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

For almost a decade, under those opposite, life got tough for the people I represent in the fastest-growing community in this country. My community is characterised by people seeking affordable housing from low- and middle-income brackets. Imagine my surprise when I read the headline this morning that said the Leader of the Opposition declared himself and the Liberal Party the party for the working class. Imagine!

This is from the party whose robodebt scheme targeted low- and middle-income earners—lots of people in my community—with debt notices for times they accessed our financial safety net. Imagine my surprise. The former health minister was responsible for a Medicare freeze and for programs where my community was cut and GP clinics couldn't attract new GPs. Imagine my surprise. This is from the leader of the party that is voting against a safeguard mechanism that will support households in my electorate with energy bills. Imagine my surprise.

In contrast: cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, fee-free TAFE and boosting wages for low-income earners.