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

I thank Senator Green for the question. She is right to draw attention to the cost-of-living package that has a number of elements, including the energy bill relief, medicines, cheaper child care, our housing policies, increasing rent assistance, fee-free TAFE—which has been incredibly positive and well taken up—getting wages moving again—something that those opposite hate. There have been more jobs created under this government in the first 18 months than under any previous first-term government, and I know you probably don't like that either. We've got participation rates at a record high, the gender pay gap coming down, business investment up, industrial disputes down. We've got a surplus. We didn't just print the mugs; we actually delivered the surplus. We've banked the revenue, so our budget's in better shape so that we can find room for cost-of-living relief where we can.