Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government providing more cost-of-living relief to every taxpayer, and is there any opposition to this plan?

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

I thank the member for her question. Indeed, every Australian taxpayer will get another tax cut from next year, building on what we've delivered this year—all 14 million, not just some. It's taking that first marginal tax rate from 16 down to 15 and then down to 14, bringing the bottom tax rate to the lowest level it's been in over 50 years.

Under the previous government's tax plan, of course, those earning under $45,000 would not have received a single cent—not a cent! And those opposite have been consistent, because today they voted again against those taxpayers getting a single cent. Three million Australians would have missed out on a tax cut. Well, we are delivering a tax cut for every taxpayer, not just some. Because of our government, the average tax cut for average taxpayers will be that $2½ thousand. That makes an enormous difference to people, and it makes a difference when combined with cheaper child care, fee-free TAFE and the other measures that we have put in place—our energy bill relief and our Medicare urgent care clinics. All of these measures are making a difference.

But at the same time, of course, we want workers to earn more, which is why we've changed the industrial relations system through measures like same job, same pay; making sure that the casualisation definition is not abused; making sure that people have the right to disconnect—and we don't sledge people who work from home, unlike those opposite. If you combine those things together, think about this. The opposition leader doesn't want people to work from home, but he doesn't want them to have a right to disconnect either. He wants them on track 24 hours a day.

Now, those opposite are against tax cuts for every taxpayer. It's consistent with an opposition that wants to cut people's pay but doesn't want to cut their taxes. That is what they want. He will always cut, and Australians will always pay. We know that the 2014 budget papers show very clearly the $80 billion in cuts to education and health that were envisaged by 2024-25, over 10 years. This guy was the health minister. I know that he wants to walk away from his record, but I assure him he'll get a few reminders over the coming weeks. (Time expired)