Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Not one—delivering on our positive agenda to improve the lives of all Australians. We know cost-of-living pressures are having an impact on family budgets right across the country. That's why, in the 2023-24 budget, we committed $14.6 billion of targeted cost-of-living relief.

I'll repeat that figure for you, Senator Ciccone: $14.6 billion. Of this package, $9.5 billion was designed to provide additional support for Australians who are living on the lowest incomes.

Yesterday, the government's Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Bill passed the parliament. The bill delivers more support for those relying on student and working age payments, for many single parents, for older Australians facing additional barriers to work and for many who receive support from Commonwealth rent assistance. These are responsible changes to target support to those doing it the toughest, without adding to inflation.

With the successful passage of the bill, the rates of JobSeeker, youth allowance and eligible working age and student payments will rise by $40 a fortnight from 20 September. This increase will be combined with the indexation for those payments, which will be applied on the same day. This means a single jobseeker with no dependents will actually receive an increase of $56 a fortnight. This package of measures will make— (Time expired)