Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) | Hansard source

As everyone is aware, it is 1 July, and there are a number of changes coming for Australians today. Because our government continues to deliver real change for Australians, they will see real changes today. Australians are hardworking people. They work hard. They look after their families. They contribute to their communities, and they want what every generation before them has wanted: the chance to get ahead and build a good life. But, for too many Australians, the cost of living has hit hard and hurt families, and we know that the conflict overseas and disruption in the global economy has pushed prices up here at home.

We know that many Australians still feel pressure in their household budgets, but we also know something else: Australians want a government focused on the challenges that they face every day. That's exactly what the Albanese Labor government has been doing. From day one, we've been focused on delivering practical help with the cost of living while building a stronger economy for the future because we understand that the economy should work for working people. That's why from 1 July we are delivering another round of tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. These tax cuts mean people get to keep more of what they earn—more money in their pocket and more breathing room when it comes to balancing the family budget.

We're also backing higher wages, and around three million minimum-wage and award workers are receiving a pay rise today. If you're working hard, you deserve fair pay for the work that you do. Labor has always backed working people, and, on this side of the chamber, we believe that these workers should not go backwards. We're proud on this side to stand with workers and to support wage growth after years of wage stagnation under the Liberal-Nationals.

But cost-of-living relief isn't just about tax cuts or pay rises; it's also making sure that Australians get a fair go. That's why we're taking action on supermarket price gouging. Australians deserve confidence that they're being treated fairly when they walk through the check-out. Families should not feel like they're being taken advantage of while trying to put food on the table. Our reforms are about fairness, transparency and ensuring that big corporations play by the rules.

We're also delivering more support for families. From 1 July, paid parental leave expands to six months, and that means more time for parents with their newborn bubs, more support during one of the most important times of a family's life and more flexibility for parents to make decisions that work for them. We know how important that time at home is, and that is why our government is delivering this important reform.

We've also delivered, for the first time ever, super on paid parental leave because having a child should not mean losing out in retirement. Historically, we know that is exactly what has happened. Women have worn the burden of not being paid super on paid parental leave. These changes are practical, meaningful reforms that make a real difference to families across Australia.

At the same time, we're strengthening and protecting Medicare because access to health care should never depend on whether you can afford it. That's why Labor's Medicare urgent care clinics are now a permanent part of our health system. Across Australia, people can walk into an urgent care clinic and receive the care they need with just their Medicare card. That's alongside our investments in bulk-billing, cheaper medicines and stronger public hospitals. Labor built Medicare and Labor will always protect it and strengthen it.

We're also tackling one of the biggest challenges facing our country—housing. For too long too many Australians have felt that owning a home was slipping further and further out of reach. You talk to any young person, or their family, and they will tell you the same thing: they thought buying a home was never going to happen. That's why we've passed new laws that give first home buyers a fair go and a crack at owning their own home. The dream of home ownership should be achievable for the next generation of Australians. These reforms are about creating opportunity and restoring fairness in a system that was broken. This is what is happening on 1 July: lower taxes, higher wages, more support for family, stronger Medicare and a better pathway to home ownership.