ADJOURNMENT

Ms DOYLE (Aston) (19:35): I echo the fine words of the member for Wannon and I too recommend that young people enter the My First Speech competition. It is a wondrous thing, and so many entrants have gone on to make fantastic speeches here. The 2026 budget marked a defining moment for our parliament and for our nation.

Our budget set out a clear and responsible plan to strengthen the economy, ease cost-of-living pressures and expand opportunities for all Australians. On this side of the chamber, we believe that aspiration and opportunity should be within reach of every Australian, not reserved for a select few. Our budget delivers practical support today while laying the foundations for long-term economic growth and stability.

From 1 July, a range of important changes will come into effect, changes that reflect our government's commitment to fairness and opportunity. This year's budget builds on our comprehensive tax reform agenda. Through our budget, millions of Australians will benefit from additional income tax relief, helping households better manage rising costs.

In the electorate of Aston, where many families are balancing mortgages and everyday expenses, this relief will make a meaningful difference. It will give households greater confidence, more flexibility in their household budgets and the ability to plan for the future. We are also delivering measures that support first home buyers and address housing challenges.

By reforming longstanding distortions in the tax system and encouraging investment in new housing, we are taking practical steps to improve affordability and increase opportunity for homeownership. These are reforms that will help ensure younger Australians are not locked out of the housing market, as they have been for many years. This week is particularly significant because many reforms outlined in the 2026 budget will begin from this Wednesday, 1 July.

One of the most significant and transformative changes that I wish to speak on this evening is the expansion of paid parental leave. Under our government, eligible families will be able to access up to 26 weeks of government funded paid parental leave, and this is a landmark reform that reflects our belief in supporting families during one of the most important periods of their lives.

For many families across the country, this change will be life changing. It means more time for parents with their newborns, supporting early development and strengthening family connections. It means more financial security, with payments totalling close to $30,000 for those accessing the full entitlement—more than double what was available before Labor came to government.

And, importantly, it means a fairer system. Parents will continue to receive superannuation contributions while on paid parental leave, ensuring that taking time out of the workforce to care for a child does not come at the expense of long-term financial security. These reforms also expand eligibility, with higher income thresholds allowing more families to access this vital support.

This is particularly important for many dual-income households who are navigating the challenges of work and family life. The benefits of this reform are clear: more time, more money and more access. Already, hundreds of thousands of families across Australia have benefited from earlier expansions.

From 1 July, that positive impact will grow even further. The measures in the 2026 budget and the changes commencing on 1 July represent a government focused on delivering practical outcomes: tax relief for workers, support for families, a fairer housing system and a transformed paid parental leave system that recognises the realities of modern family life. In Aston, these reforms will be felt not just in economic statistics but at kitchen tables, in local businesses and in the daily lives of families across the electorate.

This is targeted support, a long-term vision and a commitment to fairness. Our government are building an economy that works for all Australians, and we are doing so with a clear focus on the future.