Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

s ROBERTS () (): I rise to speak in response to the shadow minister's matter of public importance. Clearly, it's not very important. The shadow minister does not have the courtesy to remain in the chamber, and we have three members of the opposition here, which actually speaks volumes. This reflects, in my view, total contempt for those of us on this side of the chamber who are trying to fix the economy after a decade of neglect. My mum used to say, 'If you stuff up, step up and fix it.' If you stuff up, step up and fix it. Here we are, in March 2023, carefully working our way through a trillion dollars worth of debt that was clearly left by those opposite, who are taking no responsibility whatsoever—no responsibility for a decade of neglect. They are regularly on their feet blaming us, criticising us, for the mess that they created and that we are trying to fix. It's astonishing that they have such short memories. What's worse is that they regularly vote against the important initiatives that we are trying to implement to fix the mess that they left.

Five minutes to articulate everything I would like to say is not enough. Five minutes is not enough. I could stand here for absolute hours. However, I will provide some examples. The Leader of the Opposition, on 27 March 2023, said on ABC Melbourne:

I think we've been a constructive opposition. I think we have been responsible in the way in which we've entered debates.

Unbelievable. The 'no-alition' is back. They said no to the Energy Price Relief Plan, no to the Housing Australia Future Fund, no to the National Reconstruction Fund, no to free TAFE, no to increasing the minimum wage, no to fair and sustainable superannuation, no to the secure jobs, better pay bill, no to electric vehicle discounts, no to a climate bill—a 43 per cent reduction by 2030? A big fat no. They said no to reforms of the safeguard mechanism, no to Rewiring the Nation, no to permanent visa pathways for existing temporary protection visa holders and no to the Jobs and Skills Summit. The priority of those opposite is to borrow more to fund tax breaks for people who already have tens of millions of dollars in superannuation. It is outrageous when, in stark contrast, our priority on this side of the House, when Australians are doing it tough, is targeted, costed relief in a responsible budget.

The Albanese Labor government has a three-point plan for addressing the inflation challenge in the economy. It's about relief, repair and restraint—responsible cost-of-living relief and repairing supply-side constraints, and fee-free TAFE, cleaner and cheaper energy, the National Construction Fund and more affordable housing. It's about a responsible budget with spending restraint, returning almost all revenue upgrades to the bottom line and keeping spending essentially flat over the next four years to not add to inflation. We understand that the rising cost of living is hitting a lot of Australians hard, and inflation is the defining economic challenge of 2023, as it was in 2022. This is driven in large part by Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. We have spoken about that before, but it is a clear example. But also, in no small part, it's unquestionably a consequence of the wasted decade under the previous government. By voting against the energy relief bill, the National Reconstruction Fund and the Housing Australia Future Fund, they are voting for higher inflation for longer.

Actions speak louder than words, without a doubt, and I would like to place on the record, in repetition for emphasis, what we on this side of the House are doing—what the Albanese Labor government are doing. We successfully argued for the Fair Work Commission's minimum wage increase, in line with inflation. We have introduced legislation that will drive 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 which the opposition tried to block and then criticised us. We are delivering cheaper child care. We are delivering cheaper medicines. We are delivering fee-free TAFE and more university places. We are expanding paid parental leave. We are building more affordable homes, including through the national housing accord. Pensions, allowances and rent assistance have increased in line with inflation. We have brought in a new pensioner work bond so more Australians can keep more of what they earn without it affecting their pension. By voting this way, we are recognising and understanding our communities. We know Australians are hurting and we are here to help them.

See this speech in context