Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

If you were listening, you would have heard Senator Sheldon literally list so many things we've achieved. As a fellow WA senator, you would definitely know that we needed a change in government because there was way too much inaction, division and lack of focus by the previous government. Australians were sick of it. They were just tired. They needed a sense of hope, and that's what the current Albanese Labor government is going to be delivering.

We will go into October and come out with a budget that will benefit everyone. That is something that's dear to my heart. I've seen how my sister, who is a Master of Pharmacy student and also has an 18-month-old baby, is struggling to make ends meet. She's struggling to pay her mortgage with her husband. She's struggling to pay for child care. This has all happened. We've seen the impacts on real people, and it is time to get the ball rolling.

The Albanese Labor government is going to ease those pressures, not only the housing and climate change crises that young people are facing but also the education crisis. When it comes to accessibility to TAFEs, apprenticeships and traineeships, the Labor government will ensure that everyone has access to the education we deserve, and also employment opportunities. It is tough putting food on the table. It is tough paying bills. It is tough making ends meet. These are based on the mismanagement of the previous government. All the rorts and all the poor decision-making policies have landed us in a very difficult place. Australians know that it's not something we can change overnight, but they have faith in the Albanese Labor government to fix the issues and the mess. They trust us based on the leadership and transparency that we have indicated and that we have been delivering, including the abolishment of the cashless debit card last night.