Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Grogan. This government and the senators on this side understand that it's important that government actually puts in place measures to help address the cost-of-living challenges created under the Liberals and the Nationals. And let's just remember that those opposite presided over increases to out-of-pocket childcare costs of 47 per cent. Let's remember that those opposite wanted to introduce a GP tax, tried to increase the cost of medicines by $5, never increased the number of Paid Parental Leave weeks, said no to social and affordable housing, including for women and children, and, as I said before—most importantly—opposed a $1-an-hour increase to the minimum wage for the lowest-paid in our country. Everyone will remember the way in which those opposite refused to back that wage increase and which leader was prepared to stand up and say, 'I back it.' (Time expired)