Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lingiari for her question. I thank her as well for the enormous work that she does in that extraordinary electorate that is so vast and full of remote communities—an electorate, were it in Europe, that would make up at least one country and perhaps two or three, I've got to say!

Now, the world has thrown a lot of challenges at us, and we know that it's been tough. We've managed the economy responsibly while providing cost-of-living relief: tax cuts, cheaper medicines, cheaper child care, energy bill relief and, importantly, under this Treasurer, back-to-back budget surpluses, turning the $78 billion deficit that we inherited into a $22 billion surplus. These are the strong foundations we have laid: inflation now with a two in front of it—2.4 per cent—down from the above-six that we inherited; unemployment remaining low, with 1.1 million jobs being created; and, importantly, real wages increasing as well, and, with our tax cuts, meaning people are earning more and getting to keep more of what they earn.

Now, building Australia's future is about people. It's more than just bricks and mortar, although we're doing that, too, with our plan for 1.2 million homes, with our building of Medicare urgent care clinics and with our support of fee-free TAFE. It also means fully funding all schools, not just some, and we're committed to that. It means the three-day guarantee for child care that those opposite tried to filibuster past today's question time. It means wiping 20 per cent off student debt to tackle the intergenerational inequities which are there. It also means investing in our regions, making sure they have the health care, the services, the childcare centres, the businesses and the tourism that they need.

That's why we have been prepared to foreshadow our support for Rex, whether through a private owner or not. But we won't let it just go by the wayside. It is something that overwhelmingly benefits electorates represented by those opposite. But we on this side of the House understand that being in government is about representing every Australian, regardless of where they live and regardless of who their local representative is. In spite of the opposition to this proposal by the Liberal and National parties, we are determined to get this done and to make sure regional Australians have access to air transport. (Time expired)

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