighed in on Keir Starmer's resignation overnight, calling him a "great friend of Australia"."The relationship between Australia and the United Kingdom is obviously critically important, has a long history to it, and its representation in the current AUKUS arrangements is critically important," he told Nine."So he's been very important in all of that."The Labor frontbencher was also asked if what's going on in the UK, with the rise of the Reform Party, mirrors what we're seeing in Australia with One Nation.Rae says there are similarities but he's focused on delivering "not about driving division"."We've seen inflation pressures across communities all around the world and [when] those cost of living pressures come to bite people have been looking for easy answers," he says."We have seen a rise in support for these populist right-wing parties around the world."Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:01amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 7:01amAn early finish for MPs todayBy Nicholas McElroyAustralia's parliament will finish early today so politicians can attend the official opening of a hall that is part of the controversial $550 million extension to the Australian War Memorial (AWM).The official opening of Anzac Hall, led by an address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is the latest in several staged openings as part of the extension.The event is also expected to be attended by Ben Roberts-Smith after his bail conditions over alleged war crime charges were varied in a Sydney court last week.Parliament's chambers typically adjourn to mark visits by high-level international visitors or to honour the deaths of distinguished figures. In most cases, adjournment must be agreed to by the chamber.Key EventTue 23 Jun 2026 at 6:58amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 6:58amRush to pass tax overhaul 'farcical', Pocock saysBy Pablo ViñalesAn independent senator has labelled the government's rush to legislate its tax overhaul "farcical".The government is negotiating with the Greens as it seeks support for the bill to wind back the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing.After a snap two day inquiry into the changes last week, the prime minister announced carve-outs for small businesses and start ups.But David Pocock, who was on the inquiry, says there are other issues in the bill that requires scrunity."It's farcical to think that you can look at a bill this size and actually get it right in two days," he told ABC's AM."The Senate is the house of review and I think we should be doing our jobs."We have get it right when it comes to start-ups and capital going into them, and how we actually keep start-ups here in Australia as they grow."Tue 23 Jun 2026 at 6:51amTue 23 Jun 2026 at 6:51amGood morning 👋By Courtney GouldHi friends, welcome to our politics live blog. I'm Courtney Gould from the ABC's Parliament House team, here to guide you through the day.The government is inching closer to passing its overhaul to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing. But as negotiations with the Greens continue, the minor party is reportedly calling for more changes to be made. It comes as David Pocock calls the rush to legislate "farcical". Elsewhere, expect to see more about the government's response to bird flu after a second bird tested positive to the deadly H5 strain of the virus.It's a very, very cold day here in Canberra. So grab a cuppa and let's dive right in.