Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australians are strong, resilient and optimistic people. But over the last few years people across our communities have been doing it tough. We faced COVID and the challenges it brought while the Liberals forgot to order vaccines and squandered billions of dollars on rorts and corporate handouts. As we began to recover, the world faced a global inflation crisis, pushing up costs for families and businesses. When Australians gave Scott Morrison the flick, the Liberals left us with inflation soaring above six per cent, interest rates climbing and a trillion dollars of Liberal debt. Acting in the national interest isn't always easy. It needs more than cheap slogans and angry, divisive politics. Remember, the Liberals have opposed every single cost-of-living measure that our government has put on the table.

Our Prime Minister and this Labor government have made the responsible decisions necessary to get the budget under control, get real wages moving and put in place an economic plan that works for Australians. We've delivered tax cuts, strengthened Medicare, reduced energy costs and made child care more affordable. We're building homes, investing in manufacturing and creating secure jobs. While we fight for Australians, the Liberals are backing taxpayer funded long lunches for bosses. The Liberal leader is even goading the Reserve Bank into delaying rate cuts, for his own cheap political gain. Make no mistake—if they're elected, the Liberals will cut Medicare. The Liberals will slash school funding. (Time expired)

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