Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

When Labor came into government Australians were staring down a barrel of absolute economic mess that those opposite, the Liberals and Nationals, left behind—high inflation, rising interest rates and a trillion dollars of Liberal debt weighed down with waste, rorts and slogans. Those opposite left behind a budget riddled with pork barrelling and 'back in black' mugs, but not a single surplus. They left Australians with hollow promises and higher costs.

Today the facts tell a very different story. Under the Albanese Labor government inflation has more than halved. When we came to office it was at 6.1 per cent and climbing. Today it is around half of that, with around 3.2 per cent inflation through the year to September. Underlying inflation has been in the RBA's target band for three straight quarters. That's not just luck; that's responsible, steady, Labor economic management. Because of that progress, the Reserve Bank has cut interest rates three times this year. That means that a household with a $700,000 mortgage is saving about $330 a month. That's nearly $4,000 a year in savings. It's money in the bank and in the pockets of Australians.

While other countries have slipped into recession, Australia has stayed strong. We've brought inflation down without it costing jobs—something those opposite could never manage. But we know Australians have been doing it tough, and that's why we're delivering real, practical help with cost-of-living relief: tax cuts for every taxpayer, because Australians deserve to keep more of what they earn; energy bill relief, taking the sting out of power bills and helping families actually stay ahead; cheaper child care so parents can get back to work without wondering if it's even worth it; free TAFE, opening doors to new skills and better jobs without a mountain of debt; cheaper medicines, because no-one should have to choose between filling a script and feeding their kids; 50 more urgent care clinics so families can see a doctor or a nurse when they need one without a long hospital wait; and, as of 1 November, expanded bulk-billing so that all you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card, to see a GP. We've also cut student debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians. We've lifted the minimum wage up again, with an increase of 3.5 per cent. Those opposite had a deliberate policy of lower wages; we don't. We back fair pay and secure work, and these are practical, targeted measures that make life fairer and keep our economy strong.

When Labor are in government, we build; we don't cut. Yet the opposition still haven't learnt. The Leader of the Opposition recently told a right-wing think tank that she supports a smaller government and that the Commonwealth should do fewer things. Well, we all know what that means. That means cuts—cuts to Medicare, cuts to pensions, cuts to cost-of-living relief. They preach austerity but practise hypocrisy. This is the same mob who wanted $600 billion for nuclear reactors and taxpayer funded long lunches for their bosses. We haven't forgotten about that one. The coalition's big idea for the country was to make life harder for ordinary working Australians—and they call that fiscal responsibility. Australians call it what it is. It's a con. They ran on cuts at the last election, and the people of Dickson cut their leader, and the people of Australia cut their numbers in this place, because, when you run on cuts when Australians are doing it tough, Australians cut you out. This crew is so obsessed with cutting things that it might even cut up its coalition agreement next!

That's the difference between the Labor Party and the Liberals. While they cut, we build. We build stronger wages, fairer taxes and an Australia where no-one is left behind. The coalition of 'will-they won't-they' have zip to offer this country because they can't even thread the needle properly on most of the issues in this place. The Albanese government are focused on building an Australian future that is stronger, fairer and made to last.