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

There is no doubt right now that right across the country there are many Australians who are doing it tough. Families are feeling the pressure of higher bills, global uncertainty and the ongoing consequences of conflict in the Middle East. In the face of these challenges, the Albanese Labor government has acted decisively and responsibly to ease the burden on households and to lift living standards, not just for today but for the future.

On 12 May, the Treasurer handed down a budget that is about practical help now and lasting reform for tomorrow. This budget delivers real cost-of-living relief through tax cuts, cheaper medicines, stronger wages and targeted support for those who need it most. Our government is helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn through another round of permanent tax cuts, including the $250 working Australians' tax offset and a $1,000 instant tax deduction. These tax cuts are putting money directly back into the pockets of working Australians. Combined with previous tax reforms, we are cutting income taxes five times in five different ways. By 2028, a worker on average earnings will be nearly $3,000 a year better off. This is meaningful relief and demonstrates a government on the side of working Australians.

But we know tax relief alone is not enough. That is why we are also tackling everyday costs. Yesterday our government announced that we will extend fuel excise relief for another month, making petrol and diesel 16c per litre cheaper versus normal prices for July, saving Australians around $11 per tank. This is more temporary support that will help take the sting out of petrol prices and help Australians with the cost of living. At the same time, we are empowering the ACCC to crack down on price-gouging and unfair practices, doubling maximum penalties to $100 million and investing nearly $68 million in enforcement. Australians deserve a fair go at the checkout, and this government is making sure they get it. We are also strengthening essential services. We are making medicines cheaper for millions of Australians and locking in bulk-billed urgent care clinics as a permanent part of Medicare so families can access free walk-in care when they need it most.

At the heart of our approach is fairness. Since coming to government, we have backed higher wages for nearly three million of Australia's lowest-paid workers every single year. As a result, the national minimum wage has risen significantly, helping workers keep up with the cost of living, and we are looking to the future. Our tax reforms are pro worker, pro aspiration and pro investment. They will reduce the tax burden for more than 13 million Australians, help 75,000 more people into home ownership and drive productivity through innovation and business investment. We are building a tax system that is fairer, simpler and fit for the future.

The contrast could not be clearer. In opposition, three right-wing parties—the Liberal One National Party, if you will—have consistently opposed measures designed to ease pressure on households and working families. Their approach leaves Australians to fend for themselves and without the support they need to get through challenging times. Following the One Nation leader's speech at the National Press Club last week, it is clear that her party offers no credible economic plan. The only thing One Nation offer Australians is cuts, division and wacky concepts dressed up as policies that would leave Australians worse off. Their approach risks undermining wages, weakening essential services and abandoning the very people who need support the most.

In contrast, this government is focused on delivering real outcomes. We understand that Australians are under pressure and we are doing something about it. We are providing immediate relief where it is needed, while building a stronger and more resilient economy for the future. This year's budget is about helping Australians get ahead, earn more, keep more, access essential services and achieve the dream of home ownership. It is about fairness, opportunity and security. At a time of global uncertainty, Australians deserve a government that acts to protect their living standards, and that is exactly what the Albanese Labor government is delivering.

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