Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027
Ms JARRETT (Brisbane) (18:18): Despite the comments from those opposite, I am actually very proud to stand here today as a member of the Labor government that has been delivering on commitments to all Australians. We've delivered on so many. Here are three of the best.
No. 1 is making health care cheaper and more accessible, with more free doctor visits following record investments in bulk-billing, $25 PBS scripts, free Medicare urgent care clinics, including the great new one in Kelvin Grove in my electorate, and the free walk-in Medicare mental health centres, including one in Lutwyche in Brisbane. No. 2 is supporting wage increases for our lowest paid workers, including aged-care workers and those who service at our local pubs.
Low-paid workers will see an increase of between 4.75 per cent and six per cent in their pay packets in about three weeks. No. 3 is enabling almost 250,000 first home buyers into a home of their own and building 5,000 social and affordable homes for those in need. These reforms have made a real difference to every worker and their families.
Let's not forget that those opposite opposed all of these measures. There is so much going on in the world around us at the moment—a war in the Middle East, oil price shocks and natural disasters. This Labor government can't control these events, but we can support Australians who are impacted and who continue to do it tough.
That's why, in this '26 budget, we continue to roll out responsible cost-of-living relief for people across Brisbane and Australia. It's why we've taken strong decisions to introduce big reforms that start to address intergenerational inequalities, especially when it comes to housing, to make our tax system fairer. It's why we've designed this budget to make our economy more resilient.
At the same time, we're building a responsible and a stronger budget with lower deficits and less debt, which will help take pressure off inflation and build our fiscal buffers during these times of global uncertainty. Responsible economic management is a defining feature of this government, and this budget is our most responsible yet. Decisions in this budget mean we're saving more and we're spending less compared to the midyear update.
And, as a proportion of the economy, debt is below what we inherited from those opposite. This is strong economic management by our Labor government. This government is committed to helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn.
We're delivering another tax cut for 13 million Australian taxpayers from 1 July this year. That's on top of the one from last year, and there'll be the third one in July next year. We're taking an extra $250 off working Australians' tax bills permanently, and there's the $1,000 instant tax deduction without receipts.
That, of course, comes on top of cutting fuel taxes to save many when they fill up at the bowser. One of the most important reforms of this Labor government's tax package is rebalancing tax payments so that the system is fairer for everyone, especially young people. What I hear when I talk to our community in Brisbane is 'We're working hard.
It's tough to get ahead. The system is not working for us'—and guess what? They're right.
The status quo is not working, especially when it comes to the big Australian dream of owning your own home. We've already delivered five per cent deposits for first home buyers, and we're building 100,000 homes just for them. But right now, first home buyers are being priced out by property investors backed by tax breaks like negative gearing, which also happens to be helping drive up the price of homes.
This can't go on. A whole generation is being left behind. That's why we're acting.
We're levelling the playing field for first home buyers by changing the capital gains tax and negative gearing. Another thing we're doing is making housing more affordable by building more homes, and that's why we're helping fund some of the essential infrastructure like water, power and roads. Labor has always been and always will be the party of fairness in Australia.
That's why this budget is pro aspiration. It's pro-worker. It's pro-investor.
It's for every young person who dreams to buy a home. It's for every person who goes to work every day, maybe before dawn or working through the night, and who brings home that pay packet but is still finding it tough. It's for those who have fallen on tough times, and it's for those who want to invest.
This government is doing everything it can to help Australians with the cost of living, and we're changing the tax system to make it fairer for our younger generation. Now the LNP has a clear choice. They can continue to watch the ground sink beneath young people's feet and pretend that it's solid, or they can join us and recognise that Australians need a tax system that works for everyone.
While those opposite continue to be focused on themselves, this Labor government is focused on delivering for all Australians.