Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia. How will the Albanese Labor government's tax cuts deliver a bigger benefit to workers in the resources sector and in northern Australia?

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to the very hardworking member for Pearce for her question. On 1 July, the Albanese government will deliver a tax cut to every single Australian taxpayer and to taxpayers right across the great seat of Pearce. There will be 13.6 million Australians better off. Workers in the resources sector and right across the great north of our country will be better off.

The average wage of the resources sector across this nation is $144,600. Labor's tax changes will deliver them a tax cut of over $3,700. We know the extraordinary incomes of those in the C-suites of the resources sector, who also get a tax cut, skews this average. This means that the absolute majority of resources sector workers will be better off under Labor's tax changes than the proposal of five years ago by the former PM, who was of course also the resources minister at the time. After a prolonged episode of flip-flopping from those opposite, I am glad the coalition have agreed to finally support the aspirations of resources workers and mining communities right across the country. It's about time.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) | Link to this | Hansard source

I can hear the leader and the former leaders of the National agrarian socialists over there having a crack. What have you ever done?

I want to remind everyone that it takes anywhere between 500 and 1,000 workers to keep a coalmine in the Hunter or an iron ore mine in the Pilbara operating. Among the many jobs on these mines, there are geologists, mining engineers and metallurgists, all of whom are getting a tax cut. And it's especially the younger workers in the sector. Younger workers are so important to the ongoing strength of this industry. A graduate geophysicist on an average income of $90,000 will get a tax cut of over $1,900. A graduate geologist on an average income of $95,000 will get a tax cut of over $2,000.

There are also cooks, kitchen hands and cleaners that keep the great wealth-creating industry of this country running. I know none of you opposite have ever run into any of them, but we do. On any given mine in this country, cooks on an average income of $89,000 will get a tax cut of over $1,900. Kitchen hands on an average income of $80,000 will get a tax cut of over $1,600. And cleaners, the cleaners that keep these mines going and keep workers happy, on an average income of $75,000, will get a tax cut of over $1,500. Under Labor, resources workers earn more and resources workers will keep more of what they earn.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the minister under standing order 65(a) to address her remarks through the chair.

The member for Bruce will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Bruce then left the chamber.