Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I say to those interjecting: real wages were falling 3.4 per cent when we came to office and now they're growing again. Average wage growth under this government is now around double what it was under those opposite. That's because our policy is to grow wages and provide tax cuts for every taxpayer. Their policy was to suppress wages and to skew the tax cuts to the highest income earners. New analysis shows average weekly ordinary full-time earnings have increased $119 a week since we came to office. That same worker will get a tax cut of $2,134. That means an extra $6,188 a year for the average full-time worker.

It is now clearer than ever, as those opposite blow the dog whistle and cuddle up to the far right, they have no plan for the cost of living. This side of the house—the Labor government—are the party of higher wages and tax cuts for middle Australia because we believe people should earn more and keep more of what they earn. If those opposite had their way, inflation would be higher, wages would be lower, tax cuts would be smaller and more people would be working longer for less.

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