Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the words of a well-known meerkat, 'Compare the market.' On the one hand, we have a government cutting HECS debts, rolling out fee-free TAFE, fully funding public schools for the first time ever, making housing more affordable for first home buyers and cutting the cost of medicines. On the opposition side, to paraphrase the opposition leader, they believe people don't value anything they haven't paid for.

On the one hand, we have a government paying super on paid parental leave, supporting families and addressing an issue that sees older women retiring into poverty. On the other hand, we have a shadow industrial relations minister who washes his hands of the equity issue, saying it isn't his choice that women have children.

On the one hand, we have a government that has ticked off over 100 large-scale renewable projects and now more than 80,000 cheaper home batteries for Australian households in just over three months. On the other hand, we have an opposition that, depending on the day, doesn't believe in climate change, does believe in climate change but not in meaningful action, believes in net zero but that we should be going slower, is waiting for the science, believes in non-existent small nuclear reactors or even mobile microreactors, or thinks dumping net zero is the electoral winner it should be adopting.

Back to the meerkat, it's 'simples'. This government is working hard for the Australian people, the economy and the country. I'm not sure what those opposite are doing.

Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor is failing. Labor is failing Australians. It's failing on energy. It's failing on the economy and it's failing our next generation. Energy prices are up 32 per cent. We were told that, when the wind blew and then the sun shone, everything was going to be for free. You're paying 32 per cent more. When it comes to the economy, government spending is growing four times the rate of the growth of the economy. That means that, for each of you in the gallery today, by the time question time concludes, you'll owe more money by the time you walk out than when you walked in.

For the next generation, when we left office, there were 428,000 apprentices and trainees in the system. Today there are a hundred thousand less. Shame! The coalition is united and fighting for all Australians. It's united in fighting Labor. It's united, and, under the coalition, we will deliver cheaper energy, a stronger economy and a brighter future for the next generation of all Australians.

In conclusion I want to acknowledge my mother, who's sitting in the gallery today, Veronica. She's 82, has travelled all the way down from Boonah and just had a cup of tea with the Speaker. I love you, Mum. Thank you for making the effort to come down.

Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a true shame that today we are discussing the successes of the Albanese government since winning the 2025 election, given we're only limited to 90 seconds to speak. So, even though I can go on for hours, I'll have to cut a long story short.

In my electorate of Spence we've seen many positive changes in the last six months. The people of Virginia now have a door-to-door Australia Post service, which is a massive win for the families and businesses of the town. The nearly 20,000 students in the north with a student debt will see, on average, $5,000 disappear after the 20 per cent HECS cuts were legislated. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a roaring success, with my community installing more than 1,100 installations—the fifth-most of any electorate in the country. And this month saw the delivery of five per cent home deposits. How good is all of that? Believe me: the work will not stop there.

While we're focused on delivering real outcomes, what do those opposite do? They divide, they disagree and they take pot shots from social media while wondering what headline they can manufacture for themselves. While the 94 Labor members and ministers in this chamber are focused on delivering for Australia, the same cannot be said for the divided, divisive lot opposite me.