Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McDonald, for that representation, which is so important to regional Queensland.

Last week I went home—I'm sure everyone can agree it was great to get out of Canberra—to Queensland. I travelled across North and Far North Queensland. I was proud to open two Medicare urgent care clinics, one in Mackay and one in Cairns. I joined the member for Leichhardt, Matt Smith, in welcoming a new 100 per cent bulk-billing clinic to Far North Queensland. I spoke to Andy in Townsville who's saving money—he's now actually in credit with Ergon—after installing a battery at his home late last year thanks to the government's rebate. And in Mackay, I met with a local pharmacist who spoke about the real impact that cheaper medicines is having on his patients, particularly the $7.70 script for concession cardholders, and how that's making a real difference, particularly for people on fixed incomes.

All of these measures, whether it's cheaper batteries or cheaper medicines or more bulk-billing or more urgent care clinics, are squarely focused on cost-of-living relief for everyday Australians. We know there is a stark difference in this place when it comes to cost-of-living relief. The Liberals and the Nationals have opposed every single cost-of-living measure that we have brought into this parliament. They went to the last election promising that, if they were elected, not only would they rollback this relief they would raise taxes and they would cut frontline services. We now know that they would have a willing partner in One Nation because One Nation voted against same job, same pay, the three-day childcare guarantee, affordable housing—the list goes on. A vote for One Nation is a vote for the Liberal and National parties to cut cost-of-living relief for everyday Australians. (Time expired)