It’s been a big week for Australia and a busy week for the Parliament.

Here’s the 5&5.

BEST

Protected penalty rates
Gender pay gap at an all time low
There’s no place like your first home
We’re working for workers
King strikes gold

WORST

On Australian soil
Cracks in the foundation
Wonka? Wait did you mean…
Hawke happened
Toxically unpopular policy = Deputy Leader

1. On Thursday our legislation to protect penalty rates for the 2.6 million Australians passed the Parliament. As the PM said in Question Time, “Penalty rates are the things that can make a difference for people... If you're working on a Saturday night, or on a Sunday, if you're working on a public holiday, you should be compensated for what you are giving up and that is what this legislation will ensure.”

2. Over half the Labor caucus is made up of women, we're committed to delivering for women and representing women. So, it was incredible to see our Chief Government Whip, Joanne Ryan MP ask the Minister representing the Minister for Women, Catherine King for an update on this government’s work to close the gender pay gap. “I am very proud to inform the House that under the Albanese Labor Government the gender pay gap has now fallen to its lowest level on record 11.5 per cent. That means Australian working women fulltime are earning on average $255 more a week since those opposite left office. We’ve also reached a new record high for women's workforce participation. That is not just a statistic. This is women across Australia earning more, building for their financial security, and being recognised for the important jobs that they do in our economy.”

3. Minister for Housing, Clare O'Neil, shared with the Chamber how she, the PM and the Member for Canberra met new first homeowners Lachie and Abbie. “Lachie and Abbie talked about this experience they've had of buying their own home. They said they never would have been able to do this without the five per cent deposit scheme…They're fully settled into this beautiful home in Canberra. They've got a gorgeous little dog, Chilli—not as cute as Toto but definitely up there.”

4. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth took the time on Wednesday to remind the crossbench of what we’ve delivered for workers since we came to government. “I am very, very pleased to report to the House that, as of today, there are more workers covered by enterprise bargaining than ever before in history since enterprise bargaining was first introduced. That is because we have been absolutely focused on getting workers and their unions back to the bargaining table with employers to deliver better wages and better conditions.”

5. On Tuesday the new Member for Bullwinkle, Trish Cook asked Minister for Resources Madeleine King if there have been any proposals that might threaten the resources sector and, therefore, the critical minerals industry? Madeleine didn’t hesitate, “I've got one proposal that I've heard of, and it was made in April this year. It was about making gas a critical mineral. Yes, that's what those opposite proposed. Way back in April, they wanted to make gas a critical mineral. Of course, it can't be because it's not a mineral. Those opposite might have thought that everyone forgot about that little thought bubble. We absolutely did not.”

1. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister delivered the news that Iran was behind a number of antisemitic attacks on Australian soil which were designed to cause fear and division in our community. While it’s true no one was injured in these evil attacks, it doesn’t mean people weren’t harmed.

2. Over the weekend, the Government announced that from 1st October, all first home buyers will only need a 5 percent deposit. On Monday, Sussan Ley and the opposition thought it would be a good idea to take aim at the Prime Minister on the same housing announcement, spoiler alert, it was not a good idea. The PM called out the bold move, “for most of the time they were in office, they didn't even bother to have a Housing Minister... On the increase to homeownership with a five per cent deposit, Andrew Bragg, the Shadow Minister for Housing, had to say: 'We will work to try to stop these crazy ideas coming into existence.'”

3. Ted O’Brien thought it would be fitting to give Jim Chalmers some advice on managing the budget in Question Time on Monday. You know, the same Ted O’Brien who is the Deputy Leader of an Opposition, and who when in government had nine chances to deliver a surplus and couldn't, and left a trillion dollars of Liberal debt and huge deficits as far as the eye could see. That Ted O’Brien. Jim promptly reminded Ted of our track record but also gave the chamber a real treat at the end, “We will stack up our record on responsible economic management against those opposite's any day, and I hope that these questions continue. When I was told that the member for Fairfax gave a speech about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I confess that the word 'Wonka' was almost the word that came to mind!”

4. On Tuesday, Sussan Ley asked the Prime Minister about the contributions and outcomes of our productivity round tables. During the PM’s answer the new Manager of Opposition Business, Alex Hawke rose to his feet, to which the PM immediately responded with “Oh this will be good.” In a very long winded way Hawke, stated his point of order on relevance…to a very broad question… The Speaker had the perfect quip, “Resume your seat. It's not an open mic session, Manager of Opposition Business.” Well just like his predecessor's predecessor, Hawke happened.

5. On Wednesday, Chris Bowen told the house that we had reached a new renewable energy milestone, 40,004 Australian households have installed a cheaper home battery. Ted O’Brien couldn’t help himself from interjecting, but Bowen was too quick, “The Member for Fairfax interjects. I’m not going to have a bad word said about the Member for Fairfax, he’s a role model for those behind him. If you come up with a toxically unpopular policy and fail to sell it to the Australian people, you too could be Deputy Leader of your party.” Game, set, match.

Both the House and the Senate will be back next week.

‘til then,

Tony

PS. In honour of Ted O’Brien showing his colleagues that anyone can be the Deputy Leader of the Libs, here’s Blur, It Could Be You.

5&5: Giving hope to the backbench Libs