Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fremantle for his question which goes to the fact that the Australian people voted for change on 21 May last year. They voted for a government to implement the Housing Australia Future Fund, to implement the National Reconstruction Fund and to implement a fair dinkum version of the safeguard mechanism, which was, of course, designed by the Abbott government.

They voted for a government that would invest, firstly, in affordable housing for veterans and frontline workers and 4,000 households of women and children fleeing domestic violence. I am pleased that the member for Bass has announced her support for this program. I don't know why anyone would stand in the way of increased investment in social and affordable housing for Australian people, including the most vulnerable people in our community.

They also voted for a government that would invest in Australian manufacturing—secure jobs, new industries and making our future here. We know from the pandemic that Australia needs more resilience. We need to make sure that we deal with supply chain issues. It's one of the issues that is feeding inflation in this country. We know that a majority of these jobs through the National Reconstruction Fund will be created in regional Australia, and that is why it is worthy of support as well.

But they also voted for a government that would end the climate wars, that would move Australia forward. Our plan to fix the safeguard mechanism has been endorsed by industry and business—Origin, Rio Tinto, Shell, Woodside, the BCA, the Australian Industry Group, ACCI, the National Farmers Federation and the Minerals Council.

I am also asked if there is any opposition to these plans. On every issue, whether it be manufacturing, whether it be housing or whether it be dealing with the challenge of climate change, those opposite have just one answer. The coalition have become the 'no-alition' once again, saying no with no improvements—

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