Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Youth, Senator Walsh. This week, 150 young Australians from every federal electorate across the country are in Canberra for the first national youth parliament. They are gaining firsthand experience of our democracy and talking about the issues that matter to their generation. Young Australians have told us that they are concerned about the cost of living, housing and their future financial security. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Albanese Labor government is listening to young Australians, and how is the government taking action to address the concerns they've raised?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Walker, for your question. Of course, there could be no better person to ask this question than the youngest senator ever elected to this parliament, and it is wonderful to have some of our youth representatives here in the gallery today, and we welcome you here.

This week, 150 young people are at Old Parliament House conducting parliamentary business of their own while we do the same here in this chamber and in the other place. There is one from every federal electorate. They are holding their own question time—hopefully a little bit better mannered than our own—debating ideas and talking about the issues that matter to them, because young Australians are not just our future. They are shaping Australia right now today.

The Albanese Labor government is listening to young Australians. We know that young people want to earn more. They want to keep more of what they earn, and they want to get ahead too. That's why we're delivering higher wages and secure jobs across the nation. We have delivered five consecutive pay rises for minimum wage workers, many of whom are young workers. We have delivered new protections for gig economy workers, many of whom are young workers. A big shout out and congratulations to Senator Tony Sheldon for all of his advocacy on this issue. We've protected penalty rates in legislation. We have made wage theft a crime, and these are all important protections for young workers, because they do deserve to earn more, and they deserve to keep more of what they earn too, which is why we have delivered five tax cuts as well. To help young Australians get ahead, our housing reforms give them the opportunity to achieve the Australian dream and buy their own home, just like their parents did.

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

Senator Walker, first supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Young Australians deserve the same chances that previous generations had. They deserve a fair start in life and a secure future. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering real opportunities for young Australians?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that young Australians do want that fair start and that they do want that secure future, just like their parents had. Labor is delivering real change so the next generation gets those opportunities. They deserve the opportunity to go to university, and that's why we've cut HECS debt by 20 per cent and made HECS indexation fairer too. They deserve free TAFE. They deserve paid prac, and they deserve the opportunity to buy their own home. Our housing reforms will help them get that key in the door.

Labor is backing young people to help them get ahead. Let's just look at the alternative. Whether it's One Nation or the coalition, they are against every measure that helps young people get ahead in this country. They are against higher wages. They are against more secure jobs. They're against free TAFE. They're against paid prac. They're against helping young people buy a home. They don't back young people. We do, and—

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

The time for answering has expired. Senator Walker, second supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is helping young Australians build a secure future. What are the obstacles standing in the way of the future economic security of young people?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Walker, and, of course, it is all of those opposite. They oppose reforms to benefit young people at every turn. Here are all of the things that they don't like, and you can tell just how much they don't like them right now. They don't like higher wages. They don't like more secure jobs. They don't like tax cuts. They don't like free TAFE. They don't like paid prac. They don't like helping young people buy a home. It seems like there is an awful lot that they don't like when it comes to helping young Australians.

What are they actually for? According to Senator Hanson today, they're for cheaper cigarettes and raiding your super—a smoko break right now and retiring in poverty later. That is One Nation's vision for young Australians. Young Australians deserve better, and only Labor is delivering the real change that young Australians deserve.