Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Albanese government is delivering a better future for all Australians after a decade of failed policies?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

nator WONG (—) (): Thank you very much, Senator Grogan, from my own wonderful state, which I haven't got to see in a little while: South Australia. I appreciate the question, and I'm very pleased to talk to the Senate about what this government is seeking to do after a decade of division, denial, waste, rorts, secret ministries and deliberate neglect—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Didn't that go well?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

which went so well—and about what the Albanese government is delivering.

This government, since the election, has supported an increase in the minimum wage and secured a pay rise for aged-care workers. I just want to remind everybody, after the many questions that Senator Gallagher answered so well, that those opposite desperately opposed a dollar per hour for the lowest-paid workers in Australia, but they are prepared to go to the wall over the 0.5 per cent of people in Australia who have $3 million in their superannuation accounts. Australians will look at that and they will understand which side of this chamber is actually about families and working people, which side of this chamber is actually about a better future for all Australians—and which side are too busy focusing on scare campaigns, such as some of the pathetic attempts of those opposite.

This government has made child care cheaper. We've made medicines cheaper. We've created 180,000 new fee-free TAFE places that we've delivered and 20,000 university places, and we've established 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave. The government is expanding paid parental leave. The government is acting to make workplaces safe from sexual harassment with the passage of the Respect@Work bill. We've established Jobs and Skills Australia. We've passed a historic climate change bill and updated our climate targets. We are repairing our international relations and making Australia stronger and more influential in the world. We've expanded the Commonwealth seniors health card and made it easier for pensioners to earn more without losing their pension. We've invested in affordable housing and we've delivered the first home buyers guarantee— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, a first supplementary question?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister; that's an impressive list of items that you've run through there, and it's very pleasing to see. I wonder if you could now tell us how these achievements are going to ease the cost of living for Australians?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Grogan. This government and the senators on this side understand that it's important that government actually puts in place measures to help address the cost-of-living challenges created under the Liberals and the Nationals. And let's just remember that those opposite presided over increases to out-of-pocket childcare costs of 47 per cent. Let's remember that those opposite wanted to introduce a GP tax, tried to increase the cost of medicines by $5, never increased the number of Paid Parental Leave weeks, said no to social and affordable housing, including for women and children, and, as I said before—most importantly—opposed a $1-an-hour increase to the minimum wage for the lowest-paid in our country. Everyone will remember the way in which those opposite refused to back that wage increase and which leader was prepared to stand up and say, 'I back it.' (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, a second supplementary question?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wonder if you could now step out for us how the Albanese government will continue to deliver for Australians this year?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Grogan, for the second supplementary. Well, we know we can't fix a decade of neglect, incompetence and bad policies overnight. But we will keep working to deliver on our commitments to provide greater economic security, relief for families, security in energy, and manufacturing jobs and wages.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As much as those opposite yell, everyone will remember who the party was that voted against energy price relief and who the party was that didn't want to support manufacturing in this country.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator McGrath!

Senator Hume!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reality is that those opposite have no plan to address cost of living, no plan to address the future. We've seen in this question time already that they have not learned from a decade of division and pathetic scare campaigns. But if they think that is what Australians are after now, I have a message for them.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are about building a better future for Australians, and that's what Australians want.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senators, when you are called to order, specifically when I call you by name, I expect you to stop interjecting.