Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Australia currently has 178 billionaires, who make $29 million a day. Corporate profits have grown at almost double the rate of wages over the past decade. Yet, on budget night, this government offered working people $4.81 a week that they won't see until 2028, nothing for renters and not one extra dollar for anyone on JobSeeker, youth allowance or the age pension. Minister, do you accept that support for One Nation is rising because Labor has no serious plan to fix the cost of living?

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

No, and what I would say to you, Senator, is two things. First, if you are so keen on tax reform, we look forward to you passing the tax changes that people in your party, as well as people in the community, have been calling for. I look forward to that and to you supporting that.

The second point I would make is that, as a Labor government, we have delivered measures to address cost-of-living pressures: to roll out more urgent care clinics, to enable energy price relief, to provide more protections for workers, and to provide higher wages for working people, whether it's in the childcare sector, in the aged-care sector or people on the minimum wage. We will always do all that we are able to address cost-of-living challenges.

There is obviously more to do, and this government is determined to continue to deliver the change that is required in the face of increased cost of living and higher pressures for so many Australian workers. But one thing I am very clear about is that the way to confront what we see across the chamber is to seek to bring people together and to remind working people that those opposite are more interested in working together against the interests of workers, against the interests of public services and against the interests of more universal health care. That is what those opposite are more interested in doing. I invite the Greens to take an approach different to the approach they so often take, which is to believe that their job is to attack this side of politics rather than recognising what is happening on that side of politics, the conservative side of politics, and what is at stake. We on this side understand that, and we are up for this argument.

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

Senator Waters, first supplementary?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

When governments don't work for people, anger at the system rises. Last week, Senator Hanson stood at the National Press Club and offered nothing more than ugly anger, Islamophobia, racism and transphobia. Minister, do you accept that your government's capitulation to corporations and the wealthiest one per cent has led to disaffected voters turning to anger?

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

With respect, Senator, I have watched some of your party—not all of you, but some of your party—engage in ensuring that anger rises. I've watched some of your party engaging in rhetoric which is divisive. I've watched some of your party engaging in the politics of anger and division. I have actually said—and I think that some of your party have been very angry with me—that it was the same tactic as One Nation or Peter Dutton used. So, if you want to talk about not using anger and fuelling anger and division to try and progress your political fortunes, I hope the Greens might consider their own position and how they operate.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Here we are, on cue. This is my point. You say, 'We want to try and bring people together and we are open to a civil discussion about differences, but we do not believe'— (Time expired)

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

Senator Waters, second supplementary?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

One Nation opposes wage rises for workers. They oppose a 25 per cent tax on gas exports. They oppose paid parental leave. They look after corporate superprofits and not people. As the government, you could make the system fairer. You could tax gas exports, cancel AUKUS and spend the money to make people's lives easier. Minister, when will you tax billionaires and big corporations to fund cost-of-living relief?

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

Senator Waters, I would make the point that the things that you talk about One Nation opposing are all reforms that a Labor government has delivered—just to make sure that we are actually having an open and honest discussion. We are the ones who brought forward the closing loopholes bill, which was voted against by One Nation twice. We are the ones who put forward the secure jobs, better pay bill. We are the ones who put forward the protection of penalty and overtime rates. We are the ones who are delivering cost-of-living relief, including new and permanent income tax cuts—including those that are in the budget, which we look forward to your support for.

There is always more to do, and we will keep delivering it. And what I would welcome, Senator Waters, is you and your party working to bring people together, because that is the best answer to the coalition of the right that we observe opposite.