Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's very good to be here on 1 July, because we know what that means to Australians. We know that today the Albanese Labor government is delivering a tax cut to every Australian taxpayer. This comes at a time when we know that Australians are doing it tough. It's incredibly important to be helping every Australian with cost-of-living relief, and that's why we are delivering a tax cut to every taxpayer. That means that 2.8 million Queenslanders will be getting a tax cut today because of the Labor government. We also know that 87 per cent of those taxpayers will be receiving a larger tax cut from the Albanese Labor government than what was proposed by those opposite. The Albanese Labor government is delivering a tax cut for every taxpayer, not just some.

I'm also really pleased to see in this delivery of cost-of-living relief that more women will be receiving a tax cut under this proposal. It's incredibly important that this comes at the same time that our government is delivering cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, fee-free TAFE and urgent care clinics around the country. All of this work is designed to help Australians with the cost of living, because we're focused on that on this side of the chamber.

Of course, it's incredibly important that, at the same time we're delivering a tax cut for every single taxpayer, 2.6 million low-paid workers around the country will be receiving an increase in their pay thanks to the minimum wage rise backed in by this government. That's what happens when you have a government committed to making sure that workers are earning what they deserve and getting a pay rise. Unlike those opposite, we support low-paid workers.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to say I don't know what planet those on the other side are living on, but back in the real world, on 1 July, under 'Jim-flation', let's talk about the last two years of Albanese Labor government. Do you know what Australians experience every time they walk into a shop? They experience 'Jim-flation' in relation to food. They know that, when they walk out, they will have paid 11.4 per cent more. That is the actual reality for every single Australian. Under the Albanese Labor government, what they are lauding today, their so called cost-of-living relief, does not even touch the sides of the pain Australians are feeling. Why? Because of the decisions of the Albanese Labor government. Every time someone walks into a shop, they can thank Mr Albanese and Senator Penny Wong for the fact that they are paying more for their food. If you're trying to get into the housing market or the rental market, guess what: under the policies of the Albanese government, again, there is inflation, now known as 'Jim-flation'. Why? Because it's Mr Chalmers's policies that are ensuring that every day out there Australians are feeling the pain, with the cost of housing up by 14 per cent and rents up by 14.2 per cent. Don't even start us on how much Australians are now paying under Mr Albanese in relation to their energy bills. It is 'Jim-flation', not inflation, because of—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cash. The time for two-minute statements has expired.