Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister also said:

My government's been very disciplined about fulfilling the commitments that we made prior to the election.

Well, prior to the 2022 election, the Prime Minister said that he would deliver cheaper mortgages for Australians, but, since Labor came to power, mortgage holders have paid around $1,800 more per month. Minister, when will your government fulfil its commitment of cheaper mortgages?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I also acknowledge our Tuvaluan friends. Welcome to our parliament.

If I can just return—now that I have the figures. I'm pleased to advise you, Senator, that this government is investing more into homelessness than any Commonwealth government has in history, including through the $9.3 billion National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness that provides $1.8 billion every year to states and territories. On top of that, we're backing national organisations fighting homelessness and housing insecurity across the country.

In relation to food relief, I now recall, with the assistance of Senator Gallagher, the 2024-25 budget, where additional funding was provided to food and emergency relief organisations. So this is a government that is honouring its commitments. We know that more has to be done. We know the work that has to be done.

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

Senator Hume, I don't know if you want to persist with a point of order or move to your second supplementary.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is relevance. The supplementary question was all about cheaper mortgages. We didn't get a single mention of mortgages.

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

Senator Hume, it's not a time for statements. I invite you to put your second supplementary.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The headline on the front page of the Australian on 2 May 2022 said, 'Life will be "cheaper" under me'—says the Prime Minister. But Labor have been elected, and households are paying 15 per cent more for food, 15 per cent more for health, 19 per cent more for housing and nearly 40 per cent more for electricity. Minister, do you think Australians feel that life is cheaper since you came to power?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

():  We've always understood that Australians are doing it tough. We've always understood the responsibility of government to contribute to measures which assist with the cost of living, and we have done that. There have been pay rises for more minimum and award wage workers, taking the increase in total to over $9,000. I know that those opposite believe that low wages are a deliberate design feature of the Australian economy. But we don't do that.

We've increased the superannuation guarantee. We have more energy bill relief. As I recall, those opposite voted against energy bill relief. We've seen, as I have said, boosts to Medicare—more choice, lower costs and higher quality care for Australian women. We've delivered pay rises to aged-care nurses and to other sectors, and we're expanding bulk-billing. These are measures that you opposed, but the government is delivering for Australians.