Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

When those opposite were in government, they didn't have a clue what day-to-day life was for the everyday person, but we on this side are different. We listen to Australians. We know that many of them are doing it tough, and we are acting to ease the cost-of-living pressures. But that lot over there haven't changed. They are just as out of touch as ever. When we moved to give every single Australian a tax cut, they said no. In fact, 'No' seems to be their favourite saying. They need to stop and think: who is really making life hard for people? Is it those of us trying to help or is it those of us that keep saying no to helping? You can't get much more immediate or direct relief than a tax cut. Our tax cuts are about making sure that people get to keep more of what they earn, especially those hardworking middle Australians who work their guts out every day to provide for themself and their family and who deserve a tax break. These tax cuts make sure those hit hardest by cost-of-living pressures will benefit the most. But those opposite wanted to stop this relief.

They would rather see those struggling less with the cost of living benefit more than those struggling with it the most. It's a backwards way of thinking, really. It does nothing to help those who need it. If they had their way, the relief would have never been delivered at all. This country is so lucky those opposite aren't in government, because this government is the only one who actually cares about the cost of living, We are the only ones who want to act to ease pressures, especially for those who are hardest hit. The focus of our government has been to make life cheaper for working Australians. We have delivered not only the recent tax cuts but also energy relief for working Australians, cheaper child care, cheaper medicines and cheaper health care.

We always hear the opposite repeating the same lines about the cost of living, but I want to know where they get their feedback from. What they claim and what I hear every day on the ground from the people in the Hunter is very, very different. I'm out there speaking to my constituents. I'm listening to them. I hear them out. And I know how hard it is for some of them at the moment. But I can see that everything we are doing to make living costs lower is actually making a difference. Maybe that's because the people I speak to in my electorate are real people. A lot are your everyday Australians, working hard to make a living, bringing shelter from the rain. They notice the difference it makes when medicines are cheaper, when child care is cheaper or when they get a bit of relief on their energy bills. They will certainly feel the difference when they get their tax cut because they are the ones who need it—and they are the ones who deserve it.

Those opposite love a good scare campaign. When they don't have any policies or anything positive to say, they simply throw out a couple of pathetic one-liners to try and divide our communities. Who can forget their claims that the weekend would end? We on this side of the House are better than that. We stand for the everyday Australians. The out-of-touch lot over there, time and time again, refuse to support measures that will help those doing it tough. That is the core difference between us and them. We are actually taking action to make a difference to the lives of those who need it most, but all you lot want to do is oppose absolutely everything related to easing the cost of living and then complain that action needs to be taken. They need to get out into their communities more and speak to some real people, then they will understand how action is being taken on the cost of living. Maybe then they won't keep coming here making fools of themselves by showing us just how out of touch they really are.

We've heard nearly every one of them say how disappointed they are that the Minister for Climate Change and Energy isn't here. I don't blame him for not being here. It's a complete waste of his time, coming in here and hearing the utter rubbish that is coming from those opposite. I don't know how those opposite used to work when they were in government, but our ministers are actually really, really busy. They have a job to do. That is why he wouldn't waste his time coming and listening to the absolute dribble coming from those opposite.

Thank you. I hope you all enjoy. Until our next sitting.

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