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

Thank you, Senator Walsh. Senator Walsh, like all of the Labor caucus, understands that Australians are struggling with the cost of living. That is why the government's No. 1 priority is to deliver cost-of-living relief in a responsible way. That is why the government put into place tax cuts, which came into effect on 1 July, delivering every Australian taxpayer a tax cut—not just some, but every Australian taxpayer. It's an additional $62 a week for the average family.

We want Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn. That's why we've backed a third consecutive pay rise for 2.6 million paid workers. Real wages grew more in the past year than they did in the entire 10 years that those opposite were in power. That is why the Albanese government will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood education and care workers, and that pay rise will be tied to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases. These are just some of the practical ways in which the government is working to address the cost-of-living pressures that Australians are facing. That is also why every Australian household is getting $300 in energy bill relief. The government is delivering cheaper medicines, more homes more quickly, fee-free TAFE, HECS relief and more.

And how many of these policies were opposed and remain opposed by those opposite, who continue to come in here and talk about cost-of-living concerns but at the same time vote against or argue against cost-of-living relief measures that the government is putting in place? Unlike the Liberals and Nationals, we know cost-of-living relief matters to Australians and we're determined to continue to deliver responsible relief to Australian families— (Time expired)