ADJOURNMENT

Senator WHITEAKER (Western Australia) (20:00): Well, from 1 July, so in just a couple of days, Australians will see real change. Wage rises, lower taxes, a fairer go at the checkout, more support for new parents, stronger Medicare and more help for people trying to buy their first home. Labor came to government focused on helping Australians with the cost of living, focused on helping people earn more and keep more of what they earn—and that's exactly what we are delivering.

We know Australians have been under pressure and that many feel the economy has not been working for them. We have been committed to undoing the pressures that have built up over many decades, and over the last decade in particular. These have been made worse by conflicts overseas, which have pushed up prices at home.

That's why the Albanese Labor government is committed to delivering practical change that benefits all Australians. From 1 July, there will be six important changes that every Australian should know about. No. 1, every working Australian is receiving another tax cut.

We delivered them last year, and the year before, and we're delivering another one. That means that people will keep more of what they earn. It means more money back in the pockets of working Australians.

Whether you're paying rent, paying your mortgage, filling up the car, doing the weekly grocery shop or trying to save for the future—that matters. Our tax cuts are helping with the cost of living and making sure that working Australians are not left behind. No. 2, three million workers around the country are getting a pay rise.

Minimum and award wage workers will see their wages go up again. Our government lobbied for these changes and we are very pleased to see that they are being delivered. It includes workers in retail, hospitality, care, cleaning, early education and so many other parts of our economy that help the people who need it and keep our country moving.

They are some of the hardest workers who deserve every dollar and more that they earn. Labor backed a real pay rise for these workers because we believe that working people should be able to get ahead, not continue to fall behind. Lower taxes and higher wages together mean real support for working Australians, and that is only something that our Labor government is able to deliver.

No. 3, paid parental leave is being expanded to a full six months. This means more support for parents in those very precious early few months, more time at home with a new baby and more flexibility for how parents share those caring responsibilities at the most important times, and sometimes the toughest times, in life. And, thanks to Labor, parents will now receive superannuation on their paid parental leave.

It's good for families and it is certainly good for our economy. No. 4, Labor is banning supermarket price gouging. We all know that feeling when you go to the supermarket and you're doing the weekly grocery shop—if you're like me, it's probably more of a few-times-a-week grocery shop.

Australians deserve a fair go when they get to the checkout, and that is what Labor is delivering because we don't want Australians to be ripped off when they go to the supermarket. They should not be paying artificially inflated prices because big supermarkets think they can get away with it. Well, from 1 July they won't because our government will be holding them to account.

No. 5, Labor is making Medicare urgent care clinics a permanent part of Medicare. These free Medicare urgent care clinics were promised by Labor. We promised 137 and we have delivered every single one of them.

Under Labor, we're making sure that they are a permanent part of Medicare. They're something that Australians can rely on. And, of course, that's on top of more bulk-billing that we have delivered through our Medicare incentives so that more Australians can see a GP for free.

No. 6, finally, Labor is investing in women's health by expanding endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics to include menopause and perimenopause services, something I know that women across the country will be really, really pleased about. It's because Labor takes women's health seriously. These are practical changes that come into effect in just two days—Labor values in action.

From 1 July, Australians will continue to benefit from our plan to make sure they earn more and keep more of what they earn.