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

I thank Senator Smith for that excellent question. I can update the chamber on all of the steps we've been taking to get the budget in much better shape to make sure that we can invest in those key essential services that Australians value, like Medicare, aged care and the NDIS. We wanted to make sure, when we came to government, that we were dealing with all of the problems we'd inherited. We had falling living standards. Interest rates were increasing. Inflation was going through the roof—

Let's just remember your record: 10 years of failing to deal with any of the big policy challenges, like energy—remember that, Senator Birmingham? How many policies were there? Twenty-two, from memory, and you didn't land one of them. There could be 23. We could be dealing with 23, now that they've all gone quiet on their nuclear policy. We have found $80 billion in savings. We've delivered two surpluses, which I know is particularly important for Senator Hume—two surpluses, to the former government's zero surpluses. We've delivered bigger tax cuts, cheaper child care, energy bill rebates, student debt relief—now there's something that you never, ever dealt with in government—and fee-free TAFE. Who, possibly, could vote against people getting access to training without having to pay for it? Who possibly could? Someone in this room does—you! You oppose it, unbelievably. More bulk-billed GP appointments, cheaper medicines—again, who in this place could vote against cheaper medicines? Have a look around, and, yes, it's you, again! Cheaper medicines—