Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Our government is clearly focused on delivering cost-of-living relief because we on this side of the chamber understand that Australians are doing it tough. We understand that this is a tough time for families, and that is why we have been delivering cost-of-living relief. No amount of cherry-picked figures from those opposite can ever make this untrue: every step of the way, those opposite have opposed every measure for cost-of-living relief that we have delivered to Australians. We have made sure that every single taxpayer is getting a tax cut—not just some. Those on the opposite side opposed it before we had even released the details. They opposed even the lowest-paid workers getting a tax cut. On this side of the chamber, we're making sure that every household gets energy bill relief. In my home state of Queensland that means that every single household is getting $1,300 of power bill relief. Nothing that those on the other side say can undo the fact that they voted against this relief. They're crying out for the government to do something but, when we deliver a plan and bring it to this parliament, they vote against it.

Our government has ensured that low-paid workers are getting their third consecutive pay rise. You're going to hear a lot of information on the other side about wage increases and data. That data matters to low-paid workers. Because of our government, 2.6 million of them will be getting a pay rise. No matter what information those opposite bring along to this chamber today, nothing will make untrue the fact that they had a policy in place for years to put pressure on wages and to keep wages low and that that was built into their design of the economy.

When it comes to things like stronger Medicare, they're opposed to that as well. When it comes to cheaper medicines, they've opposed cheaper medicines. When it comes to dealing with making sure that we can build more homes, more quickly, in every part of the country, those opposite have teamed up with the Greens to vote against that type of legislation.

When it comes to the cost-of-living relief that our government is delivering, whether it's tax cuts, whether it's wage rises, whether it's more money for childcare workers or cheaper childcare and keeping fees under pressure, whether it's cheaper Medicare, cheaper medicines or making sure that we have urgent Medicare clinics in all parts of the country, these are measures that those opposite oppose. So, when they come in here and crow about the cost of living and how tough people are doing it, the question to ask Peter Dutton and those opposite is: what are they doing about it?

Every time we've given the LNP a chance to vote for cost-of-living relief, they have voted against it, because they're not interested in helping Australians. They're not interested in delivering cost-of-living relief to the lowest-paid workers. They're interested in having a debate about it, but, when given a chance, they vote against it. Actually, what we have seen from those opposite, in the last couple of weeks, are plans for higher taxes and higher power prices. We've seen plans from those opposite to cut back increases in the pension. They're talking about lower wages, through opposing all of the changes that we've put in place.

It is clear that, under our government, you have a government and a prime minister committed to cost-of-living relief. At every step of the way, our announcements have been carefully calibrated to put pressure on inflation but to deliver important cost-of-living relief to Australians.

I met some early childhood educators in Cairns this week. Because of the announcement we made on Friday, they will have an extra $100 in their accounts, and that is a 15 per cent pay rise for those in that hardworking, low-paid, highly-feminised workforce. That's what happens when you have a government focused on cost-of-living relief.

What we've seen from those opposite, at every step of the way, is a plan to say no and to oppose cost-of-living relief and yet to complain about it at the same time. We are not interested in that. We're getting on with the job, and we're focused on cost of living.