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

The cost-of-living package is a key part of the budget. We've been clear, as we've been dealing with the inflation challenge, accepting that we needed to provide targeted and calibrated cost-of-living relief across the forward estimates, that we have targeted that carefully.

The $14.6 billion cost-of-living package over four years allows us to make those investments into energy bill relief for five million households and one million small businesses—which, I will remind people, those opposite voted against in December, when we recalled the parliament; more affordable health care; cheaper medicines; support for those who need it most, including extending parenting payment single for single parents who have children between the ages of eight and 14; $4.9 billion to increase the rate of eligible working-age and student payments, which will benefit 1.1 million Australians; and the largest increase to Commonwealth rent assistance in 30 years. (Time expired)