Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

The spending that you criticise, Senator Paterson, is for things like investments in paid parental leave, energy bill relief, support for apprentices, support for households to transition to and implement batteries, paid pracs for nursing teaching, social work, midwifery, boosts to Medicare, more choice and support for Australian women when it comes to health care, the $20,000 instant asset write off, our housing programs, our aged care, wage increases and our support for early childhood education and care. These are the things that those opposite are criticising when they talk about spending. We have repaired the budget, we have delivered two surpluses, and we have lowered the debt and the interest on that debt. All at the same time, as we fought against you every step of the way, we have introduced all of those measures to help the Australian people.