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

I note the member for Penrith is there in the parliament on her first sitting day today, as the first day of the Minns Labor government, and I congratulate all the members who've been elected there. At that press conference the member for Penrith was kind enough to remind me that she was a recruit of the Labor Party many years ago.

I'm asked about the cost of living and about inflation costs, and I remind the member for Lindsay that the March 2022 quarter—you mightn't want to hear it—had the highest inflation of any quarter this century. It was on their watch, and the member for Lindsay doesn't have the same excuse as the member for Flinders, because she was here when that was happening. Those opposite will see tonight a plan to assist vulnerable Australians: as the member for Kingston has just outlined, the plan to help single parents, to make a substantial difference to them; the plans as well that we have to help small business—I note that the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce are here in the gallery today, including John Khoury, the chairman of the Bulldogs. Welcome, and I thank the National Rugby League for their endorsement of constitutional recognition for Aboriginal Australians that they, along with other groups in civil society, have announced today.

But we will have support for small business. We will have support for families. We'll have support for those who need health care. We'll have support to lift wages in the aged-care sector. We'll have further support confirmed for child care that comes in on 1 July. We will have a budget that provides support for people who need it whilst not putting pressure on inflation—unlike those opposite, who didn't provide any support for people, except for their mates, and put increased pressure on inflation. That's the contrast. That's why this group here have been elected on good economic management, and that's what we're delivering. (Time expired)

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