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

I thank the member for his question. Of course cost-of-living pressures are real, and that is why we are acting on them in a real way. We have, since 1 July, delivered a pay rise for all minimum and award wage workers, taking the total increase under this government to over $9,000. The number of times that the coalition, in government or in opposition, has made a submission to a Fair Work case supporting an increase in real wages is zero. We know they don't support net zero, but we know also they are net zero when it comes to increases in real wages.

The superannuation guarantee increased to 12 per cent, paid parental leave extended to 24 weeks, and super is now being paid on paid parental leave. More energy bill relief was opposed by those opposite each and every time. A $10,000 bonus for housing apprentices on top of their wages was opposed by those opposite. The batteries program that has seen more than 100,000—I haven't caught up with the latest figure, but I'm sure you'll hear it later in question time! I'm sure it's coming. I'm confident of that. Australians are taking up that opportunity.

The boost to Medicare that we are doing today, where more than a thousand medical practices have already signed up to fully bulk-bill everyone who goes through those doors, is making an enormous difference. We're opening up, as well, another 50 urgent care clinics. We've cut student debt by 20 per cent, something that we announced exactly one year ago and, remarkably, was opposed by those opposite. They took that to an election as a saving for them. What we did was to do a saving for students and graduates of an average of $5½ thousand each time, and to make a difference to all of these measures: the $20,000 instant asset write-off, extended for another year, and more choice, lower cost and higher quality care for Australian women as well. And of course, importantly, we have frozen draught beer excise for two years, making a difference as well. We will continue to engage in all of these measures, including cheaper medicines.

There's one thing they have in common, though. Every single measure by the government, before the last election and since, has been opposed by those opposite.

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