Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. In the five weeks since we last sat in this place, the Albanese Labor government has shown yet again that we are working every day to deliver for all Australians and that our No. 1 priority is delivering cost-of-living relief. Can the minister please tell the Senate what work the government has been doing? In particular, how is the government helping Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn?

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

Thank you, Senator Walsh. Senator Walsh, like all of the Labor caucus, understands that Australians are struggling with the cost of living. That is why the government's No. 1 priority is to deliver cost-of-living relief in a responsible way. That is why the government put into place tax cuts, which came into effect on 1 July, delivering every Australian taxpayer a tax cut—not just some, but every Australian taxpayer. It's an additional $62 a week for the average family.

We want Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn. That's why we've backed a third consecutive pay rise for 2.6 million paid workers. Real wages grew more in the past year than they did in the entire 10 years that those opposite were in power. That is why the Albanese government will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood education and care workers, and that pay rise will be tied to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases. These are just some of the practical ways in which the government is working to address the cost-of-living pressures that Australians are facing. That is also why every Australian household is getting $300 in energy bill relief. The government is delivering cheaper medicines, more homes more quickly, fee-free TAFE, HECS relief and more.

And how many of these policies were opposed and remain opposed by those opposite, who continue to come in here and talk about cost-of-living concerns but at the same time vote against or argue against cost-of-living relief measures that the government is putting in place? Unlike the Liberals and Nationals, we know cost-of-living relief matters to Australians and we're determined to continue to deliver responsible relief to Australian families— (Time expired)

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

Senator Walsh, first supplementary?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for that response. Can the minister please explain to the Senate how the Albanese Labor government's recent announcement that it will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood education and care workers will help workers with the cost of living and also assist families?

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

I make the point that Senator Walsh, as a leader in her union for so many years, is one of a number of leaders for whom the early childhood education and care workers pay and conditions has been such a priority. She and others on this side of the chamber should feel very proud of the work they have done both outside and inside the parliament to work with workers seeking these pay increases and to deliver them through government.

This is a 15 per cent increase which brings together a set of priorities that are important to the Albanese Labor government: real help with the cost of living; fair wages for workers; investing in the future; and economic equity for women. It will be phased in over two years, and from December this year there will be a 10 per cent increase. This means a typical educator will receive a pay rise of $103 per week. (Time expired)

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

Senator Walsh, second supplementary?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. Can the minister please inform the Senate why the Albanese Labor government's policies are in the best interests of all Australians and how we are focused on delivering plans that lead to lower power prices, lower grocery prices and lower housing prices?

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

Can I first finish what I was going to say about early childhood education workers? I said a typical educator paid at the award rate will receive a pay rise of at least $103 per week. The wage increase will be tied to a commitment from centres to limit fee increases—a very important condition that will keep downward pressure on fees for families. Unlike Mr Dutton's team, including Senator Rennick, those of us on this side of the chamber understand the value of early childhood education and care, and, I would venture to say, so does the Australian community. When it comes to cost-of-living relief, what we know is that the Liberals and Nationals oppose it at every chance they get. They voted 48 times against industrial relations laws to get wages moving and six times in the Senate to stop cheaper medicine. On cheaper child care, Senator Hume said, 'It's certainly not the policy that we would have introduced.' They voted against energy price relief, social housing and fee-free TAFE. I think we know what they're like. (Time expired)