Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) | Hansard source

Thanks for that question from an absolute champion, the member for Calwell. Helping people with the cost of living is a primary focus of this Albanese Labor government. That's why the Prime Minister announced on the weekend that we'll be extending that fuel excise relief for another month, making petrol and diesel 16c a litre cheaper and saving Australians about $11 per tank. This is more temporary and tapered support that will help take the sting out of petrol prices and help more Australians with the cost of living. That's because, despite the welcome and very substantial drop in the price of petrol in recent months, we recognise that people are still under pressure, and this extra month of fuel relief will help Australian motorists and businesses with the cost of living even as this support begins to taper off.

But it's not the only way we're helping people with the cost of living. We're cutting taxes for 13.3 million workers, again and again. We've got five tax cuts in all. We've got better pay for workers and we're delivering a fair go for first home buyers as well. As it turns out, from next week the national minimum wage will increase by six per cent and modern award wages will increase by 4¾ per cent following that good decision from the Fair Work Commission advocated for by this Labor government and this employment minister. From next week as well our tax cuts for more than 14 million Australians will start to roll out—one of those five ways that we're cutting taxes for workers. And the tax reforms we've put before the parliament will help younger Australians get ahead and to get a fair go, particularly first home buyers.

As I was saying a moment ago, this is what separates us from the three right-wing parties in Australia over there. We're delivering tax cuts for every taxpayer, better pay for workers and a fair go for first home buyers, and the three-ring circus over there is standing in the way of all three of those things. That is the absurd irony of Australia's political system.

One Nation talks a lot about helping workers, and the coalition talks a lot about tax cuts, but they vote against both of those on the floor of the parliament. Every time they have the opportunity to vote for higher wages and lower taxes, the right-wing parties opposite, instead of voting the way that the workers of this country need them to, vote the way that Gina Rinehart and Geoff Wilson tell them to.

Whether it's slashing the fuel tax, better pay, tax cuts or a fair go for first home buyers, we are taking action and delivering real change to ease the cost of living and help Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. The three right-wing parties over there are standing in the way of our tax cuts, better pay and a fair go for first home buyers in this country.

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