QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: TAKE NOTE OF ANSWERS
Senator DOLEGA (Tasmania) (15:18): It's a little bit conflicting today because finally we're actually hearing the coalition talking about the ACTU, which is a bit of a 'fall off your seat' moment for some of us. Senator Hume referred to comments by Mr Kelty, former secretary of the ACTU. Obviously, we may disagree with some of those comments, but, while we are talking about the ACTU and their achievements, I will take a moment to acknowledge the fine service of Sally McManus as the former secretary of the ACTU.
She was an absolute tiger and a champion of working people. Some of her achievements, going back into the COVID era, include forcing the former coalition government to protect working people with a wage subsidy that the coalition fiercely opposed. But Sally McManus and the ACTU absolutely secured that for working people, against the coalition's greatest wishes.
Under Sally McManus, union membership was up. She was a great leader, and people were joining unions. Her achievements also go to working with the government to achieve things like same job, same pay, closing the loopholes and our world-leading gig worker reforms.
So, Sally, as a union member I thank you for your service to our country. I also welcome my good friend and former CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly as the new secretary of the ACTU. I know you're going to be an absolutely fierce champion for all working Australians, as you were for public servants with the CPSU.
I'm just so proud of the policies of our government because, unlike those opposite, who wasted a decade and racked up $1 trillion of debt with nothing to show for it, on this side, we're actually delivering for Australians. We're delivering real change. We're delivering $2,800 in tax cuts for all Australians, including in our upcoming year a $1,000 instant tax deduction and our $250 working Australian tax offset.
We are the party of higher wages. We are the government and party that has supported the Fair Work Commission to grant pay rises to those who earn the least. The minimum wage has grown over $12,000 since we came into government, and that is nothing to sniff at.
I tell you what: on this side, we support people earning more and to have their share of the pie, unlike those on that side of the chamber. I believe it was former senator and former finance minister Mathias Cormann who was on Sky News and said low wages were 'a deliberate design feature' of their economic narrative. Shame!
They kept people's wages low by deliberate design. Outrageous! We on this side have been taking action to make it so people can go to the doctor.
We have strengthened and we are transforming Medicare with our urgent care clinics. The tripling of the bulk-billing incentive in my home town in north-west Tasmania has seen an 84 per cent bulk-billing increase, which is making it affordable for people to go to the doctor. We have cheaper medicines.
On this side, we are taking action to be able to give people a leg up. They did nothing but hold them back.