Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am somewhat taken aback by the rhetoric of those who find themselves now in opposition. It is an urgency motion, but I note that they had a decade in office which can only be described as a decade of wasted opportunities and warped priorities that left Australians who now this opposition seem to think they should stand up for with falling real wages, cost-of-living pressures and $1 trillion of debt without an economic dividend to show for it. So any claim that they make in this argument about being good managers of money and good with the economy has to be absolutely seen for what it is: an attempt to continue the con of the last 10 years.

I rise, in particular, to speak to the motion put forward by Senator Hume. Let me just say for the record that, despite the great confusion that's trying to be created and drummed up by those in opposition, our policy position hasn't changed since we arrived in government. We support responsible cost-of-living relief because Australians need that, and they need us, as their government, to respond to them.

We will focus on multinational tax avoidance in order to improve the budget bottom line and improve the outcomes for Australia, for our national economy and for the benefit of all Australians. We'll do this in a calm, measured and considered way. That is the way in which the Treasurer, Mr Chalmers, has been talking to the Australian people. By his careful action, his careful words and his considered governance—not the chaos, panic, deception and lies that have been the hallmark over the last 10 years—Treasurer Chalmers has taken action to ensure that we have maintained our AAA credit rating. The rating agencies acknowledge that Labor's budget, the first one in October last year, did not add to inflation.

The Albanese government has already passed a series of measures to improve the household budgets of everyday Australians, who expect their government to respond. And that's what we've done. We've focused on responsible cost-of-living relief, and that's the kind of relief that doesn't put extra pressure on inflation. That's a really important thing. We understand that that is a critical economic indicator that we have to pay really close attention to.

The Albanese government is delivering, and will deliver, on critical things that impact people's lives in a way that will assist them to manage their budgets. There will be cheaper child care. That's happening under the Albanese government and is a cost-of-living measure that is responsible. There will be expanded paid parental leave, promised as part of our commitment leading into the election, and cheaper medicines—the most significant change in the cost of medicines in 75 years and which changes the pressure on families. We know that that's sensible assistance.

Of course, more affordable housing is also happening. My colleague Minister Collins, in the other place, is introducing legislation to fulfil our commitments on housing, because that is a massive problem that was created by 10 years of inaction by those opposite. And, of course, wage growth is happening. We're just starting to hear now that companies that refused to negotiate with unions around this country, refused to negotiate on wages, are actually coming back to the table to bargain, and wage growth will begin for Australian people.

These things matter, and they don't occur in a vacuum. Inflation is a global issue. The war in Ukraine, started by the brutal kleptocrat Vladimir Putin, has impacted supply chains right across the globe, particularly in relation to energy and food. Australians understand that we did not create those challenges but Australians also elected us to responsibly take on those challenges and address them as they present, and we are addressing those challenges.

So I stand here very proud of a sensible government committed to addressing multinational tax avoidance to improve the bottom line for Australians and to provide them with non-inflationary, best-possible help to manage their cost-of-living challenges.