Mary Doyle (Aston, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Let me begin by saying that the only thing reckless in this debate is the sheer nerve, the utter gall, of members of the Liberal Party standing up to lecture anyone on the economic responsibility of the cost of living, particularly when their record left Australian families and small businesses worse off. In the 47th parliament, the Liberal Party along with their then partners, now ex-partners, the National Party made it their mission to block every single cost-of-living measure introduced by this government, measures that would have supported households and the 2.6 million small businesses that employ nearly 40 per cent of the workforce. That was not responsible or principled; that was reckless. Had our cost-of-living-relief measures not passed, that is what would have hurt Australian families and the small businesses that rely on their spending. After nine long years of cuts, chaos and neglect, those opposite left behind a system that was fundamentally broken, where inflation was rising, wages were going backwards, productivity was stagnant and essential services—which small businesses depend upon—were hollowed out. That is their legacy.

However, this second-term Albanese Labor government has chosen a very different path—one grounded in responsibility, fairness and targeted relief for working people and the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy. The measures we have passed through this place are not reckless; they are deliberate. They have been thought through and they are changing lives in households, shopfronts and workplaces right across Australia.

Yesterday, the independent Reserve Bank monetary policy board increased the cash rate by 25 basis points. We understand this will come as difficult news for millions of Australians with a mortgage and the pressure this puts on families and small-business owners juggling repayments, rent and cash flow. While the decision was widely expected, that doesn't make it any easier. That is why we continue to roll out responsible cost-of-living relief, including a further tax cut later this year and another one next year—tax cuts that benefit 1½ million sole traders and which put real money back into the small businesses that power local economies. This stands in stark contrast to those opposite, who went to the last election promising higher taxes and have opposed every measure designed to support small-business confidence and consumer demand.

In government, those opposite shamefully suppressed wages. They in fact made it a cunning design of their economic plan, undermining the spending power of customers that small businesses rely on to survive. Since coming to office, our Labor government has delivered pay rises for minimum and award wage workers, lifting annual incomes by more than $9,000. What happens when wages increase? People spend a bit more. This means local economies are strengthened. All kinds of small businesses like restaurants, cafes, gift shops, shoe stores—my favourite!—and bakeries benefit.

We expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks and ensured superannuation is paid on government funded parental leave, recognising that small businesses benefit when workplaces are fair, modern and able to retain skilled staff. We delivered $300 energy bill relief in financial year 2024-25 and $150 off power bills in the financial year to December 2025 for every household and around one million small businesses, while investing in long-term cost reduction—including 30 per cent off home batteries. That is structural reform that helps small businesses manage costs and to plan for the future.

We made the biggest-ever investment in Medicare since its creation, easing pressure on small-business owners, who know that a healthy workforce is a productive workforce. We opened Medicare urgent care clinics, including one in my electorate, in Bayswater, which is very popular. Right across the country we opened these Medicare urgent care clinics, with more than two million Australians already receiving free urgent care. We cut student debt by 20 per cent. We have done so much to help Australian households and small businesses; I could go on, but I don't have a lot more time. It is targeted, and it is responsible and it is certainly not the kind of spending you could call 'reckless'.

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