Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Bruce is right that it is a big package, and we like a big package. Because, when it comes to a big package, cost of living is where it's at. Cost of living is something that we're focused on every day. The package is big because it includes so many different things. We've talked about health, we've talked about medicines, we've talked about student debt, we've talked about free TAFE, and we're talking about beer. All of these things will give people the relief that they need. Importantly, the pause that we're talking about in this bill today ensures that small brewers and publicans can continue competing fairly against large multinational producers. It protects diversity in the market and competition in Australia's beer and hospitality industries, and it offers that direct cost-of-living support that we keep talking about. In the six months since the election, Labor has delivered on a host of its campaign commitments, with a range of new measures which kicked in on 1 July.

So let's talk about this big package of cost-of-living measures that Labor is putting in place. Workers are seeing real benefits, including a 3.5 per cent increase to the national minimum wage and award wages, and the increase of the superannuation guarantee has now risen to 12 per cent. Families are also gaining more support, with paid parental leave extended to 24 weeks and superannuation now included in all government funded parental leave payments. Australians will receive an additional $150 in energy bill relief before the end of the year, and we are making home energy more affordable through cheaper battery options. They are battery options that we know Australians are taking up over and over again. We are up to over 130,000 batteries from the 30 per cent off battery package.

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