Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for the Republic) Share this | Hansard source

I hope that the Morrison government can explain to Australian workers the arrangement that's been reached with One Nation in the Senate. Australian workers deserve an explanation of why this government has reached an arrangement with One Nation to give politicians who are 67 and over a $30,000 pay rise whilst Australian workers are worse off in their superannuation arrangements because of this deal that's gone through the Senate. It leaves Australian workers, once again, worse off under this government. That's the point that I've been making about this particular piece of legislation and others that are passed by this government in respect of the budget—that they leave low- and middle-income, hardworking Australians worse off.

The low- and middle-income tax offset is proof of that. It's a temporary arrangement that is withdrawn, under this legislation, at the end of this financial year. Yet high-income earners will receive a permanent reduction in the amount of tax that they pay. It just demonstrates this government's priorities when it comes to the Australian workforce and to decent, hardworking Australians: they're not on your side; they don't have your interests at heart. All they're concerned about are themselves and people like Senator Hanson, who's managed to convince the government to make her financially better off. The collateral damage in that arrangement will be Australian workers.

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