Zhi Soon (Banks, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) 3 November 2025 marks six months since the federal election; and

(b) the Government is delivering on the commitments it made to the Australian people by:

(i) strengthening Medicare;

(ii) ensuring Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn;

(iii) easing cost of living pressures; and

(iv) building a Future Made in Australia; and

(2) acknowledges that while the Government is focused on building Australia's future, the Opposition is focused on themselves.

I am pleased to move the motion before the House today, recognising six months since the federal election and how the Albanese Labor government is delivering on its second term of government. The election in May was a historic moment in Australia's political history. The Australian people returned a significant Labor majority, recognising the importance of protecting Medicare, easy cost-of-living pressures and investing in a future made in Australia, and that is exactly what we are delivering.

On Strengthening Medicare, last Saturday our latest reforms targeting improving bulk-billing rates came into effect. For the first time the bulk-billing incentive has been expanded to all Australians, and a boost introduced to payments for practices that bulk-bill every single patient. This investment will deliver 18 million more bulk-billed GP visits each year nationwide. In my electorate of Banks alone, 14 GP practices have already indicated their intent to become Medicare bulk-billing practices, making it easier for people in my community to see a doctor without fearing the cost. This is combined with 50 more fully bulk-billed urgent care clinics across the country, medicines made even cheaper from 1 January next year, a $500 million program for women's health, and more free and accessible mental health support. Together, these initiatives are part of Labor's plans to deliver for the health of every Australian.

Easing cost-of-living pressures is at the top of the agenda for so many Australians, and rightly so. For the government, this begins with responsible management of the economy and the budget. The results already speak for themselves: getting inflation down to half of what was inherited from the previous government; seven straight quarters of real-wages growth; the lowest average unemployment of any government in the last 50 years; and more than 1.1 million jobs created in just three years. Alongside two budget surpluses and a single deficit that was significantly smaller than originally projected, the improvement of the overall budget position by $209 billion, and the lowering of the national debt by $188 billion, this is a record that the former coalition government could only dream of.

As a result of our sensible and considered approach, we have also been able to roll out cost-of-living relief for all Australians. At the centre of this are the multiple rounds of tax cuts for every taxpayer already delivered, with two more rounds to come in 2026 and 2027, and supporting raising the pay of minimum wage workers and award workers earlier this year, while protecting penalty rates as well as quarterly energy bill relief, taking money straight off of people's expense bills. Importantly, the first piece of legislation in this new parliament was a 20 per cent cut to student debt for every Australian with a HECS balance. We delivered as promised, making life easier for young Australians. Australians know that, with a Labor government, they will have the leadership that is focused on ensuring that they earn more and keep more of what they earn. Further, the Future Made in Australia will maximise the economic and industrial benefits as we move towards net zero by supporting clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

While there are some people in this place who prefer to talk down our manufacturing industry, this government is doing the opposite and working to make sure Australian people and Australian workers reap the economic rewards of Australia becoming a renewable energy superpower. Unfortunately, not everyone is as focused as we are on this side of the House. While the Australian people sent those opposite a clear message at the election, the Liberals and the Nationals simply aren't listening. In recent weeks, we've seen the Liberals and the Nationals battling with and amongst each other over which leftovers of the Dutton era they want to serve up to the Australian people once again. Whether it's abandoning net zero, reviving the doomed nuclear scheme or just wanting to fight pointless culture wars, there is a clear pattern. From the—

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