Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It has been great to be back in this place this week, starting the 48th Parliament to make Australia a fairer place. The next three years mean more tax cuts; more energy bill relief; a stronger Medicare with better access to health through urgent care centres, cheaper medicines and free GP visits by 2030; a plan for universal and well-funded education; a plan for fee-free TAFE to be permanent; a plan to reduce HECS debts by 20 per cent, for which the legislation was introduced this week in the other place; a plan for cheaper child care close to home; and penalty rates secured for 2.6 million workers—again, introduced in the other place this week and, hopefully, debated in this place very soon.

But I have to say the response from the Liberals and the Nationals to my question in question time relating to the security of penalty rates was very disappointing. It demonstrated that, once again, they have learnt nothing. They have not listened to Australians during the election campaign, let alone over the last three years. In particular, they haven't listened or spoken to those who work in retail or hospitality, whether they work in a fast-food chain or they work in warehousing.

Unlike those on that side, we will continue to work hard to support low-income workers in this country. We will also continue to invest the most significant amount of money ever into social and affordable housing in this country. Building 1.2 million new homes across our country will help more people into their first home. All of this is based on having a five per cent deposit. Our government will guarantee the rest of that deposit.

We on this side have a vision and a party platform to implement, unlike those opposite, who are hopelessly divided on climate, with the Nationals refusing to sign up to net zero while the Liberals want to. Those opposite are not functioning as a coalition. They are in a marriage of inconvenience, and the Australian people cannot take them seriously as an alternative Commonwealth government, which was reflected in the vote on 3 May. The Liberals have abandoned people in the cities and in the regions. Australians know that it is the government on this side of the chamber that has a plan for the entire country.

We also saw on 1 July our agenda put into action to increase the minimum wage and award wages for over three million Australian workers, making a difference to them and their families through a real increase to their wage. There's a two-week increase in paid parental leave and, very importantly, we are for the first time going to pay superannuation on that paid parental leave, which will make a huge difference. There's $10,000 for apprentices in construction, adding to what we have already done in the new energy area. There are now paid pracs for teachers, nurses and social workers, making a difference for those people as well. This is so important to attracting people to go and study in those areas of great need. Superannuation has been lifted to 12 per cent for all workers. There's energy bill relief. The next tranche is coming in. Importantly, we're pushing ahead with renewable energy and our battery strategy, which will be embraced by the Australian people.

I want to take particular note of the Prime Minister, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister Tony Burke and their leadership in all of these areas. But there's someone else that I would like to acknowledge, somebody who represents the great state of Tasmania. After more than 28 years after the tragedy of Port Arthur, we finally have a national register of gun ownership in this country. That will save lives. It will save police and other law enforcement lives. It will save many people within our communities. It was only a couple of months ago now that we in Tasmania lost a very long-serving, community-minded police officer, who was shot down in the line of duty. It was unacceptable. Police and law enforcement should know, when they are going to a house, farm or property, whether or not there are registered guns there. It's a huge step. It's not all that's needed, but it's a huge step forward, so I want to pay tribute to the former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus. Thank you, on behalf of all Tasmanians and the country in general. (Time expired)