Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How will cutting student debt and making fee-free TAFE permanent and other cost-of-living measures help build a stronger future? What other approaches are there?

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

I thank the member for Chisholm for her question. Indeed, this Labor government is about building Australia's future. We announced on Sunday we'll cut student debt by 20 per cent. We'll raise the HECS repayment threshold, putting more dollars into pockets of graduates. We'll make free TAFE permanent. Three million Australians will get relief on their debt and 100,000 Australians will get free TAFE every year, because when the government invests in education, every Australian benefits.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! There is far too much noise in the chamber. We're just going to get through—

The member for New England is now warned. We've got six people on warnings. Don't try your luck. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

Those opposite have the arrogance to look at young Australians and say, 'You should pay more.' That is what they are saying. We want to strengthen our nation. Those opposite don't, and that's the difference. What makes Australia stronger is free TAFE, so it's easier for more Australians to become tradies, carers and IT specialists. Who's against it? They are. What makes Australia stronger is cutting student debt. Who's against it? They are. Giving every Australian taxpayer a tax cut—who's against it? They are. Cheaper child care—who's against it?

Government members: They are!

Energy bill relief for every household—who's against it?

Government members: They are!

Getting wages moving again—who's against it?

Government members: They are!

Bringing back manufacturing and making more things here—who's against it?

Government members: They are!

More affordable housing and building more homes—who's against it?

Government members: They are!

We are building Australia's future, investing in cost-of-living relief at the same time. We have halved inflation since we came to office. But those opposite don't cheer for Australia; they cheer against Australia. They are never more depressed as when good figures come out showing that inflation is going down, wages are going up and a million jobs have been created. Just one of our cost-of-living measures has had a new figure this week. Our cheaper medicines, which were opposed by those opposite, have now ticked over to have saved Australians $1 billion. This was a measure that those opposite opposed, like they have opposed every single cost-of-living measure that we have put forward.

We've done all of that while turning their massive Liberal deficits into two Labor budget surpluses. We'll continue to build Australia's future. They'll continue to be the great blockers. On that note, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.