Matt Gregg (Deakin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Helping Australians with the cost of living is the No. 1 priority of the Albanese Labor government. We're about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. In these uncertain times, many Australians are doing it tough. A year ago today, Labor announced top-up tax cuts, and the reflex action of those opposite was to oppose them. While we're about cutting taxes, they're more interested in cutting the wages and conditions of working Australians. Under their plan, Australians would be $50 a week worse off. Importantly, we would also see 1.5 million small businesses and sole traders lose out under their plan. Don't forget that these tax cuts also applied to 1½ million small businesses. Many of the 3½ thousand construction businesses in my electorate would have been affected—money out of their pocket. Those opposite pretend to be the party of small business, but when that was put to the test they failed small business once again.

We see those opposite continue on their journey inward, asking themselves: What are we about? Why do we exist? Well, Labor knows what we're about. We are about protecting the interests of working people, we're about making sure small businesses get to keep more of what they earn, and we're about making sure Australians can be optimistic about the future. The cost of living remains the laser focus of this government. We've got the credentials on the board and we are always looking at what more we can do, while the reflex of those opposite is just to be negative. They have no great ideas and no big plans; they just oppose, oppose, oppose. We are going to focus on the job at hand and deliver cost-of-living relief for Australians.