Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Crossin for her question. In difficult times, this government is delivering a project that will continue to strengthen our economy, grow jobs and deliver for working Australians and their families. As a result of Labor's management, our economy is the envy of the developed world. Our economic fundamentals are strong, unemployment is low and we will return to surplus ahead of nearly all the other advanced economies.

However, the government does understand that many Australians feel like they are not sharing in the benefits that are flowing from the strong economy and the current mining boom. Many Australians are finding it tough in the patchwork economy and feel that their budgets are being stretched. The government is determined to ensure that the benefits of our strong economy and the mining boom flow through to Australian families to assist them in their budgets. That is why the budget includes new measures that are good news for low- and middle-income families, single parents, unemployed people and students.

By delivering much needed cost-of-living relief, the government is allowing all Australians to feel the real benefits and relief from the pressures on those weekly budgets. The new 'spreading the benefits of the boom' package is $3.6 billion that will be targeted to help Australian families with the costs of everyday expenses and to assist them to plan for and to support their families. These payments are in addition to those that are associated with the introduction of the carbon price. From 1 July next year, 1.5 million Australian families will receive an increase in the family tax benefit part A. Unemployed and single parents and students will receive the new supplementary allowance. These are measures that will deliver real help to those in Australia who need that assistance to make ends meet. (Time expired)