James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Families in regional Australia are being hit hardest by Labor's cost-of-living crisis, paying more for fuel, groceries, insurance, energy and transport while having fewer services and lower incomes to absorb the blow. Why has the Prime Minister persisted with cost-of-living and energy policies that compound price pressures for regional and rural Australians, who have the least capacity to absorb them?

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

Senator, I do welcome a question from you. I do welcome a question on regional policy from a Queensland Liberal. I notice the silence at the other end of the chamber on regional policy, so I'm hoping that Senator McKenzie will remedy that at some point. But that is where we part company, Senator McGrath, because I disagree with the proposition in your question.

What I would say to you first is this. Let's recall that it is this government that has supported a pay rise for all minimum- and award-wage workers. That takes the total increase under Labor to over $9,000. You would be aware, I'm sure, Senator, the extent to which there are minimum-wage workers in regional Australia. They will benefit from that. The superannuation guarantee has increased to 12 per cent. We have bonuses for housing apprentices. We have paid pracs for nursing, teaching, social work and midwifery students. And, of course, we had a boost to Medicare. I'm sure you know the extent to which health is an issue in regional Australia and the challenges that so many country towns have in accessing health services. Well, it is a Labor government, not a Liberal government and not the National Party, that is delivering health services into regional Australia. That is the reality.

What I would also say is that, when it comes to energy policy, why there is upward pressure on energy prices is the division and dysfunction that your side of politics engaged in for over a decade. I would remind you that, going back to the 2000s, the National Party also split from the Liberal Party then on energy policy. We are cleaning up the mess. We are bringing renewables into the system. (Time expired)

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

Senator McGrath, first supplementary?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In regional communities, higher fuel prices and freight costs flow directly into higher grocery prices and business costs. Why has the Prime Minister failed to deliver relief for regional Australians facing higher everyday prices because of freight and fuel costs?

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

Senator, you would be aware that this government has continued to invest in services for regional Australia and services for all Australians; has continued to advocate for wage increases; and has helped deliver wage increases, including in the care economy, which have benefited Australians across this country. When it comes to energy policy, I would also make this point: we know that what happened when you were in government was that capacity exited the system, and we know that many coal-fired power stations flagged that they were going to retire, and you did nothing about this. We are engaged in a transition. We know it is tough. We know what it has meant in terms of prices, but we are dealing with shifting from a grid and an energy system that was declining to a— (Time expired)

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

Senator McGrath, second supplementary?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Regional households are facing rising insurance premiums, unreliable energy supply and limited access to services. What does the Prime Minister say to regional families who are paying more for insurance and energy, waiting longer for essential services and being told to 'hang on' when his government's policies are making everyday life harder, not easier?

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

I'm not sure where to start on that, because there's so much in that that we disagree with, but let's start with services. We have delivered 48 urgent care clinics in regional, rural and remote areas; we have delivered more than 2.5 million bulk-billed appointments in regional and rural areas; and we are reducing HECS debt for doctors and nurses that work in our regions. All of that means that Labour—not the Liberals and not the Nationals—are doing more to deliver health services in regional Australia.

We are investing more money in childcare centres, often in regional Australia, in childcare deserts—areas where there's a lack of supply, which are often in regional Australia. There are 37,000 regional Australians being assisted through the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee. There are 450,000 households in rural and remote regions being assisted through the 45 per cent increase in the maximum rent assistance. The government stepped in to keep Rex operational. These are amongst many things that the government is doing for regional Australia. (Time expired)