Carol Berry (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am one of those members that represents a regional community. Just this morning we announced that we are investing $1 million to address potholes and drainage in a road at Bass Point—which is a jewel in the crown of our community, not only for locals but for the visitor economy. So I wonder: is that to be considered an investment, or a spending spree?

The federal government cares about reducing cost-of-living pressures on individuals and families across Australia. More than that, we have taken practical steps to reduce those pressures. To begin, we've reduced personal income tax rates for Australians on lower incomes, and further tax cuts are coming. These are tax cuts that the opposition opposed. Of course, the opposition is good at one thing; it's good at opposing. We have taken practical steps to reduce the tax burden on people who have lower incomes, because Labor cares about ensuring people on lower incomes keep more of what they earn.

In relation to energy prices, we have been working hard to address the burden of energy costs, because we acknowledge that for many households and small businesses this remains a significant pressure. The federal government has extended the national energy bill relief program, offering every household and around one million small businesses automatic electricity bill rebates.

Beyond rebates, important structural reforms relating to energy are underway in the transition to renewable energy. The Australian Energy Market Commission projects that, with a coordinated transition to renewables and electrification, households could reduce their energy spending significantly over the next decade. With the transition to renewable energy, our government aims to create jobs, reduce pressure on energy bills, and lower emissions. These steps combine immediate relief with the longer-term structural reform of the energy system, which will be good for the environment and will reduce energy bill costs for Australians.

Regarding unemployment, average unemployment under the Albanese Labor government is the lowest of any government in 50 years. Our government has adopted a comprehensive approach aimed at not just lowering the unemployment rate but also addressing underemployment and labour market underutilisation. Our national employment rate is at historically low levels. However, there remains untapped potential within our labour market, and we are working to ensure that we are reducing barriers to work, increasing skills, supporting transitions to work, and ensuring secure, fairly paid jobs. These efforts are designed to deepen labour force participation, reduce underemployment and promote economic activity, thereby strengthening household income, reducing welfare dependency and contributing to cost-of-living relief.

The Albanese Labor government has employed a range of strategies to reduce cost-of-living pressures for Australians. Notably, in the area of health care, where many Australians experience significant cost pressures, we are making record investments in bulk-billing. Our investment will deliver an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits a year. This investment, as well as our reductions in the cost of medicines under the PBS and our investment in urgent care clinics, is designed to reduce cost pressures on individuals and families.

On top of that, as I mentioned, our government has cut taxes so that Australians can keep more of their earnings. We've subsidised energy bills, and we're reforming the energy system so that households will have lower power bills over time. We've supported economic conditions for lower interest rates through economic stability and labour market policies. We've supported lower unemployment rates and better labour market outcomes, recognising that secure work is one of the best ways to relieve cost-of-living pressures. More than 1.1 million jobs have been created since we came to office. That is stronger jobs growth than in any advanced economy.

In terms of supporting individuals and families with cost-of-living pressures, it should be acknowledged that no measure works in isolation. The macroeconomic environment, global energy markets, inflation and structural change all exert force on household budgets. But our government has made cost-of-living relief a priority, as reflected in our healthcare reforms, our energy bill relief and the tax cuts we have delivered. We are managing the economy in the interests of all Australians, and this continues to be our focus.

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