Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the last almost three years, the Albanese government have faced a global inflation challenge and yet, as a government, we have delivered two budget surpluses, reduced inflation from six per cent, which is what we inherited from the former Liberal government, to two per cent, while also implementing historic reforms. Since coming to government, we haven't wasted a single day, helping Australians to build a more secure future for themselves and their families with tax cuts that were double that offered by Mr Dutton. The government legislated permanent tax cuts for all 13.6 million Australian taxpayers from 1 July last year, with the average annual tax cut being $1,888.

I listened to the Greens senator there, taking credit for everything that they believe that they have achieved. There are 76 senators in here. I can assure you that the Greens' contribution hasn't been as stellar as what was painted this morning. The Greens teamed up with the Liberal opposition to stop the Future Fund and the $10 billion going into housing for months. In fact, for a whole Senate week, they joined together to stop us from having a vote. They didn't want to vote against the bill, but they stopped us from having the vote.

The reality is that this government has been addressing the cost of living. When those opposite argue that we are against aspiration, I just don't understand that argument from them because there's been $300 in energy bill relief and cheaper child care to support families so that women can return to the workforce, saving families $2,000 a year. There's been cheaper medicines, saving Tasmanians in my home state $9 million already, 60-day dispensing, five Medicare urgent care clinics, diverting patients away from emergency departments, tripling of the bulk-billing incentive, expanding paid parental leave to 26 weeks by July 2026 and paying superannuation on paid parental leave by 2025. There's fee-free TAFE, supporting local manufacturing with the Future Made in Australia plan and our $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which will build 20,000 new social and affordable houses.

And yet Mr Dutton has said no. Those opposite voted against every single one of those measures. They're not interested in nation-building policies like we have had ever since we came into government. We're about building for the future instead of joining forces with the Greens, as the Liberals have done, to stop building those houses for Australians who desperately need them. That's the record of the Liberals and the Greens. So don't buy them saying, 'We would do more for renters.' It's about getting people into homes so that mums and dads and their kids are safe and secure, with a roof over their heads.

At a time of energy transition and insecurity globally, we have started to implement the largest change to Australia's energy market since the industrial revolution. This is nation-building reform which will set Australia up with renewable energy. We'll become a superpower and generate cheaper energy. But the alternative from Mr Dutton is nuclear power, not until—what?—2040. Then it's actually going to increase the cost of power. We know two things about Mr Dutton. There are only two policies that he's outlined that you can take for granted. One is that he wants to go ahead with nuclear power. Don't worry about what the experts say! Don't worry about the cost of building that or what it's going to cost you as a mum and dad at home for power! But also what he's going to do is give free long lunches back to bosses. Who's going to pay for that? Taxpayers are going to pay for that.

I'm proud of the government and what we have done in terms of making sure that Tasmanians have access to urgent care clinics. All they need when they go there is their Medicare card. They don't need a credit card. We're strengthening Medicare. We know Mr Dutton's record when it comes to health. He cut $20 billion out of health when he was Minister for Health. He was voted the worst health minister in Australia's history. There's one thing you can be sure of: you will be worse off if Mr Dutton wins the election. (Time expired)