Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Federal budgets provide an opportunity to get an insight into the priorities of a government. They're an opportunity for a government to present a vision about the sort of country that they want to see; an opportunity to pave the way towards a more fair, just and equitable future; and an opportunity to deliver more than just polished talking points and instead announce measures that will make everyday people's lives better. Unfortunately, I fear that the government's budget will fall short on many of these measures, because a fair budget wouldn't see government taking in much more from student debt repayments than the petroleum resource rent tax. A just budget wouldn't have nurses, early childcare educators and teachers paying more in tax than some fossil fuel companies. An equitable budget wouldn't make it easier for someone who owns seven homes to buy their eighth home than for someone to break in and buy their first home.

Of course, the Greens have reached out to the Labor government to try to 'Mr-Dutton-proof' key measures, including slashing student debt and expanding bulk-billing, but Labor decided that an election carrot trumped the alternative of helping people right now. Of course, the other side's no better. They are proposing to rob people of their super with their short-sighted housing policy. Intergenerational inequity is the shameful legacy of both major parties in this place. The two parties have relied on the complacency that their terrible decision-making creates.

I'm pleased to say that across my home state of Victoria young people are not being complacent. Instead, they're channelling their frustration into action and running as lower house candidates across the state because they believe in a more just, fair and equitable future. There is Reuben Steen in Aston, Avery Barnett-Dacey in Bendigo, Ravneet Garcha in Calwell, Tim Randall in Chisholm, Mitch Pope in Corangamite, Emilie Flynn in Corio, Amy Mills in Deakin, Matt Maber in Dunkley, Alana Galli-McRostie in Goldstein, Thuc Bao Huynh in Gorton, Martin Barry in Hotham, Jy Sandford in Jagajaga, Marley McRae McLeod in McEwen and Sarah Newman in Hawke, with more young people to be announced. Thank you all for your leadership.

Budgets are a question of priorities. Politics is a question of priorities. Leadership is a question of priorities. Whether it's ripping off our kids with negative gearing tax breaks or working to gut our environmental laws as they're doing just this week it begs the question: what are the priorities of the major parties in this place? What could possibly be more important than safeguarding the future for our kids and their kids? This election, vote for the future. Vote for the Greens, because nothing changes if nothing changes.