PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Ms STANLEY (Werriwa—Government Whip) (19:25): When the Albanese Labor government was elected in May 2022, we inherited a trillion dollars in debt, bigger deficits and stagnant wage growth. The government and its ministers have worked hard to deliver a budget that is $45 billion stronger than what we inherited, with more than $64 billion in savings. Last year, debt was down, almost $200 billion lower than we inherited.

As a share of the economy, it is also lower. The responsible budget management of this government has allowed us to deliver another round of permanent tax cuts. From 2026-27, the Albanese Labor government is introducing a $1,000 instant tax deduction for Australian workers.

Around 6.2 million Australians will benefit from this much-needed reform, and they'll save between $200 and $440 per year. In addition, from the 2027-28 income year, there will be a $250 working Australians tax offset. This will benefit over 13 million Australian workers and is on top of the already announced three rounds of legislative tax cuts, which this year will deliver additional $250 back to taxpayers.

All up, the suite of tax reforms introduced by the Albanese Labor government returns nearly $3,000 to the average Australian worker. Returning into the pay packet of those who earn it is the Labor way, and I know it will greatly benefit thousands of constituents in my electorate and help them with their bills. But tax cuts aren't just limited to individual Australians.

They also extend to the backbone of Australia's success—small business. The Albanese Labor government knows that a successful small-business sector is good for jobs, good for the economy, good for our international reputation and, more importantly, good for our children's future. That's why this budget is making a $20,00 instant tax write-off permanent.

In New South Wales, this will benefit about 1.3 million businesses and thousands in the electorate of Werriwa. Importantly, by making this instant tax write-off permanent, we're removing the uncertainty that makes life for small business so difficult. This is nation building in action.

In addition to making the instant tax write-off permanent, the budget also boosts resilience and dynamism. The Albanese Labor government will introduce a permanent two-year loss carry back for all companies with up to a billion dollars in turnover, and that will take effect on the years after 1 July 2026. Around 32,000 businesses in New South Wales will be eligible each year.

Also, core to the needs of my electorate and all Australians is having a world-class health system. Labor knows this and, since coming into power, the Labor government has acted to fund initiatives to improve Medicare and health in general. There are 32 bulk-billing practices in Werriwa, which is an increase of seven since Labor's changes.

In addition, over 98 per cent of all GP consultations in Werriwa are bulk-billed. Across New South Wales there's a staggering 1,458 fully bulk-billing practices. This is a fantastic improvement in just four years and is helping families with the cost of living.

Further, the Albanese government has also delivered on its promise regarding an additional Medicare urgent care clinic in our community. Since opening the UCC in Austral, it has seen thousands of patients, taking the pressure off our stretched public hospitals as well. Across New South Wales, the figures are also impressive.

Since the urgent care network commenced in 2023, there have been over 623,000 bulk-billed visits. A critical cost-of-living expense for many in my electorate also relates to the changes in the cost of prescriptions. If people are sick, they should be able to afford the cost of a script to improve their health.

Under Labor's cheaper medicines policies, there are well over 1.6 million cheaper scripts filled in Werriwa, saving nearly $10 million. The total cost for New South Wales is a staggering $126 million. Time doesn't allow me to fully discuss the other ways our government is making lives better for people in our community, but there's a $1.4 billion upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue, a five per cent deposit scheme to help young people purchase their first home and a $1.5 billion investment that allows people to get the skills they need for free at TAFE, and more money in the states to ensure there's fair funding for all students in the country's schools.

This government knows that people are under pressure, and our policies right across the economy will help everyone. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Lawrence ): The time allotted for this debate has expired. Federation Chamber adjourned at 19:30