Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The past month has seen the release of welcome economic data, including the third interest rate cut since the election, helping households with cost-of-living pressures. Wages data has been showing real wages growth for seven consecutive quarters. Labour force data shows unemployment is remaining at a low of 4.2 per cent, and women's labour participation is at record highs. With more people in jobs earning more and keeping more of what they are earning, how will the Albanese Labor government continue to help Australians with cost-of-living assistance, including ways to support first home owners to own their own home?

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

I think Senator Mulholland for the question. It's an important one because it talks about how the government is working to ensure that we are supporting households with cost-of-living assistance but also looking at further ways we can get Australians, particularly first home buyers, to own their own home.

From 1 July we have had a number of measures come in to help with cost-of-living pressures. We've had the minimum wage increase, the superannuation guarantee rose to 12 per cent, PPL has gone to 24 weeks and super is now being paid on government paid parental leave. We've had more energy bill relief, with an extra $150 off power bills for every household and around one million small businesses. We have put in place our bonus for housing apprentices on top of their wages. Our home battery scheme, the incentive for people to take up home batteries to help cut their power bills, is going very, very well. Paid pracs for nursing, teaching, social work and midwifery students are in place. We are also boosting funding into Medicare, ensuring that people can get access to their GP and primary health care without having to pay. We have our instant asset write-off in place. Legislation has been passed on student debt. We have our Medicare urgent care clinics, and bulk-billing will be expanded from November.

In addition to that, the PM and the housing minister have made an important announcement further around the five per cent first home buyers deposit. This will expand an existing scheme which we know will provide some support to first home buyers to get into the housing market. At the same time, we are providing all of that effort into supply and getting the supply of housing in this country where it should be and where it was ignored for 10 years by those opposite.

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

Senator Mulholland, first supplementary?

Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How do the outcomes from last week's Economic Reform Roundtable build on that economic record? What were the key themes and priorities identified in the meeting?

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

I thank Senator Mulholland for asking a question about the economic reform round table. There were a number of outcomes, a number of directions, looking at how we can work together. This is something those opposite don't understand. They find it quite an unusual concept that you would bring together leaders from business, union leaders and community sector leaders in one room and talk to them about some of the challenges that are going on.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

We know that's a foreign concept for you, who only like to talk in a closed room to people that agree with you about what you think. That is your approach to reform. Our approach is to pull together people to represent different sectors and to come out with consensus, where we can, on dealing with some of the challenges, whether it be in housing, technology, regulation or any of those areas that are important to the Australian economy but also important to the Australian people.

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

Senator Mulholland, second supplementary?

Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is it important that the Albanese Labor government continues to engage with business, unions and experts as we continue to strengthen the economy?

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

The Albanese government is a government that brings people together. It brings people together, sometimes with different views, to talk about what the challenges are and to find a way through. Some of these things are hard, whether it be environmental law, tech regulation, how we build more homes more quickly or engagement across the Commonwealth and the states. These are not easy issues to solve. They require consultation, discussion and, if possible, agreement. That is the benefit of the Treasurer's economic reform round table. I sat in that round table for periods of time over that three days, and I was struck by the level of willingness from good people in this country coming together to talk about national challenges not necessarily in the lane they usually operate in but across the board. That bodes well for our country and our country's future.