Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in opposition to this bill and in support of the amendment moved by the member for Jagajaga. What we can say with certainty about the effect of this bill is that it will increase poverty in Australia. It will make income inequality greater. It will leave poorer people worse off. That is guaranteed by the parliament passing this bill. It simply represents the twisted priorities and how out of touch this Abbott-Turnbull government is when it comes to protecting the interests of vulnerable Australians and at the same time giving massive tax cuts to the wealthiest and largest corporations in this country.

Despite unprecedented levels of income inequality in our nation, the rising cost of living and more Australians unemployed and underemployed, this government continues to pursue tax cuts for massive global corporations, while at the same time putting their hands into the pockets of some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our community. These past few weeks have solidified this government as the true enemy of the Australian worker. Their support for a reduction in penalty rates for some of the lowest-paid casual workers in this country truly represents what they are all about. This particular bill is a further attack on the interests and incomes of low-income Australians. This bill is another slap in the face to hundreds of thousands of Australians who are just trying to make ends meet and trying to survive from week to week. But this government does not get it. They do not understand how much some Australians, particularly those on less than $50,000 year, struggle from week to week. That is why Labor cannot support this bill.

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