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

Thank you to Senator Polley for that question. Cost-of-living relief is the highest priority of this government. It's our top priority. As of 1 July this year, every Australian taxpayer will get to keep more of what they earn—that's 13.6 million Australians—because the Albanese Labor government is working for every Australian. It's in Labor's DNA, unlike those opposite. These tax cuts offer relief and reform—more relief for workers and better reform for our economy. Labor is doing the right thing for the right reasons. Treasury is clear that the plan does not add to inflation. Labor's tax cut is backed by Treasury. It went through ERC, cabinet, ministry and caucus. We're unlike the last government, led by a prime minister with secret portfolios who governed for himself rather than all Australians. Colleagues, it's clear that things aren't any better under Mr Dutton.

After the government said it would deliver tax cuts, Senator Cash said they would 'oppose tax cuts' and Senator Birmingham said they were not going to be supporting Labor—because their reflex is always to oppose, even if it means they are not supporting Australians. Of course, if those opposite had considered the detail and the facts—that Labor's plan benefits every single Australian taxpayer and that it puts more money into the pockets of hardworking Australians—then maybe the Leader of the Opposition wouldn't have been so humiliated on national television last night.

The reason the opposition have had to support these tax cuts is that they know in their heart of hearts it's the right thing to do. They know Labor has done the right thing. They know Labor's tax cuts will deliver bigger tax cuts for more Australians, and more Australians will be better off as a result. (Time expired)