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

There is a bit of opposition to both, because those opposite have opposed all of our measures—the changes to the definition of casual; same job, same pay; the right to disconnect; and the increases for people on minimum award wages. They've opposed every one of the measures that we've put in place, including the increases for aged care and childcare workers that they described as 'a waste'. But they're also opposed to people keeping more of what they earn. We have, as a direct result of our policies, seen real wages increase five quarters in a row. We are seeing per capita living standards increase in the last figures, and we are also seeing Australians keep more of what they earn because of our legislation last year that provided a tax relief not for some but for every single Australian taxpayer. That is why we're topping that up. It's so that people will earn $2½ thousand extra in their pockets as a result of the legislation that passed the Senate last night. But those opposite have their hands in the pockets of Australian workers to rip that money out. Not only do they want them to earn less; they want them to keep less as well.

During the election campaign, I was asked if I would support that $1 an hour increase—it's back!—for workers on the minimum wage, and I said, 'Absolutely.' This morning the shadow Treasurer, when he was asked would he take back the tax cuts and would he legislate to actually jack up taxes for every Australian taxpayer, guess what word he used? He said, 'We absolutely would, absolutely.' That says it all about the stark contrast between the two sides of the House. On this side, we absolutely want people to earn more and we absolutely want people to keep more of what they earn, and those opposite absolutely want people to earn less and they absolutely want them to be taxed more. That is the decision that the Australian people have to determine. Labor is the party of lower taxes. The Liberals want you earning less and keeping less.

Honourable members interjecting—

You know you've hit a nerve by how loudly they shout.

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