House debates
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Adjournment
Albanese Government
4:34 pm
Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source
Yesterday didn't just mark the beginning of a new financial year, it marked the next step in the Albanese Labor government's crusade to ensure that cost-of-living relief is delivered to everyday Australians, and it sits in stark contrast to what we've seen from those opposite this week. What we've just seen in this place is an opposition blocking reforms designed to protect children. The members across can sigh, but there's no quorum count this time. It's an important reform, and it's a reform that they've ganged up with the Greens to block.
This is something that we've seen before, so in reality it should come as no surprise. We've seen it on climate. We've seen it on housing. We just heard during the MPI in this parliament every excuse that they could think of—every obfuscation that came to mind, every reason—to not back reform that protects our children. The news I want to give to those opposite is this: we will not lie down when it comes to ensuring that Australian children are safe. We will not go away, and we will not rest because the sacrifices endured by those parents who have lost their children should not be in vain. This government will do everything to make sure their sacrifice is not in vain.
I want to address briefly what the member for Griffith has just said, because, as a Queenslander, I'm very proud of a number of the reforms that the member just mentioned, but I will note that these are Labor reforms. It was Steven Miles who introduced 50c fares, which go to making sure that people can have relief when they tap their card at the bus or to get on the train. And it was many energy workers who came together to make sure that publicly owned renewables could be back in state government hands. Those reforms, which were about making sure that Queenslanders have relief that they need when it comes to hip-pocket issues and the cost-of-living matters that are impacting on families every day, are echoed by what the Albanese Labor government has done this week to roll out critical reforms and real, positive changes that will improve the lives of every Australian—changes that help workers and families, that support health care and that help with the cost of living.
It is important to remember that yesterday marked a tax cut, the fifth from this government, for every Australian taxpaying worker. It is important to remember that this government, unlike those opposite, backed in minimum and award wage increases which came into effect yesterday. It's important to remember that from this moment forward, if you're getting paid superannuation, it's getting put on your balance when you earn it. It's important to remember that a Labor government didn't just deliver paid parental leave; it's now expanding it to 26 weeks. It is a time when it is most important to spend more time with our littlest Australians. There have been 137 Medicare urgent care clinics rolled out across the country. The Oxley Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in my local electorate on Brisbane's southside is proud to have had over 33,000 visits. An extra $25 billion has gone into public hospitals and we have banned supermarket price gouging. Our government is focused on delivery.
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