House debates

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Statements by Members

Albanese Government

1:43 pm

Photo of Brian MitchellBrian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today marks 10 months since the Albanese Labor government was elected, and it's worth noting some of the achievements of those 10 months. They include cheaper medicines; a pay rise for millions, particularly the low paid; 180,000 fee-free TAFE places; and cheaper child care from 1 July. We've put in more paid parental leave. We've legislated for a National Anti-Corruption Commission. We've established a royal commission into the terrible robodebt. We're taking climate change action. We have Powering Australia up and running. We're fixing aged care. We're funding paid domestic violence leave. This week we're legislating for housing for veterans and vulnerable people. That's in the Senate, and we hope it comes back soon so we can get it through the House. Then there's the National Reconstruction Fund to get advanced manufacturing back on track in this country. We've repaired international relations, and we are delivering on national security.

Compare that to the 10 years of failure of those opposite. They created robodebt, a scheme that stole from its own citizens—the people they had a duty to protect. They put forward 22 energy policies and delivered none. They had climate change denial all through their ranks, and that continues to this day. We have a skills crisis in this country, brought on by defunding TAFE. After their 10 years in government, there were fewer traineeships than when they started, in 2013, despite population growth. There were the multiple ministries of the former PM and a deliberate policy from those opposite to keep wages low. What a disgrace! (Time expired.)

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