Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Inflation is certainly much lower than what we inherited when we came to office. As you heard the finance minister say, the figures are much higher than we would like to see. But when we came to office, inflation was at 6.1 per cent and rising; now it has a three in front of it instead. And while inflation was flat in the month of October, it did tick up in annual terms, in part due to temporary factors such as the timing of state energy rebates and volatile items, such as travel prices. Underlying inflation was almost five per cent when we came to office; now it is lower than that.

The progress we have made on inflation has given the RBA confidence to cut interest rates three times this year. We've been able to get inflation down while keeping unemployment low, and the economy has continued to grow—and this is not the case around the world. And while we have made good progress on the economy together, we know that the job is not done and we know that people are under pressure. But today we heard questions that labelled some of our spending as a government as out of control. I'd like to go through a couple of the things that our government has prioritised spending money on and whether Australians might consider the spending to be out of control.

First, we've got tax cuts for every single working Australian, so that Australians can keep more of what they earn. Energy bill relief? I reckon that's a great thing for lots of Australian households and businesses. We've got record investment in Medicare, so people will be able to see a GP for free, with over 1,000 GP clinics signing up to be able to fully bulk-bill their patients. That's a great thing for everyday Australians. I don't know; maybe that's out-of-control spending for those opposite since they don't love Medicare like Labor does. Cutting the cost of medicines? We've already cut it once. Medicines are down to $32 now, and from 1 January they're going to be $25 for every Australian. I reckon Australians will be happy to spend $25 for their PBS script. I don't consider that to be out-of-control spending, because Australians should not have to choose between looking after their health and putting food on the table. That is a very good thing for Australians. Indexing the pension? I would think lots of pensioners would really like that.

I'm wondering what those opposite might take off their list. Increasing the single parenting payment? Maybe those opposite might go after that. A pay rise for aged-care workers—people taking care of older Australians? Those opposite don't really like highly feminised industries. They might go after that. A pay rise for early-years educators, maybe? Is that out-of-control spending, or would you like the people who look after our young people to be paid fairly? I like that and I reckon lots of parents like that, too. Support for apprentices so we've got the people and the tools we need to build the homes Australia needs? I reckon that's a great thing for the country, too. Is that on their chopping block? Paid prac for nurses, teachers, midwives and social workers? It's a great thing for people who are studying those professions to be paid for their pracs. I think that's a great thing. Increasing the number of weeks for Commonwealth paid parental leave? I reckon there are lots of parents around the country who would love that extra time at home with their families and with their new little bub. I reckon that's a great thing. Are those opposite going to cut it back to what it was? I reckon that's a good place for the government to prioritise putting money.

Maybe those opposite don't like paying superannuation on paid parental leave, because they really don't like superannuation. I don't know about them, but I like to see superannuation being paid on paid parental leave. We already know that women retire with less than men, so I think it's a great thing that we're paying super on Commonwealth paid parental leave. I would like those opposite to stand up and tell me which of the measures the government has prioritised spending money on—the ones they call out-of-control spending—that they're going to put on their cutting block, because I think that Australians support each of the things here that we've spent money on. (Time expired)