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

I thank Senator Smith for the question. When those opposite complain about the spending that occurs in the Commonwealth budget—and I hear it repeatedly—they are criticising: increases to the age pension; cheaper childcare for families, which we know they are against; the pay rise for early childhood educators; our cheaper medicines, which we saw them vote against in this place; record investment in public hospitals; funding for new medicines on the PBS; expanding PPL and paying super on PPL; expanding access to training, including free TAFE; prac payments for nursing, teaching and social work students; and wiping billions of dollars from student debts. They're opposed to our housing agenda. Those opposite see all of this as wasteful; we see it as funding essential services.