Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the opposition senators for their questions because their questions enable me to talk about the approach that the Albanese government is taking on addressing the No. 1 challenge that Australians face today. That, of course, is the inflation challenge, which is our top priority. If I get time, Senator Cash's question will also enable me to talk a little bit about the Albanese government's approach to First Nations issues and particularly to the question of family violence, which is a question that is of huge significance to us as a government and one for which we have already put considerable plans in place, including legislating for 10 days paid domestic family violence leave, which has already started and will benefit millions of Australians.

On the questions raised about inflation and the cost of living: these are the questions that we came into government to address. These are the questions that we are working to solve for the Australian people because our guiding principle as a government, as you all know in this place, is that we want to ensure that no-one is left behind and that no-one is held back. We know that Australians are doing it tough right now with the rising cost of living. There are a number of things that we can do and that we are doing to put practical solutions in place to help Australians with the challenges that they're facing.

We need to strengthen Medicare and we need to make medicines cheaper. That is exactly what we have done by cutting the maximum co-payment under the PBS by up to $12.50. I'm proud to say that that has already started this year, and an average person who's relying on PBS medications could save hundreds of dollars a year because we have taken this cost-of-living measure.

We're delivering cheaper child care to 1.26 million families. Of course, under the watch of the previous government, childcare prices, which are such a huge impost on the family budget, rose by 41 per cent. We are committed to delivering cheaper child care, and that will start in July. We're very proud to be able to bring down that cost for Australian families while also providing quality early childhood education.

We're building more affordable housing and we'll have legislation come to this place. We hope the opposition will agree with it, given the concerns that they've raised about the cost-of-living crisis that Australians face today. We will build more affordable housing, we will increase supply and we will do that in a way that brings people together to make sure that we have solutions for Australian people.

The opposition raised questions about energy prices. It is quite an extraordinary thing for them to come into this place and talk to us about the challenges of bringing down power bills. That is a challenge that we take absolutely seriously, but it is a challenge that is borne by Australian households because of a decade of absolute denial and delay from those opposite when it comes to the energy transition. The legacy of those opposite is an energy disaster that has really left the country ill-prepared for the challenges that we face today. Does anybody remember how many different energy policies the opposition had when they were in government? Was it 22, Senator O'Neill?