Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Regarding the comments from the good senator in relation to our budget last night: the opposition, when they were in government, left Australia with a $1 trillion debt. That's what they did. They had 10 years in office to deliver on energy prices, to actually deliver an energy policy. I think there were 22 different energy policies, but that was when they actually had policies, I might add; now, according to their frontbench, they don't have policies, because they're in opposition.

The budget that was delivered by Dr Chalmers yesterday was a budget that is looking to change the way the federal government operates going forward. That is a government that is run by adults, a government that is going to be open and transparent, a government that will deliver on its election commitments and a government that will govern with integrity. That's the big change.

When I had the good fortune to make all the calls I did this morning to businesses in Tasmania about the investment that we've made through our budget to jobs, to giving opportunities to young Tasmanians, they were so well received. The comment from one of the hydrogen companies was that it's not just a breath of fresh air to have this new government but goes beyond that. It goes to the way that we have operated since we've come into government, the dignity and integrity that our leader, Anthony Albanese, has restored. People see this as a government that is prepared to work with the community, to work with the business community, and to listen to the concerns of everyday Australians. That's the difference.

This opposition wants to come in here and lecture us about election commitments? Come on! It's a joke. It's an absolute joke. Making announcements when you're in government does not equate to delivering on those commitments. You can, as they did, re-announce various projects but never deliver on them at all. Our very own member of the opposition in the seat of Bass, where I live, is already trying to take credit for our budget, trying to take credit for the things that we committed to during the election campaign and are delivering on.

Talking about energy prices, Marinus has just been announced by this government. This government was able to draw together a deal with, yes, the Victorian Labor government. But guess what? The Tasmanian Liberal government also signed up with the federal government because they recognised that there was such a change of attitude by the new government. The Turnbull government couldn't deliver Marinus for Tasmania and for the benefit of the entire country. Neither could Scott Morrison. After the years of his failings, he was unable to deliver that. That's just one example.

In this chamber we all know, because I've spoken about it many times, that the home of renewable energy is, in fact, my home state of Tasmania. We know how important renewable energy is to this country. We know how important it is to our state. But we want to be part of the future to deliver better outcomes when it comes to energy.

We on this side of the chamber have always argued for more money, more resources, and a commitment to climate change and addressing the needs of our country in relation to climate change. But not only have we delivered in terms of cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, more paid parental leave—expanding that opportunity for both mums and dads—and more affordable housing. We're also restoring opportunities for people in regional Australia to go to TAFE. We want all Australians to be able to access affordable housing.

What we have done, and what we will continue to do, is to find the waste and mismanagement under the former Morrison government. What we aren't doing is using colour coding to allocate grants. Grants will be made on a needs basis, on business cases that are put to us that can demonstrate a benefit to that community. That's how a government should act, how we should govern, and that's how the Albanese Labor government will continue to govern this country. (Time expired)