Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I'm sure you can observe the opposition is a bit touchy today. Why would they be touchy? Because today is the day that Australians are getting much-needed cost-of-living relief. We know the opposition are touchy about this because they voted against almost every one of those cost-of-living measures that come into place today. So no wonder they're touchy. No wonder they don't want to talk about cost of living. But do you know what? Labor does, because we're concerned about the cost-of-living issues facing Australians. That's why from today every Australian taxpayer gets a tax cut, not just some; that's why from today our $300 energy bill relief begins to flow to every Australian household; and that's why from today 2.6 million low-paid workers will get their third consecutive pay rise, backed by this government, unlike what we saw from the coalition. This government has gone into bat for low-paid workers not once, not twice but three times—every single year we've been in office since we came into government. Because of this government's advocacy, from today minimum wage earners will be earning $24.10 per hour, compared to $20 when we first came to office. (Time expired)