Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I've just listened to 30 minutes of speeches from members opposite with respect to the motion before us, and I have not heard one single suggestion as to what else the government could and should be doing to address their so-called concern about the cost-of-living increases on families and the rising interest rates—not one! Whilst I accept that you're not in government, if you want to stand up and tell the Australian people that there are some real concerns out there, you might at least offer some alternative suggestions that we might want to consider as a parliament. But I didn't hear a single one.

The member for Sturt finished off by saying that if the best we can do is blame the previous government, then we should talk about what this government has been doing. I'll talk about what this government has been doing, but I'll also say this: the Australian people are smart enough to understand that part of the reason that we're in the mess we're in, in terms of the issues they raised in the course of this debate, is because of the incompetence of the previous coalition government who for 10 years did nothing to address what were foreseeable situations—including rising interest rates, which began under their watch. You saw it coming just like you saw the increase in energy prices coming, but instead of doing anything when you got that last report about energy prices just before the election you tried to sweep it under the carpet because you knew the buck stopped with your side of politics but you weren't prepared to be honest with the Australian people.

The Australian people understand that there are many contributing factors to the cost-of-living pressures that they are facing. They also understand that many of those pressures are global and beyond the control of this country and, quite frankly, our government and the previous government. But they also understand that when the Morrison government was in office they could have done something about it and they didn't. We are now facing the situation that we do because of that.

Unlike the last coalition government, which did nothing, this government is actually getting on with the job of responding, and it's done that from day one. Let me just go through some of the issues that we have tried to address from the moment we were elected to government. We successfully argued, almost on day one, for a Fair Work Commission minimum wage increase in line with inflation—something that those members opposite continuously opposed. We've introduced legislation that will drive up investment in cleaner and cheaper energy, putting downward pressure on power prices. The May budget will include direct energy bill relief for households and businesses. We are delivering on cheaper child care. In my own electorate, that means some 7,000 families will be better off. That is money that will help them deal with the cost-of-living increases that those members speak about. We are delivering 180,000 fee-free TAFE places. If that's not helping families, what is? We're expanding paid parental leave. When it comes to pensions, allowances and rent assistance, we have also increased those in line with inflation. We introduced a pensioner work bonus so that older Australians could keep more of what they earn.

We're also rebuilding trade relationships with countries right around the world. Can I tell you—with respect to that issue alone—in my state of South Australia the wine industry was decimated because of the actions of the previous government. It still hasn't recovered, and it's only because of the efforts of this government that things are starting to look a little bit better for the wine industry. We're also rebuilding manufacturing, which, as we heard in question time today, was again destroyed by the coalition government when they closed down GMH, because that had a ripple effect right through the manufacturing sector of South Australia. So, to the member for Sturt and others who say, 'What are we doing?', I suggest they have a close look at what we're doing, because this government, from day one, has started to do things. The problem is that, every time we bring legislation into this House, every initiative that we have brought into this House has, quite frankly, been opposed by those opposite.

I'll finish on this matter given that housing is such a big issue. Again, time does not permit me to go into the initiatives that this government is taking with respect to housing. But, only this morning the Property Council of Australia released their report entitled A stark reality. The Minister for Housing was there and delivered a response on behalf of the government. The Property Council of Australia complimented the minister and the government for the work that this government is doing on trying to rebuild the housing industry in this country and bringing into the market much more social and affordable housing. This government is acting, and this motion, quite frankly, is a joke.

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