Sally Sitou (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government helping ease cost-of-living pressures for Australians? What measures will come into effect in July? What approaches has the government rejected?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, members on my left. The member for Barker will cease interjecting. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition I'm sure was just talking to her colleague next door! I give the call to the Prime Minister.

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

Save him, Mr Speaker. I thank the member for Reid for her question. Taking action on the cost of living is, of course, our No. 1 priority, and a whole lot of these measures come in next Monday, making sure that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn, with, importantly, a pay rise for 2.6 million workers on awards. It is not the first pay rise under this government in order to address cost-of-living pressures and not the second; it is the third in just over two years that we've been in office. In addition to that, a tax cut for every single taxpayer will be making sure that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn.

We are also, of course, freezing the costs of PBS medicines. And, from 1 July, the $300 assistance for power bills and $325 for small business will kick in, as well as the additional two weeks of government funded paid parental leave. This week, we announced new rules to make sure families are getting better prices at the supermarket. We are making sure that families and farmers get a fair go, something that those opposite never did in a decade.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, the Leader of the Nationals.

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

But every step of the way those opposite have said no—no to getting wages moving, no to cheaper medicines, no to power bill relief, no to cheaper child care, no to tax cuts for every taxpayer—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Treasurer and the Leader of The Nationals continue to have a conversation. I can't hear a word that is happening because of the two of you. You're going to cease for the remainder of this answer so I can hear the Prime Minister. He has the call.

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

They've said no to affordable housing, no to fee-free TAFE, no to a future made in Australia. Now, thanks to the plan for—not quite a plan but the suggestion of—nuclear reactors, the Leader of the Opposition's addiction to saying no has taken a fresh turn: no price tag, no design, no viable sites, no legislation, no to renewables, nowhere to put the waste, no chance of pushing Australians' power bills anything other than up. It's time for Australians to return the favour and say no to this relentless negativity of this opposition leader who has nothing positive to offer.