Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I just note to the House: this is not an acting speaker; this is the Deputy Speaker. I rise today as a proud member of this Labor government—a Labor government that's already delivered a tax cut to every taxpaying Australian. Today marks 12 months since the last budget, when we declared two more tax cuts for Australians across this country.

Speaking of anniversaries, tomorrow is the anniversary of when the current leader of the opposition was the shadow Treasurer who made the decision that they would vote against said tax cuts. Can you believe it? Can you believe that the party that now sits in opposition voted against tax cuts in this place?

They're happy to come in here every day and carp about the cost of living. We know people are doing it tough. That's why it's what we are focused on. It's why we're working every day. It's why we've cut student debt by 20 per cent. It's why we've cut the cost of PBS medicines down to $25 per script and $7.70 for pensioners. It's why we've delivered the largest investment in bulk-billing in Medicare's history—because it's good for health and it's good for family budgets. Thirty per cent off home batteries—we are delivering; they are divided.

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