Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Mulholland, thank you for that question. I acknowledge your first question, which, as the opposition knows, is obviously not your first speech. I'm very pleased to get a question from you, because it goes really to the issues about why we are here. We are here as a re-elected government, and we face this, the 48th Parliament, with great humility but an even greater sense of purpose.

We were entrusted on 3 May with a great opportunity, and that opportunity was to continue to build our country's future, to continue the work of making Australia a fairer country where Australians from every background, from every walk of life, have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations. We do live in a time of great uncertainty and challenging strategic circumstances, so it is really important to recognise that, on 3 May, Australians voted for Australian values, for fairness, aspiration, opportunity for all—values that have held us in good stead and that I am confident will continue to do so as we face the challenges to come.

Australians voted for strong, stable democracy and an orderly and sensible government. Australians voted for fair wages and conditions, to strengthen Medicare, to build even more urgent care clinics, to protect our world-leading Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and to continue to seize the opportunities of cleaner, cheaper renewable energy. Australians voted for greater access to education, for fee-free TAFE and more investment in early childhood education. Australians voted for fully funded public schools, 20 per cent off HECS debts and to help people earn more and keep more of what they earn. Australians voted to enable more Australians to build a better future for themselves and for their families.