Nationals pull election stunt as tax debate heats up

And the outcome of those discussions is a problem for another day. A short inquiry for the first tranche of legislation will take place, and the Greens have signalled they are willing to play ball with the government's truncated timeline to pass it before the parliament rises for the winter break on July 2.After a week on the budget roadshow, it felt like Albanese was almost relieved to be back in parliament where he could dance around the Coalition's questions and do his best to get the conversation back on housing in Question Time.The government at every turn is eager to get the tax discussion back to the place that everyone (bar the Coalition) seems to broadly accept — the removal of the tax breaks on existing property.Case in point: Housing Minister Clare O'Neil's National Press Club address, where she excitedly talked about the idea of a "flat-pack home", was a last-minute addition to the schedule.One man who is feeling pretty good about the budget is Joe Hockey Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has long argued there is a vacuum there for a new centre-right party to fill."The teals are the most obvious people to do that, or be part of that," he told ABC's Radio National Breakfast this week."The more the Liberal Party tries to chase and emulate and copy One Nation the more it builds up the vote for One Nation."Turnbull denied any active involvement in the talks with Spender and Steggall (and moderate Liberals who might be looking for a new home)