Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today marks 12 months since the Albanese Labor government announced cost-of-living top-up tax cuts for 14 million Australians, because we want Australians to keep more of what they earn. Australians up in my part of the world work hard in a variety of jobs, often in the heat, but they go at it. Often, it creates a hard-earned thirst—just a quick reminder that the beer excise has also been frozen! But it was on this day tomorrow, where the opposition got together and said, 'Should Australians keep more of what they earn? Do Australians deserve a tax cut?' And at this strategy meeting they looked around and said, 'Nah, I think they're alright.'

In the middle of an election campaign those opposite couldn't listen to the people. They didn't understand what was going on out in the street. We have listened. We understand that cost of living is front and foremost of every single Australian's mind, and we are delivering. Do you need a cut in your HECS debt—delivered.

We've made the largest investment in medicine. PBS medicines are back down to the price they were in 2004, when I was playing for the New Zealand Breakers. I was terrible in New Zealand, but the medicines were cheap and people enjoyed it. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are opening right across the country—great for spider bites and now great for the northern beaches of Cairns.