MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Ms WITTY (Melbourne) (16:08): Labor governments have always understood something those opposite never can. A strong economy matters because of what it means for people. It means the security of a decent job.
It means knowing you can afford to go to see a doctor when you are sick. It means being able to support your family. It means being confident that, after a lifetime of work, you can retire with dignity.
That is what motivates this government. Even in the face of significant global economic uncertainty, the Albanese Labor government has remained focused on backing working people time and time again—backing families, pensioners, students, young people, first home buyers and frontline workers and backing the Australians who keep this country moving every day. There is a reason Labor has always fought for fair wages, stronger workplace rights and a stronger safety net.
It's that we believe everyone—yes, everyone—deserves a fair go. When this country was hit was hit by global inflation issues and rising costs, we did not tell people they were on their own like those opposite continue to do. We delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer, we made medicines cheaper, we strengthened Medicare, we expanded Paid Parental Leave, we increased supports for families and we backed wage rises because that is what Labor governments do.
From 1 July this year, more than 14 million Australians received another tax cut thanks to Labor's reforms. A worker on average wages will pay up to $2,800 less tax than they otherwise would have. From 1 July this year, the minimum wage increased beyond $1,000 a week for the first time ever.
Since Labor came to office, the national minimum wage has increased by more than $12,000 a year. New ABS figures released last week showed average weekly full-time earnings have increased by more than $300 a week since this government was elected. That is not a country standing still.
That is not a country going backwards. That is workers earning more and keeping more of what they earn. From 1 July, payday super commenced, helping close the $6.2 billion unpaid super gap by ensuring workers receive their super contributions alongside their wages, because the retirement savings of workers earned beyond belong to workers.
Nowhere are Labor values more clear than in the way we support families. From 1 July, eligible families can access up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave. Parents can receive almost $30,000 in support whilst spending time at home with a new child.
Parents receiving paid parental leave also receive super. Those reforms reflect who we are as a government. We believe parents should be able to spend time with their child.
That is important for families. We believe families deserve support. We believe caring for a child should not come at the expense of economic security.
These policies are part of a bigger story, a story about what kind of country we want to be—a country where hard work is rewarded, where health care is affordable, where retirement comes with dignity, where families get the support they need, a country where opportunity is not reserved for those fortunate few like those opposite would have you believe. That has always been Labor's mission and it remains Labor's mission today.
The difference between this government and the three right-wing parties on the other side could not be more clear. We are a government focused on building Australia's future, increasing wages, expanding Medicare, growing super and supporting families. Those are Labor values, those are Australian values and those are my values.
While those opposite spend their time talking Australia down again and again, Labor will keep building up and keep delivering. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: This discussion has now concluded.