Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Treasurer. How will the benefits, which are to be delivered to households from 1 July to help with the rising cost of living, differ from those delivered in previous years?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Very simply, we are going to tip the scales in favour of working families—that happens from 1 July—because for the first time in a long time we are going to deliver tax cuts which go to low- and middle-income earners. That was something that could not be delivered by the previous government in 12 years. Not only are we going to deliver substantial tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners but we are going to deliver an education tax rebate. That is something the other side could never have delivered. We are going to deliver a 50 per cent childcare tax rebate, something that was never delivered by those on the other side of the parliament. We absolutely understand that families and seniors are under cost-of-living pressures and that is why from 1 July we will be delivering our tax cuts, our seniors bonuses and increases in the utilities allowances. We understand that they need support, and this government is delivering it.