Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator Colbeck. I refer to the Grattan Institute report Generation gap: ensuring a fair go for younger Australians. Can the minister confirm that half of all households headed by someone younger than 35 have experienced one or more indicators of financial stress, such as skipping a meal or failing to pay a bill on time, in just the last 12 months?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I haven't seen the Grattan Institute report, so I can't confirm the numbers that Senator Bilyk has put to me. I am happy to take the question on notice.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bilyk, a first supplementary?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Grattan Institute report found:

… young Australians are in danger of being the first generation in memory to have lower living standards than their parents' generation.

Is this the legacy the minister is leaving young Australians?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I actually have seen the report and I've met with the Grattan Institute regarding the report, so I need to correct what I said. The Australian government is extremely concerned to ensure that young Australians have the best opportunities in any circumstance to get into a job and, if they slip through the cracks, to find their way back. That's why the youth portfolio has been re-created, so we can draw together the elements of the Australian economy and the departments that have oversight of areas in the youth portfolio to actually start to work through all of the issues that we can deal with to prevent young people from falling through the cracks in the way that the Grattan Institute report talks about. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bilyk, a second supplementary?

Senator Ayres interjecting—

Senator Ayres, I can't hear Senator Bilyk ask the question.

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bearing in mind that the minister is not sure whether or not he has seen the report, I will try for another supplementary. Given that the Morrison government has refused to reverse cuts to penalty rates, isn't it clear that, after six years of coalition government, young Australians are going to work harder but go backwards?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's clear that the Labor Party aren't listening to the answers that are given from this side of the chamber. Given that the rate of increase of wages is actually outstripping the long-term average, it's clear that people aren't going backwards; they're actually gaining. With the economy and wages growing at a rate that's higher than the long-term average and higher than the CPI, it is clear that people have the opportunity to progress if they have the opportunity to work in the Australian economy.