Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025. This month the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, delivered his third budget. This budget is one that truly delivers for Australian families and sets out a vision for our nation's future. As a representative for the people of Holt, it is my duty to advocate for policies that alleviate the burdens faced by families particularly in the outer south-east of Melbourne, where the challenges are keenly felt. We all know that families are doing it tough, and that is why Labor is working very hard to support them. This budget builds on our plan to support families and address the cost of living.

Last year, we delivered $23 billion in cost-of-living relief, fee-free TAFE, more affordable housing, cheaper medicines, cheaper child care, more bulk billing, expanding paid parental leave, creating jobs and getting wages moving again. Building on our existing cost-of-living relief, Labor's stage 3 tax cuts represent the next step in this plan. It means that 90 per cent of taxpayers in my electorate of Holt will get a larger tax cut than they would have under the coalition—from fast food workers in Cranbourne to IT professionals in Clyde and from my former colleagues at Woolworths to migrants like my parents who have journeyed to our shores. Only the Labor Party stands up for Australians who are doing it tough, and these changes are proof of that.

Our plan will give all 13.6 million taxpayers a tax cut. This includes minimum wage and part-time workers, like many of our nation's youth. These workers—I used to be one—received no support under the coalition's plan. This is the difference between Labor and the coalition. In Holt, where families are feeling the pinch of skyrocketing living expenses, these tax cuts will make a difference. For instance, a minimum wage worker on $45,000 a year will be $800 better off under Labor's tax cuts. With the average tax cut for a resident of Holt being $1,320, this will offer significant relief to families.

We are also providing energy bill relief for 10 million households, who will receive $300 off their power bill over 2024-25. This is on top of the expected six per cent decrease in the price of the default market offer in Victoria, saving Victorian families a further $100 across the year. This will help families keep the lights on, and it will put downward pressure on inflation.

In this budget we are addressing one of the most pressing issues facing Australians today—affordable housing. The Albanese government is increasing Commonwealth rent assistance by 10 per cent to provide much needed relief to renters. This increase will mean that Commonwealth rent assistance has increased by 43 per cent since we came into government, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that every Australian has access to safe and affordable housing. For many families in Holt and across this nation, rent is the largest single expense. The rising cost of living has made it increasingly difficult for low-income households to keep up with the rent payments, pushing many into financial stress and housing insecurity. By increasing Commonwealth rent assistance we are directly reducing the financial burden on renters, ensuring that more Australians can afford to stay in their own homes. This increase will benefit 6,000 residents in my electorate of Holt, providing them with an additional layer of financial support. From a single mum in Hampton Park to a pensioner in Cranbourne or an apprentice in Tooradin, this will make a tangible difference for those who are struggling the most.

The government is making significant strides to address the housing crisis by boosting the supply of homes across Australia. In this bill, we are committing an additional $6.2 billion, bringing the government's total housing investment to over $32 billion. This substantial funding will support the construction of more homes, ensuring that every Australian has access to safe and affordable housing. We are allocating $3.5 billion to accelerate the building of new homes by funding essential infrastructure such as roads, services, sewers and parks. This is crucial for developing new housing projects in areas like Clyde, Botanic Ridge and Cranbourne West, where the infrastructure has been slow to catch up to new developments.

Additionally, we are creating 20,000 new fee-free TAFE places, focusing on construction courses to address labour shortages and speed up housing development. Most importantly, the government is investing to support women and children fleeing domestic violence, with $1 billion for projects that support them to find a safe place to call home. This investment ensures that our housing strategy is inclusive and meets the needs of all Australians. This investment shows our commitment towards our target to build 1.2 million homes by 2029, as agreed with the states in the National Housing Accord.

Today we stand at the crossroads in Australia's economic history—one marked by the consequences of policy decisions that have undermined our manufacturing sector. A decade of neglect and short-sighted policies under the Liberal governments has led to the demise of national institutions such as our car-manufacturing industry. Instead of fostering local businesses, the Liberals chose to prioritise cheap imports over domestic production, sacrificing the livelihoods of hardworking Australians in the process. As we look to the future, it is imperative that we chart a new course: one that prioritises local industry and puts the needs of our communities first.

The Albanese Labor government is steadfast in its commitment to build a future made in Australia. We are building a future where Australian ideas and industries thrive, benefiting every Australian and securing our place in the global economy. Labor's vision is anchored in our $22.7 billion plan, designed to unlock the full potential of our resources, transforming Australia into a manufacturing superpower. Our plan encompasses a bold agenda to drive innovation and industry growth, establishing Australia as a global hub for cutting-edge technology. With initiatives like the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund, the Hydrogen Headstart program, the Battery Breakthrough Initiative and Solar Sunshot, we are investing in breakthrough technologies that will revolutionise our industry. Moreover, we are building resilient supply chains and fostering collaborations between industry and academia to drive research and development. This isn't just about securing our economic future; it's about shaping a future where Australian innovation and creativity are celebrated on the world stage. In this future made in Australia, we see a nation that leads by example, a nation that not only meets the challenges of the 21st century but thrives in the face of adversity. It is a future where every Australian has the opportunity to succeed, where innovation flourishes and where sustainability is at the core of everything that we do. Labor embraces this vision. We are working tirelessly to make it a reality. This is a future made in Australia for all Australians.

Higher education is vital to any future made in Australia. Our higher education sector is one of our national assets and contributes immensely to our national wealth. To transform our economy, we must continue to invest and expand the reach of our higher education system so that those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those from the outer suburbs can attend. The Liberals ran a crusade against the higher education sector, with cut after cut each budget and attempt after attempt to make students pay thousands more for their degrees. After a decade of attacks on our universities by the Liberals, it is exciting to see a Labor government which is supporting our students across many fields.

Students must undertake hundreds of hours of unpaid work placements to finish their degrees. I know that taking hundreds of hours of unpaid work to do placements is difficult, especially with today's cost-of-living pressures. That is why we have announced that, from July 2025, students studying nursing, teaching, social work and midwifery will be paid $319.50 per week while undertaking their placements. These are vital industries for the future of our nation. They also have some of the fastest-growing demands.

Studying at university shouldn't burden a person with a lifetime of debt. Last year, we saw student loans increase at some of the fastest rates in history, and, if we didn't act, we would have seen a historically large increase again this year. This rapid rise in debt threatens to discourage young Australians from studying. This is why Labor is changing the indexation of loans in this budget, so that student loans will never increase faster than their wages. This change will wipe $3 billion in student debt for three million Australians. We are investing $350 million in fee-free uni-ready courses so that more students have a pathway to higher education, with a focus on students from underrepresented backgrounds. The funding will replace the current mixed funding system with consistent funding to deliver higher-quality courses. This will result in 30,000 students studying in fee-free uni-ready courses each year by 2030, an increase of 40 per cent in student numbers and doubling the numbers of students by 2040.

We are continuing our work to strengthen Medicare so that all Australians have access to health care they need. We are investing $2.8 billion to enhance Medicare, including more urgent care clinics, higher rebates for common tests and improved women's health services. In Holt, Labor's investments have led to an additional 1,577 bulk-billed GP visits since November 2023, showing our commitment to make health care more accessible. Labor is also expanding Medicare urgent care clinics to 29 new sites nationwide, ensuring more Australians can benefit from bulk-billed walk-in urgent care. Moreover, we are bringing an MRI machine to Holt and ensuring that pathology tests remain bulk-billed, reducing wait times and catching health problems sooner.

With one-quarter of my electorate being under 14 years of age, youth mental health is one of the top issues in Holt. Treating issues while kids are young is vital to ensure they start off life on a founding footing. Labor is investing $361 million to establish a free online mental health service to expand access to care. This means any Australian can access the mental health care they need at any time from the comfort of their bedroom. These initiatives demonstrate our dedication to a stronger, more accessible healthcare system for all Australians.

This budget is a responsible budget that delivers for Australian families. This is a budget that delivers on our core priorities of cost of living, housing, health care and education. This is a budget with a vision for the future of our nation. This budget will drive down inflation. This budget has delivered back-to-back surpluses for the first time in 20 years. I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, for their work on this bill, and I commend the budget to the House.

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