Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I feel like I'd be so embarrassed if I were those opposite, getting up and asking us questions about what we on this side have done, when they've opposed almost every single one of the things we've done. To give a couple of examples, every single cost-of-living relief measure that we've brought into this place, whether it be cheaper medicines or tax cuts, they've opposed. But they've got the cheek to come in here and ask us what we're doing for cost-of-living relief. They've opposed every single one of those measures.

As to being asked about jobs, the Labor Party is the party of the worker. We've created one million new jobs in our term of government, the most of any first-term government. We absolutely back Australian workers. We've done that. We've got wages moving again. We've done that while we've kept unemployment low, and we're also getting inflation under control.

You'd think that it might be of interest to those opposite, actually, to help us with all those things—to help the Australian economy and Australian workers. But, every time, they've sat on that side of the chamber and voted against every single thing that we've done to support Australian households, and they come in here with the cheek to ask us what it is that we're doing when they know, because they sat on that side and voted against it every single time. It is completely embarrassing for you, actually.

In the meantime, the Albanese Labor government is putting money back in the pockets of Australians who are making the run to the supermarket or the petrol station. We know that every dollar matters, and it should be back in your pocket. The cost of living is front of mind for every Australian right now. It's the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 issue. We know that in the Albanese Labor government. We know that no Australian should have to check their bank balance and decide between putting food on the table, sending their kid to school, seeing a doctor and putting petrol in the car. We don't want Australians to have to make that choice, and that's why our No. 1 priority is taking the pressure off Australian families through our responsible economic management and the cost-of-living relief we're providing to Australians.

The budget you saw last night from Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher is another great example of what it is that we are doing as a government. The Albanese Labor government will deliver two more tax cuts to every Australian taxpayer in 2026 and 2027, taking the total to 50 bucks a week extra in your pocket. Those people over there are making fun of this, saying that it'll be five bucks. Well, five bucks actually gets you a loaf of bread and two litres of milk. That actually matters to families who are doing it tough.