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

I do like Senator Scarr in the third person; thank you for that. The answer to that question is similar to the one I gave to the first question. We on this side of the chamber recognise that people are under pressure, and that's why we're doing something about it. We're not just acknowledging it; we're doing something about it. There are tax cuts for every taxpayer coming in July this year and next year. We've got our bulk-billing incentive. We've got the cheaper medicines that you opposed. You go and explain to a roomful of Australians why you wanted them to pay double for their prescription every month. Why did you take that position and then come in here and say you've got concerns about people under pressure? We're doing something about it. There are cheaper medicines. We're backing higher wages and we've cut HECS debt by 20 per cent. There are a range of actions underway by this government to deliver cost-of-living relief for Australian households.