Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Casey brought up opportunity, so let's talk about that for just a short moment. It has been two years, 17,520 hours, since the Albanese Labor government was elected by the Australian people. Surely—and I know we're all thinking this—the opposition by now would have formulated some sort of policy. Give us something. Give us anything. But they haven't formulated anything that could possibly help the Australian people. That's because all we've heard from these lacklustre Liberals and these negative Nationals is no thought, no policy and no vision—all the gear and no idea. To be fair, that has been their baseline throughout history, so we just need to give them a bit of credit on that.

Last night's federal budget focused on helping ease the cost of living for all Australians, and not just some but all Australians, whether they're in my electorate of Robertson on the New South Wales Central Coast or in Sydney, in WA, in Victoria—right across the country. We are addressing cost-of-living pressures because we understand and we know that people are doing it tough. We are committed to helping all Australians—and particularly those in my electorate of Robertson on the Central Coast—with price pressures, and that is through the energy rebate of $300. Similarly, for eligible small businesses there is an energy rebate of $325. This is excellent news for the thousands of households and businesses in my region who are currently struggling with energy costs.

The Treasurer also announced last night and again today at the Press Club that for a second consecutive time our government will increase the Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent. This is following a previous 15 per cent increase made by our government this term—not last term or the term before; this term. We've done it twice. We have been helping with costs of living now throughout our entire term of government, and all we get from that side is negativity and nothing. I do not have high hopes and high expectations for when the opposition leader gets up tomorrow night and gives his speech. He's just going to give words and air. That is it. On this side of the chamber, with the Treasurer and the Prime Minister and every member of this government, we have substance, we have policy and we have vision for an Australia for tomorrow.

In Robertson, back to the increase in the Commonwealth Rent Assistance, this will directly impact 7,310 households, and that is a direct cost-of-living support to thousands of people on the Central Coast. For Australians with a HECS debt, our government will change the rate of indexation and wipe $3 billion from student debt. We will backdate this change to 2023, which will help 15,470 people in Robertson. Almost the same amount of people will benefit in the electorate of Dobell. That is 30,000 people on the Central Coast that will benefit from our changes in HECS.

As a practising doctor, I'm especially interested in how our government is providing for Australians in the health space. In last night's budget, our government made significant announcements to strengthen health care right across Australia and on the Central Coast. In that, we announced $4 billion to deliver cheaper medicines by freezing the PBS co-payment and adding more medications to the PBS. Since our government came to power and made a concerted effort to help ease the cost of medicines, people in Robertson have saved over $2 million in medication costs. What our new health announcement means is that pensioners and concession cardholders in Robertson will now not have to pay more than $7.70 for their PBS medications for the next five years. This is a phenomenal budget announcement that will assist thousands of people in my electorate of Robertson. This announcement will also save lives and will keep people out of hospital.

Our government will also establish another 29 Medicare urgent care clinics right across the country. I can speak to how impactful Medicare urgent care clinics are. They help ease the pressure on our hospital emergency departments and ensure patients receive bulk-billed services. Our one on the Central Coast is home to two urgent care clinics—one in the south in Umina Beach and the other north at Lake Haven. Already, combined, these clinics have seen thousands of patients bulk-billed. Our one on the peninsula has seen nearly 5,000 patients since it has opened.

The federal government is focused on delivering for all Australians across the country. It is fiscally mature and responsible.

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