Fatima Payman (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Dean Smith for proposing this matter of public importance. As a fellow representative of the best state in the country, I know how important it is for the people of Western Australia that we stay focused on the real issues and pressures they face. We know that people are finding it tough right now, and the rising cost of living and inflation is felt around the country. However, when it comes to all the points raised by Senator Smith and Senator Brockman, there is clear action being taken by the Albanese Labor government to improve matters, while those opposite have opposed any positive action. Helping ease the pressure on Australians by tackling inflation and delivering targeted relief is our key priority. We are taking action to address the cost of living while those opposite want roadblocks, and the only contribution we hear from that side is no, no, no.

I will start with electricity prices. At the end of last year, parliament was recalled and passed measures to protect Australians from the worst surge in power prices. Our energy price relief is providing urgent energy bill relief. It is working as intended to take the sting out of power price rises when people need it most. But who opposed that? It was the exact people who now come in here and complain about rising electricity prices. If you had gotten your way, households would be paying hundreds more on their power bills without a cent of extra support. There is plenty that should be done to address electricity prices now and in the future and, despite the constant opposition to any change that will help Australians, we are getting on with the job.

The Albanese government is also taking action on housing. We've got in place short-, medium- and long-term plans to address the challenges we're facing. With the passing of the Housing Australia Future Fund here in the Senate, we are delivering the biggest investment in social and affordable housing in more than a decade. The $10 billion fund will create a secure and ongoing pipeline of funding for social and affordable rental housing, fulfilling the commitment the government made to the Australian people. We are working with the states and territories on this issue, and I'm really proud of what this government is doing to turn the tide, despite the many roadblocks raised by those opposite.

We also took to the election a commitment to get wages moving again, because, after a decade of stagnation, something had to change. We've always been proudly on the side of workers. Just this week, the West Australian reported that wages had increased by an average of $10 a day, the fastest increase in a decade. This hasn't happened accidentally. It has been a deliberate design feature of our economic plan, which is helping to put more money in workers' pockets.

I know that Senator Brockman won't agree with me, but you've got to admit that it has been the fastest wage increase in a decade, something that you couldn't deliver. Strong, sustainable wage growth is part of the solution to the challenges in our economy. I know it's hard to believe that we're responsible economic managers. That's not the problem, as those opposite like to argue. From advocating for an increase in the minimum wage to funding a 15 per cent wage rise for aged-care workers and changing our industrial relations laws to support secure jobs and better pay, we are serious about getting wages moving. I hope Senator Smith, along with his colleagues, can consider these facts and, instead of trying to point the finger at us, accept the fact that the coalition deliberately kept wages stagnant for a decade.

This government is laser focused on easing the pressure on families. Where we can, we have delivered relief, which you have opposed at every step of the way. We delivered cheaper child care. We delivered cheaper medicines and we have just made them even cheaper through 60-day dispensing, a measure you still can't support. We tripled the bulk-billing incentives to support 11.6 million eligible Australians, including children, pensioners and other concession holders. We are delivering fee-free TAFE and more university places. We're expanding paid parental leave and increasing flexibility. The list goes on. But you know what? We know that there is so much work to do to continue easing the pressure on Australians, and we're getting on with the job