Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Payman for her question. I can provide an update to the chamber on how the government is working hard and is focused on how we can make life easier for each and every Australian. We are certainly aware of Australians who are facing tough times with some of the increases in the cost of living. Some of these in relation to power have, of course, been caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has driven up gas prices. There is continued disruption on our supply chains following years of chaos, impacted, of course, by the pandemic. And there are the successive interest rate rises that we have seen from the Reserve Bank, which started on its tightening arrangements before the last election.

There are other factors that we can address, and where we can, we are. One of the very first acts of the Albanese government was to successfully argue for a minimum wage to keep pace with inflation, an outcome which helped around 2.7 million Australians and was a real change between us and the former government in approach on wages. Our first budget focused on responsible cost-of-living relief that didn't put extra pressure on inflation. That's one of the most important things. In terms of our investments, there were things like cheaper child care, expanding Paid Parental Leave, cheaper medicines, more affordable housing and getting wages moving again.

In addition, as winter approaches, we are providing—and will provide through the budget—energy relief to millions of households, payments that those opposite opposed. These households will pay up to a third less in the retail price when their energy bills come in. Again, it beggars belief that those opposite decided to oppose the laws that put in place those arrangements.

Then there is—and I will go into this more in the next answer—our investment in early education. (Time expired)