Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister presenting the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Watt. Cost-of-living pressures are top of mind for all Australians, particularly in the regions. When I speak with my constituents in regional Victoria, they tell me they're thinking about things like housing affordability, the cost of energy, prices at the check-out and their wages. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering meaningful cost-of-living relief while creating secure, well-paid jobs in our region?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Darmanin, who has been making an outstanding contribution since she joined us here in the Senate. I know we all look forward to seeing much more from her in the coming years as well.

Under the Albanese government, there have been nearly one million extra jobs created in the last couple of years, including many in regional areas.

Senator Cash, I didn't think I'd be hearing from you until the second supplementary, so well done. You beat my expectations. In regional New South Wales, there have been more than 128,000 extra jobs created, mostly full-time positions.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Yes, I think that is something worth shouting about, so I'm glad that you're shouting with us. Senator Henderson, there are nearly 68,000 new jobs in regional Victoria. Back to you, Senator Cash: there are 17,000 in regional Western Australia.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Order on my left! Senator Watt, may I remind you to address your questions through the chair.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In my home state of Queensland there have been 99,600 extra jobs created outside Brisbane, including over 56,000 that are full time. That includes an extra 48,000 regional women joining the workforce and almost 40,000 more young people. The measures brought in by the Albanese government, like cheaper child care, fee-free TAFE, apprenticeship initiatives and other support designed to fill skill shortages are supporting this growth and delivering more career opportunities in our regions, particularly for women and young people.

This matters because one of the most important things governments can do to assist regional Australians with the cost-of-living pressures that they're facing is to ensure they have a job. Under those opposite, we had one million fewer jobs in Australia, as well as lower wages and less secure work. They've said that they want to take Australians back to those dark times if they are returned to office. We've already seen Mr Dutton and the coalition promise to repeal casual workers' rights, repeal the right to disconnect and repeal other, as yet undisclosed, workplace laws. They've said no to energy bill relief, no to housing, no to tax cuts and no to universal superannuation on paid parental leave. They just say no.

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

Senator Darmanin, first supplementary?

Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since coming to government, the Albanese Labor government has announced a raft of measures designed to help all Australians respond to the cost-of-living pressures. These measures have included things like a tax cut to every taxpayer, $300 energy bill relief and record investment in social and affordable housing. Why is the Albanese Labor government's plan the best way to deliver cost-of-living support to regional Australia, and what would be the impact on the regions of an alternative plan?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order goes to the relevance of the question to the minister's portfolio responsibilities, an issue raised earlier this week. Senator Darmanin named three specific policy areas. She asked about tax changes, she asked about social housing and she asked about energy bills. To my knowledge, none of those specific policy areas cited are responsibilities of the portfolio minister or the minister that is representing her.

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

I will check with the Clerk, because I understand that at the beginning of question time Senator Wong did reassign some responsibilities. I will double-check.

Senator Birmingham, we're not in a debate. I said I would check, and that's what I am doing. I advise the chamber that I am advised that Minister Watt is also repping regional development and he can answer in that capacity those questions that you identified, Senator Birmingham, and which were asked. Please continue, Minister Watt.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why don't they like the regions? Why don't they want to hear about the regions over there? Why don't they want to hear about tax cuts for the regions? Why don't they want to hear about jobs for the regions? Why don't they want to hear about wage rises for the regions? Why don't they want to hear about housing for the regions? You know why they don't want to hear about that? Because they say no to all of it. They say no to regional Australians, and they say no to urban Australians. They say no to the men. They say no to women. It doesn't really matter what we talk about; they always say no. They even say no to a supplementary question. That's how negative they are.

And you're absolutely right, Senator Darmanin. Our government is focused on delivering cost-of-living relief for regional Australians. We're doing that by backing multiple wage rises that have put an extra $143 per week in the pockets of 2.6 million low-paid Australians, delivering tax cuts for every regional Australian worker and delivering $300 in energy bill relief for every regional Australian home and businesses. We say yes; you say no.

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

Senator Darmanin, second supplementary?

Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After a decade of failed energy policies, deliberate wage stagnation and telling hardworking Australians the only way to own a home is by raiding their superannuation, what are the key barriers to delivering the Albanese Labor government's cost-of-living relief to all Australians?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Darmanin, you asked what the key barriers are to delivering the Albanese Labor government's cost-of-living relief to all Australians. There they are. I can see Simon. I can seem Michaelia. I can see James. I can see all of you.

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

Minister Watt, I remind you—

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can see a child.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're the child.

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

Order! I remind you to refer to senators by their correct titles.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We all know that those opposite treat superannuation like the bogeyman, like it's something to be feared. They opposed it when it was created, and they've opposed it ever since. This week, they're at it again trying to strip back superannuation rights, this time for Australian women through paid parental leave. It's not right that regional women be denied a decent retirement, because of the ideological obsessions of the coalition.

And, when it comes to housing, the Albanese government would already be rolling out housing across regional Australia if it weren't for the 'no-alition' of the Libs, the Nats and the Greens, teaming up yet again to block our investments, to delay funding and even try to block legislation about helping people to buy. You say no all the time.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.