Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The No. 1 priority of the federal Labor government is fighting the cost of living. As the Treasurer got to his feet in this place last night, Australia took another step to undo the rot that set in under the Liberal government. This is a budget for the taxpayer—a budget for every worker in this country. Under Labor, every Australian worker is earning more and keeping more of what they earn. The tax cuts announced for every Australian in this budget, combined with Labor's tax cuts implemented last year, add up to an average of $2,394 extra in the hip pockets of South Australian taxpayers by 2028. This is for my electorate, which benefited the most from our better, fairer tax cuts last year, and for my community, which benefits the most from their government finally levelling the playing field. This uplifts the working class.

Yet the Liberal Party continue to push them down, voting against tax cuts and kicking and screaming at the thought of workers getting a leg-up on the cost of living. It's the only cut they won't do. The Liberals will cut 36,000 workers, the Liberals will cut Medicare, the Liberals will cut support for housing, and the Liberals will cut free TAFE. But the Liberals draw the line at cutting costs for everyday Aussies. The Leader of the House said it best earlier today: 'Robert Menzies would be turning in his grave.'