Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I always welcome the opportunity to come in here and talk about what the Albanese government is doing to provide cost-of-living relief. I'm happy to read out the list; maybe some of those opposite can take this in. We've invested in: a 10-point plan to address cost-of-living pressures, including in energy bill relief, which is worth $23 billion—of course, Liberals and Nationals voted against that; cheaper medicines, which the Liberals and Nationals voted against as well; cheaper child care, which, again, the Liberals and Nationals voted against; increased rent assistance and a boost to income support payments—yes, the Liberals and Nationals were against that too; and building more affordable homes—here they are, the Liberals and Nationals, against that as well; fee-free TAFE places, which the deputy leader of the Liberals called 'wasteful spending'. That's right: Ms Ley, the shadow minister for skills and training says that helping people access skills and training is a waste of money.

The Leader of the Opposition has not even said the word TAFE in this building since 2004. There are now people old enough to vote who have lived their entire lives—18- and 19-year-olds—and have never heard Mr Dutton say the word 'TAFE'. That's how much he cares about helping Aussie workers to get the training they need to get a decent job and a decent life for their families.

But, for those watching along at home, it's also equally important that we talk about the what the opposition are doing. The Liberals and Nationals, as we all know, intentionally kept wages low for nine years of their government. We know this because they told us explicitly. Senator Cormann let it slip that low wages growth was a deliberate design feature of their economic plan. The Liberals and Nationals' plan has always been about low wages.

Given Senator McGrath's sudden discovery of cost-of-living issues, you might think, 'Hang on, we can help with cost-of-living pressures by getting wages moving.' If you earn more and if you have more money, you have more money to spend on things. It's pretty basic stuff. But it must be going over the heads of Liberals and Nationals. On the one hand, they are complaining about the cost of living, and, at the very same time, the Liberals and Nationals are opposing every single measure the government is taking to grow wages.

Let's look back at the 'secure jobs, better pay' act that the government passed at the end of last year. The opposition voted against it. In fact, not only did they vote against it; they warned that, if passed, it would end civilisation as we know it. Senator Cash said at the time:

We can now expect jobs will be lost … and large and small businesses will fold.

Of course, none of this has happened. That's just how much the Liberals and Nationals hate anything like giving working Australians a fair pay rise.

What did they oppose in that bill? The Liberals and Nationals opposed making it easier for employers and employees to reach agreements that would increase wages. The Liberals and Nationals opposed sunsetting zombie agreements that were putting some workers on pay well below the national minimum wage. They opposed putting limits on the used of fixed-term contracts. They opposed the right to request flexible work arrangements. They opposed banning pay secrecy clauses. They opposed making it illegal to put on jobs ads below the minimum wage. And, of course, they opposed the Albanese government's campaigning for increases to the minimum wage that would stop workers going backwards. How can they then come into this place and talk about the cost of living? Not only do they oppose cheaper energy bills, medicines, training, child care and housing; they even oppose increasing wages.

If you're wondering if maybe the Liberals and Nationals have turned over a new leaf, I'm afraid you're sadly mistaken. There is legislation before the Senate right now which will grow wages for working people across the country—and they oppose it. The Liberals and Nationals are opposed to closing Alan Joyce's labour hire loophole. They oppose the minimum wage for gig workers. They are opposed to long-term permanent casuals' right to get a permanent job. They are opposed to criminalising wage theft. They oppose, oppose, oppose. The Liberals and Nationals oppose it because they will always be for low pay. It's just in their DNA.