Doorstop, Parliament House

SUBJECTS: Capital Gains Tax; Keir Starmer. 

JOURNALIST: I just want to ask you about the Budget, WA Premier Roger Cook was met the Prime Minister yesterday. He’s lobbying for mining exploration companies to be given a carve out from the new CGT rules. Is that something under consideration? 

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Look, we are focused on getting the Budget through. We've announced what we've announced in terms of where the Budget stands. We'll work with the Senate to see the Budget passed as soon as we can, and we are confident that that will take place because ultimately what this Budget is doing is providing for tax cuts for working Australians and it's making the housing market more accessible to more Australians, seeing more first home buyers get into the housing market. That's our focus and that's what we'll keep talking to the Senate about. 

JOURNALIST: But if there's a Labor premier saying there should be sensible changes to include mining exploration companies, surely that's something you could consider?

MARLES: Well, the Budget is as we've announced it and the changes that were announced last week, the refinements in the Budget are all out there. We are focused on seeing this Budget pass the Senate. 

JOURNALIST: Is that the end of it then? There's no more changes? 

MARLES: We're focused on getting the Budget through the Senate and we'll be talking across the Senate about what we see this Budget as being, and that is delivering tax cuts for working Australians and making the housing market more affordable for more first home buyers.

JOURNALIST: And what's your reaction to Keir Starmer's departure? Only two years in the job after a massive landslide. Is there any lessons here for Labor at home? 

MARLES: Look, I think this is a set of circumstances that are particular to the UK. At a human level, it's hard to watch what occurred yesterday evening and it's another reminder of how difficult these jobs are. But Keir Starmer has been a great friend to Australia. We are very appreciative of his partnership across the relationship, but specifically in issues such as AUKUS and there's been enormous progress in the relationship under his prime ministership. And we look forward to whoever is the next Prime Minister of the UK to continue that work. 

JOURNALIST: Is it hard for continuity for you? You must have met, what is it, nearly three or four defence ministers now? How important is it to have a level of continuity, or will AUKUS remain unchanged? 

MARLES: Look, will AUKUS will remain unchanged and AUKUS is happening at a pace and I think that's an important point to make. I was there the week before last with our Foreign Minister and AUKUS really is proceeding very well, and we're very confident about its progress. We're very confident about the way we're working with the UK on this. That's clearly where our interests are focused, and we'll continue to pursue that.