Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I am delighted to speak on this budget, which is a budget for every Australian. It includes tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. Eighty-four per cent of taxpayers will be better off under the reformed tax arrangements that are being legislated by this government compared to those that were being proposed by the other government. I see the member for Reid in the chamber. I know that she is very focused on the position of women taxpayers and women workers in her electorate and right across the economy. I know she is very keen to ensure that women get a good deal. Ninety per cent of women will be better off under this budget.

Of course, we have heard a lot from the other side about energy and cost-of-living issues. The entry price to a discussion around cost-of-living issues and concern about energy issues is not what you say but what you do. Last year, those opposite had the opportunity to vote for a proposition to put a cap on the price of coal and gas for every Australian; they voted against it. While expressing concern, they voted against relief. They will have another opportunity with the $300 for every household energy bill relief. The question for the other side is whether they will repeat their performance of last year and vote against cheaper power bills for Australians or will they back this budget plan to reduce bills by $300?

Of course, we want stronger Medicare in every community. When we came to government, Medicare was on life support, throttled to within an inch of its life by the now Leader of the Opposition, who was voted the worst health Minister in our nation's history. We are now resuscitating Medicare and breathing life back into this system. Bulk-billing rates are on the rise again. We are also trying to take the pressure off public hospitals, so our budget initiative to increase the number of urgent care clinics around the country will ensure that we have a stronger Medicare system in every community—absolutely critical.

On cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, fee-free TAFE, yes, it's important that we address the skill shortage in this country by inviting skilled people from other parts around the world but we want to see Australians get the first crack at those jobs. I know this is an issue you are very interested in and very concerned about given your background, Deputy Speaker Claydon. This budget is about ensuring that we are investing in skills, and fee-free TAFE is a key part of that.

We need more homes in every part of the country. We need to ensure that every Australian, whether they are renting, purchasing or seeking to purchase a home, has a roof over their head. The excellent work by the housing minister is another instalment of that.

Fiscal responsibility has been the talisman of this government. We have been able to improve the budget bottom line by over $215 billion in two years through the three budgets that we have been able to deliver. We've been able to turn nine Liberal Party deficits into two Labor government surpluses because of the fiscal discipline that we've put into place.

Of course, one of the great but untold stories of our economic management has been the employment story. There are more Australians in work, more jobs being created and one of the lowest persistent unemployment levels on record. We are going to maintain that momentum. There have been over 870,000 additional Australians in jobs over the last two years. It changes their lives, and it means they have the dignity of work and the prosperity that a high-paying decent jobs brings to them. But it also means that there are more taxpayers, and one of the benefits of having more Australians in work is that it ensures we have got more revenue coming in, which is helping us pay down the debt that we inherited from the other side. So these are the hallmarks of budget management on our watch.

I do regret to inform the chamber that there is no allocation in this budget for coffee mugs or for slogans printed on them that say 'Back in Black', but I can affirm to the chamber that, in the absence of coffee mugs, we have been able to deliver a surplus. Of course, we're keen on ensuring that Australia continues to be a country that makes stuff, and, if you want to be a clever country, you've got to be a country that makes stuff, which is what our Future Made in Australia plan is all about. We back a future made in Australia. They oppose it, which begs the question: which country will Australia's future be made in if it's not here in Australia? I commend the bill to the House.

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