Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

With a world in a state of flux and marred by conflict, global disruption and rising pressures beyond our shores, we could have used last night's budget to really retreat from these challenges as an excuse for hesitation. We could have curled up into a conservative ball and rolled along with the status quo, using the events of the world as a cover to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Instead, we, as a government, have chosen something different. We've chosen to strengthen our sovereignty, to invest in our capacity to make, to build, to care for and house ourselves, and to secure our place in a rapidly changing global economy—not as passengers on the journey, but as active shapers of it. At its core, this budget understands something simple but powerful: every person is driven by the same basic needs—shelter; health; connection; bettering ourselves; a safe and affordable home; access to quality healthcare when you need it; and the opportunity to stay connected to family, to community, to work and to purpose. Nimbleness, fairness and bravery in government are essential if we are to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. This government is answering those challenges, and I am proud to be part of it.

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