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

I thank Senator Grogan for her question and for the work she does in advocating for the good people of South Australia, raising all of these issues with us. Our No. 1 priority is delivering cost-of-living relief. You have seen that in the core of all of the decisions we have taken since coming to government: every Australian taxpayer is getting a tax cut, not just some; every Australian household is getting $300 energy bill relief; 2.6 million low-paid workers who were forgotten by those opposite are getting their third consecutive pay rise; stronger Medicare and cheaper medicines in every community; HECS relief for everyone with a student debt; more homes built more quickly in every part of the country; and cheaper groceries by strengthening of the food and grocery code. This is sensible cost-of-living relief that we can provide without adding to inflation.

There's more to do and we will keep working every day, as we have since we have been elected. We know it is a privilege to be in this position of being able to make decisions that benefit all Australians. We know that if those opposite got their hands on government again, it would mean: higher power prices because they don't support energy bill relief; there would be higher housing prices because they haven't supported pretty much any part of our Homes for Australia plan; higher taxes, particularly for those who were not going to get a tax cut under their original plan; and lower wages. We know that because we know their form in government. Low wages were a design feature of their economic architecture. They did not go into Fair Work Commission's annual wage review with any submission that supported a wage increase for low-paid workers. That is what we would have if this mob opposite got back into government. That is why we will continue to work against that every single day. (Time expired)