Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. From tomorrow, 1 July, Australians will be receiving even more cost-of-living relief, including an additional tax cut and help at the checkout. Can the minister outline the important measures that will come into effect from tomorrow and explain the Albanese Labor government's approach to helping Australians with the cost of living?

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

I thank Senator Tyrrell for her question and I thank her for her support for workers, including casual workers and parents in Tasmania. Senator Tyrrell knows that every Tasmanian worker—in fact, every Australian worker—will benefit from the cost-of-living measures that the Albanese government has introduced, which are kicking in from tomorrow, 1 July. We are delivering real cost-of-living help to the people of Australia. That has always been a priority for this government—since the day we were elected and for the 1,500 days since.

Tomorrow is especially important. From tomorrow every Australian worker gets another tax cut. Every Australian worker gets another tax cut on top of the tax cuts we have already brought in and in addition to the tax cuts which are coming for working Australians—and all of them were opposed by the three right-wing parties opposite. We know those opposite have consistently voted against tax cuts for working people.

But we're not only focused on making sure Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn; we're also making sure people have more when they retire through payday super, and we're supporting Australians at the checkout with our ban on excessive grocery pricing coming into effect, with a strengthened ACCC to hold the big supermarkets to account. Motorists will continue to get more relief at the bowser with the 16 per cent litre cut to the fuel excise for all of July, and we are backing small business by permanently extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off. This government is delivering real cost-of-living relief, and the measures that are kicking in from tomorrow demonstrate our commitment to supporting every Australian.

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

Senator Tyrrell, first supplementary?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sure everybody in my state of Tasmania will be glad to hear about the further cost-of-living help that's coming from tomorrow. It's actually not just my state; it's my home state. Could the minister provide more detail on how the Albanese Labor government is supporting working families right across Australia?

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

We are proud to support working families, and in particular we are proud that it was a Labor government, many years ago, which first legislated paid parental leave, and it is now a Labor government that is ensuring that paid parental leave is extended to a full 26 weeks. This provides support and certainty to families and parents caring for their children, with even more time for parents to cherish those precious early months. And, from tomorrow, almost 2.7 million Australian workers will benefit from a six per cent increase to the national minimum wage and a 4.75 per cent increase to modern award wages. It will be the first time the national minimum wage is above $1,000 a week.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's inflation.

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

I'll take the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who is again criticising wage increases. We know what they're about—lower wages. We're about higher wages. (Time expired)

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

Senator Tyrrell, second supplementary?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) | Link to this | Hansard source

As the minister has explained, helping Australians with the cost of living and delivering real change is one of the Albanese Labor government's highest priorities. Can the minister please outline if there are any risks to the government's plans to help Australians get ahead?

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

We've got tax cuts benefiting every Australian worker, cost-of-living relief for every Australian household and real reform for every young Australian who has been locked out of the housing market for too long. There is more to do, but we have achieved that despite the best efforts of the three right-wing parties to block it. Last week the three right-wing parties voted against tax cuts for every Australian worker, and we know that Senator Hume famously described these tax cuts as 'egregious'. That is hardly surprising when you remember that the Nationals and the Liberals went to the last election promising they would unwind tax cuts for working people—so not only are they now calling tax cuts 'egregious'; had they been elected, they would have ensured they unwound tax cuts for working people. It is only the Labor Party that is focused on making real change. (Time expired)