Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for McEwen for his question and note that, because of his advocacy, 76,000 taxpayers in his electorate will be getting a tax cut. I say a massive thankyou to him for taking me to his electorate, where we met with the Macedon Ranges council to see the work that they're doing for their communities.

Labor's new tax cuts have benefited every working Australian, from local government workers in our biggest cities to those who work in the most remote parts of Australia. There are 546 councils across our country. They employ almost 200,000 people across 400 different occupations. Local governments support communities in every part of our nation, and, this week, nearly 1,200 delegates from the local government sector have descended upon Canberra for their national general assembly. Tomorrow, over 800 of those delegates will hear from government ministers at the Australian Council of Local Government. This week, I'll be meeting with close to 39 local councils who have told me about some of the challenges facing their communities.

From this week, people across regional Australia have seen an increase in their pay packets, because, on this side of the House, we believe that people should earn more and keep more of what they earn. Labor's tax cuts will see a water and sewer apprentice working in the Hunter receive an additional $1,179 in their annual salary. On Christmas Island, one of our most remote local governments, off the coast of WA, a recreational services manager earning $100,000 will see a tax cut of $2,179.

Is the message from those opposite that they do not support hardworking council officers earning more and keeping more of what they earn? On this side of the House, we value what they do. We acknowledge their vital contribution to our communities and we thank them for it. That is a very stark difference from those opposite, who froze indexation on financial assistance grants for three years, which has had a substantial impact on local councils' budgets. It's had a substantial impact on the maintenance of council assets, and it's had a substantial impact on what communities can expect from their local councils. Labor's new plan is delivering tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. It's helping local councils put more money in the pockets of their workers. That's how you deliver real cost-of-living relief—not a risky, expensive nuclear reactor plan.

Can I acknowledge the councillors, the mayors and the CEOs who have come into this building this week and engaged with all members of this place, including with the government, and I say a big thankyou to them for the work that they do on behalf of communities right across this country.

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