House debates

Monday, 22 May 2023

Statements by Members

Albanese Government

1:47 pm

Photo of David SmithDavid Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

It's been 12 months since the Albanese Labor government was elected, and this government is not wasting a moment. We have done something those opposite were never able to do: multitask. While we've been forced to clean up nine years worth of coalition mess, we haven't let this stop us from delivering for the Australian people.

Already this government has delivered on key commitments. We established a royal commission into robodebt after the previous government chose to run this shameful scheme, and we wiped robodebt for almost 200,000 Australians. We passed legislation to establish a National Anti-Corruption Commission to restore integrity and trust in our national institutions. We supported increases to the national minimum wage and significant funded increases for aged-care workers. We've provided 180,000 fee-free TAFE places, with 300,000 more on the way. We have delivered historic cuts to the cost of medicines and, from the beginning of July, will deliver cheaper early childhood education across Bean and the country. And we have invested half a billion dollars towards the nine national collecting institutions, addressing the decade of chronic underfunding inflicted by the former government.

We are not taking this opportunity for granted. There is much more to do. We are building the foundations for a better future, and we'll continue to work hard with those we are privileged to serve.