Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question, which goes to how the government is helping people with cost-of-living pressures. The question went to power prices and power bill relief. We're delivering power bill relief that was opposed by those opposite at every turn, like they opposed the cap on gas and coal prices that we instituted during our first term. We increased people's wages by 3.5 per cent on 1 July, something they have never done. The coalition have never made a submission to the Fair Work Commission saying that minimum wages should keep up with inflation—not once. We've done it not once, not twice but three times. Each and every year we have put that forward. On 1 July also paid parental leave went to 24 weeks, and super is now being paid on government paid parental leave, as an example of us looking after not just people today but people tomorrow as well—the retirement incomes of women in particular. We have a very successful program run by the minister for energy which is cutting 30 per cent off home batteries to permanently cut power bills. That's been taken up by tens of thousands of Australians, particularly in our outer suburbs and our regions. From 1 July as well there is paid prac for teaching, nursing, social work and midwifery students, something never supported by those opposite. We also of course have had legislation passed in this parliament cutting student debt by 20 per cent, something that those opposite said was regressive, something that those opposite said was waste as well.

I find it extraordinary that I get asked a question in this place about cost of living and what assistance my government is giving, because on the issue of tax, which was also raised, what we know is that when we introduced our stage 3 tax cuts and then backed them up in March—the stage 3 changes that we put in place to ensure 14 million Australians got tax cuts—those opposite, including the Leader of the Opposition, said that they should wind it back. On 25 March this treasurer introduced tax cuts not just once, for next year, but the year after. Those opposite not only voted against them; they said that they would introduce legislation into this parliament to increase taxes for 14 million Australians. Only one side of this house, although a bit more than one side now, is concerned about the cost of living, and that is this side. (Time expired)

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