Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This weekend, I will be back in Leichhardt. Let me tell you, the group text has already fired up and we are planning to grab beers on Sunday. I've known this group of men for decades. We all used to be basketball players, but now we're construction workers, firemen—I just realised we sound like a super-sized version of the Village People! But that's not the point. The point is I will be home.

Thanks to the Albanese Labor government, home is a whole lot better this week. My daughter has just finished year 12. She's not really sure what she wants to do, but fee-free TAFE is available to her and thousands of others around the country who are just finishing their high school journey. My other daughter is recovering from a knee reconstruction. When she initially hurt herself, I was very thankful for the urgent care clinic where she could go grab a quick X-ray and get home. On the subject of Medicare, this week there are now 24 fully bulk-billing clinics right across Leichhardt.

But back to Sunday with the beers and the super-sized Village People—the beers will be cheaper because of the freezing of the beer excise. My mate Schooner can shout because his HECS debt has just been reduced by 20 per cent. The bloke pulling the beers is going to get his super at the same time as his pay, his penalty rates are enshrined and he can now save for a house, thanks to five per cent deposits. That's why the Far North is going to be better this week—all thanks to this Anthony Albanese Labor government. I'm really looking forward to getting home.

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