The three topics dominating the national conversation as parliament resumes

Three topics will dominate the national conversation this fortnight as politicians return to the nation’s capital after their winter break.

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will likely also be bombarded with completely unrelated questions about melons thanks to a crude comment about his Japanese counterpart that resurfaced this week.

Parliament House is once again abuzz ahead of the start of the sitting fortnight on Tuesday. Albanese has come off a couple of days of leave – his first break all year.

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All eyes are on whether the federal government will finally announce a drastic cut to migration as figures remain 81,000 people above the target.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was set to announce a package of reforms at the National Press Club on Thursday, but abruptly postponed the address after a heated cabinet debate.

He will likely reschedule this fortnight after the prime minister signs off on the announcement.

Labor’s move to toughen up on migration is hoped to address public sentiment and growing support for One Nation.

Two highly debated pieces of legislation will come before the parliament again – gambling and the NDIS.

Gambling

Labor is facing an uphill battle to pass its gambling bill as the Coalition, Greens and independents all call for the government to go further.

In its current form, it is unlikely to pass.

Communications Minister Anika Wells has said she will work through any amendments that are put forward.

There is a renewed momentum to significantly address gambling harm after the two-day senate inquiry into the legislation heard evidence of Australians losing loved ones and allegations of unnamed gambling companies offering drugs and escorts to problem gamblers.

Greens communications spokesperson and deputy chair of the inquiry, Sarah Hanson-Young, said: “This issue is so much bigger than party politics; it is a moral issue.”

NDIS

Also up in the air is the NDIS bill, which will go before the parliament next week.

The Greens strongly oppose the proposed $36 billion in cuts, but the Coalition is unclear about its stance.

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Opposition Leader Angus Taylor agreed with the government that the NDIS is unsustainable and is too expensive in early July.

An NDIS inquiry heard testimony that vulnerable people will die if the bill is passed.

“This bill is one of the most dangerous options on the table. It does not create sustainability. It creates crisis,” Women with Disabilities chief executive Sophie Cusworth told the National Press Club on Monday.

Nine.com.au understands the Coalition is waiting for the inquiry to hand down its report on Friday before confirming a position.

Also on the agenda is an inquiry into strengthening the social media ban as the government hopes to grant the eSafety commissioner higher powers to prosecute companies and hand down greater fines.

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson will also move a bill to ban Australians linked to the Islamic State from returning home, strengthen bail laws for terror offences and stop the automatic issue of return permits.

She wrote to her crossbench senators to seek their support, but the government said it would go against the constitution.

Melons

It’s the podcast that keeps on taking for the prime minister, who already got in hot water for saying he would shag, marry and date pop star Kylie Minogue in a light-hearted game during the interview.

Albanese apologised for those comments shortly after they were aired but the “melon” comments, while reported and criticised last month, resurfaced with more force on Monday due to criticism from a former ambassador.

On Nikki Osborne’s Bush Deep podcast, Albanese was asked what the “most crap” gift he’d received from another leader and mentioned a royal melon from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

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He said the gift was “pretty strange but ended up being quite good” but also said she brought “a couple of melons … she brought two, as you do” and making a gesture with both hands out in front of his chest.

Former Japanese ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami wrote an opinion column published on Monday describing the joke as “sexist” and “ungracious”.

And whilst Albanese will be eager to focus on policy, it’s unlikely he’ll escape scrutiny over the melon comments quickly, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor quick to seize on the ambassador’s criticism, calling on the prime minister to make a personal apology.