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

Let me identify or outline for the chamber the aspects of the government's $23 billion cost-of-living relief for Australians. First, electricity bill relief, opposed by you; second, cheaper child care, opposed by you; increased rent assistance—did they back that in or did they oppose that too?

Government senators: No.

More Medicare bulk-billing?

Government senators: No.

Again, no. Cheaper medicines?

Government senators: No.

Again. Boosting income support payments?

Government senators: No.

Fee-free TAFE?

Government senators: No.

Building more affordable homes, expanding paid parental leave and getting wages moving again—all of those are the plan of this Labor government. It is a cost-of-living plan that doesn't add to inflation, and most, if not all, of it is opposed by you. Your only response has always been, 'Let's keep wages low.' That's been fundamental to the Liberals' economic plan for years. A deliberate design feature of the Australian economy was low wages. We take a different approach and we always will. (Time expired)

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.