Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Australians rightly want their government focused on the things that matter to them, like tackling the cost-of-living pressures, strengthening Medicare and making child care more accessible. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitments to the Australian people?

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

Thank you, Senator Polley. Australians want a government focused on what matters, and that is what we have continued to deliver in 2026: cost-of-living relief, quality, affordable health care and support for families.

Last Friday, the National Cabinet met in Sydney and reached a landmark agreement to strengthen public hospitals. The government will provide an additional $25 billion for state and territory public hospitals—three times more additional funding than under the last five-year agreement. It's an investment that strengthens Medicare, builds on what we are already delivering, particularly Medicare urgent care clinics, stronger bulk-billing incentives, more Medicare mental health clinics and cheaper medicines for every Australian.

This is a government that is easing cost-of-living pressures. From this month, medicines on the PBS will cost no more than $25. Australians can access free health advice through 1800MEDICARE. From 5 January, every child that needs it will have access to three days of childcare subsidy, with no activity test. That demonstrates that this government, since 1 January 2026, has been continuing to deliver for Australians with support at home and also with advocacy in the world.

The Prime Minister travelled to Timor-Leste last week and agreed to the parseria declaration—the first of its kind between our two nations. This week, I will travel with the Prime Minister to Indonesia, where he will sign the historic Treaty on Common Security agreed with President Prabowo at the end of last year.

This is a Labor government that is focused on delivering in Australia's national interest. We're focused on the things Australians want us to focus on. It stands in stark contrast with those opposite, who continue to focus, almost entirely, on what is happening in their party room and on their— (Time expired)

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

Senator Polley, first supplementary?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, families around Australia have been focused in recent weeks on getting their kids back to school for another year. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on the commitment to Australian kids to give them the best education, which they deserve?

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

Senator Polley and all of us on this side of the parliament have been focused on delivering better education for Australians for all of our time in the parliament. This has been a Labor project over generations: to lift the educational opportunities of all Australians. We believe every kid deserves a great education, and that is what we are delivering. For the first time, we are fully funding public schools, and it is a Labor government that has delivered it. A Labor government has delivered it through the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. It is the biggest new investment in public schools by the Australian government ever: $16½ billion over 10 years. But we recognise funding is not enough, which is why investment is tied to real reforms that help children catch up, keep up and finish school. (Time expired)

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

Senator Polley, second supplementary?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is it important for the Albanese Labor government to deliver for the Australian people, and what might stand in the way of a good government delivering the outcomes that Australians deserve?

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

Good government requires focus on the things that matter to Australians, the things Australians care about. It requires a focus on that, not on ourselves. That is what we are doing. That is what Albanese Labor are doing.

What, of course, stands in the way is division, and nowhere is that clearer than in the Liberal and National parties, because the coalition, as Senator Cash poignantly reminded me today, is no more. They've split again—and yet the infighting rages on. We see the blokes lining up to replace Ms Ley. We see the far right and the even-further right battling for control. On issue after issue, they drift further to the extremes. This is the politics of grievance in a party of government, chasing One Nation. You can't be more One Nation than One Nation. In contrast, we are delivering for Australians on the things they care about.