MPs and senators return to Canberra for parliament's first sitting week in a month, with Labor looking to close out the political year on a high.
But controversy over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's $4.3 million home purchase on the NSW Central Coast is disrupting the government's efforts.
The opposition is also set to press the government about revelations the prime minister received 22 flight upgrades from Qantas, with allegations Mr Albanese liaised with the airline's former boss Alan Joyce to receive them.
Mr Albanese has denied contacting Mr Joyce for the upgrades.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denies seeking flight upgrades from former Qantas boss Alan Joyce. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
The coalition has also been ensnared by flight upgrades, after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton conceded receiving a free flight from mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.
The government will be hoping the week brings relief for mortgage holders, with the Reserve Bank delivering its decision on interest rates on Tuesday.
But economists widely tip no change despite inflation falling to 2.8 per cent in the last quarter, which is within the Reserve Bank's target band for the first time in three years.
Interest rates have been on hold at 4.35 per cent since November 2023, with most forecasts tipping a cut in early 2025.
The Reserve Bank has indicated it would be looking more closely at underlying inflation, which removes more volatile price changes, rather than the overall figure in assessing whether to cut rates.
Underlying inflation fell to 3.5 per cent in the September, still above the Reserve Bank's target band of between two and three per cent.
While the Reserve Bank's decision and political controversies will loom over parliament, the US election is set to eclipse Australian politics.
The US election will eclipse Australian politics as Donald Trump seeks to return to the White House. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
Results will begin to filter through on Wednesday, Australian time, with the government to find out if it will be dealing with a return of Donald Trump or a Kamala Harris presidency.
Both sides of Australian politics have stated they would work closely alongside whoever wins office, with work on a multibillion-dollar nuclear submarine deal well under way.
The upcoming sitting week will be the third last for 2024 before MPs go on the summer break.
The government is looking for legislative wins to end the year on a positive note, with the next federal election to be held by May 2025.
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