Sally Sitou (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I send a warm welcome to the new leader of the opposition. It's the first time he has had the job in this chamber. It's certainly not a sentiment he afforded the previous leader of the opposition. In his first speech as Leader of the Opposition, the member for Hume said his party was in the position that they're in because they stopped listening to Australians, and he is right. They are tone-deaf to the needs of the Australian community. At two elections, the electorates wanted action on climate change. Those opposite gave them a nuclear energy fantasy and dropped net zero entirely. The electorates said they wanted help with the cost of living. Those opposite refused to support energy bill relief and tax cuts.

Australians want us focused on them, and those opposite can only focus on themselves. They never listened to what Australians wanted, and my message to Australians is very clear: Labor will always listen to what you want because we are focused on you. They wanted cheaper health care; we have provided them cheaper medicines and a record increase in bulk-billing rates. They wanted cost-of-living relief, and we've provided student debt relief and tax cuts. I welcome the Leader of the Opposition. Maybe it's time you start listening to the Australian people and not to the extreme members of your party.

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

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.