Living costs and mortgage pain are in focus as federal politicians return from a long winter break and an election looms.
Sexually explicit fake images and a construction union crisis will also feature when parliament resumes.
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock will face a public hearing after ruling out a rate cut before Christmas, warning inflation is still too high.
The opposition has seized on the central bank’s suggestion state and federal government spending was adding to the problem.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rebuffed the attacks and argued his team was helping ease hip-pocket pain through targeted spending measures.
He pointed to power bill relief, personal income tax cuts and a 15 percent pay rise for childcare workers.
“Whilst we’re moderating inflation, we’ve produced two budget surpluses in a row,” Albanese said.
Labor is keen to see an interest rate cut before the next election, which is due by May.
The Greens will heap pressure on the Albanese government over its handling of the war in Gaza, critical of slow progress on recognising a Palestinian state and failure to appoint an Islamophobia envoy.
Labor’s internal divisions erupted during the last session of parliament when Fatima Payman broke ranks over Palestine.
Payman later quit the party.
Crossbenchers are chastising the government over gambling ads, pushing Labor to back a complete ban.
Tony Burke will face his first parliamentary grilling as immigration minister over asylum seeker boat arrivals, deportation of foreign-born criminals and national security.
As workplace minister, Murray Watt will introduce legislation to place four of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union’s (CFMEU’s) construction divisions into administration for three years.
Labor has cut ties with the embattled union over allegations involving bikies, bribes and stand-over tactics.
Under laws against deepfake porn, people who create and share non-consensual images could face years behind bars.
People with disability have panned Labor’s response to a royal commission that uncovered widespread violence, abuse and neglect.
The responsible minister will deliver a statement to parliament outlining the path forward.
Questions remain over next steps for Indigenous reconciliation following the prime minister’s appearance at the Garma Festival and latest figures on closing the gap.
The focus will be renewed when a report is released into missing and murdered First Nations women.
