Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Deputy Speaker Scrymgour, what can I say? The assertion from those opposite that the Albanese Labor government is doing nothing to help Australians couldn't be further from the truth. It is ludicrous. If I were to ask those opposite for a list of their achievements for the people of Australia in their 10 years in government, that list would have nothing on it. They should know better. They have repeatedly voted against meaningful measures to ease pressure on households. We understand, however, that people are doing it tough, and we know that there is more for us to do. That is why in 2025 we delivered a responsible budget with the cost of living front and centre. The claim we are reckless is something that they should know a lot about because of the division and the disarray that we are seeing blow up across the aisle.

Yesterday the Reserve Bank governor stated:

… governments … have a job … to provide services and infrastructure … and at the same time … make sure that they contribute to bringing inflation down …

The Reserve Bank governor also stated:

… the government at the moment seems—

very—

focused on what they need to do to continue the fight against inflation …

We have delivered so much. We've had a $325 energy rebate to ease power bills. We've introduced a $300 per week paid prac placement for nursing staff, midwives, teachers and social workers, recognising that essential workers deserve support, not hardship. We have wiped $3 billion from HECS debt, benefiting more than three million Australians, including 18,000 people from Dunkley. Our No. 1 focus is helping Australians with the cost of living today and tomorrow and building a stronger future.

Last year we delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer, with another one coming in July. We secured pay rises for minimum and award wage workers. We expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks and ensured superannuation is now paid while parents take government leave. We've provided an additional $150 discount on power bills for every household and around one million small businesses and introduced a 30 per cent discount on home batteries to permanently cut energy costs. I can't wait to have mine installed very soon. We expanded bulk-billing, and we froze draft beer excise indexation for two years. From 1 January we've delivered the biggest cut to PBS medicines in history. Medicines are costing $25 or less for those with a healthcare card. This is going to save Australians more than $200 million a year, making medicines the cheapest they have been in more than two decades.

When it comes to health, the difference between the two sides of this chamber are stark. The opposite gutted bulk-billing when they were in government. We have spent the last three years and now this term rebuilding it. We are investing $8.5 billion to deliver 18 million additional bulk-billed GP visits a year. We are investing more than $790 million in women's health and $11.3 million in men's health. The member for Hunter is very happy about that. We are investing in mental health, and that includes $1.2 million into Headspace Frankston, recognising that 43 per cent of Australians will unfortunately experience challenges during their lifetime.

We know skills and training are essential for easing cost pressures and for building our future workforce, so we have delivered the paid prac placement and free-fee TAFE with more than 355,000 fee-free places.

There is no better example of Labor's delivery than in Dunkley. More than $112 million has been committed to local infrastructure, from roads and parks, mental health services, support for local artists to the $1.1 billion Peninsula University Hospital. Last year, just before Christmas, I joined Minister Rishworth to open the Brotherhood of Saint Laurence Thrive Hub, supporting young people into employment.

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