MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Ms CAMPBELL (Moreton) (15:58): So full of sincerity for the wellbeing of Australians are the opposition that they couldn't even stick around for the MPI debate. So full of sincerity for the wellbeing of Australians are the opposition that they couldn't proofread the question without leaving a word out. So full of sincerity for the wellbeing of Australians are the opposition that they can't be straight with them about the challenges that our global economy faces—about the realities of a war in the Middle East and about the need for a government who is going to back them in when times are tough.
If we want to talk about economic track records, then one thing is clear: let's have a look at the highest deficit. It was a coalition government. The highest spending government was a coalition government.
The highest taxing government was a coalition government. Those are three dubious records. While we're talking about records and numbers, three isn't the most they've got.
Let's talk about five. Five times have the Liberals and Nationals sat across us in this chamber and voted against a tax cut for every taxpaying Australian. One time voting against a tax cut could be a mistake.
Three times voting against a tax cut is starting to sound like a trend. Five times voting against a tax cut sounds like it's a central pillar of the Liberal Party's manifesto. I think it's important to remember that Australians deserve better than a coalition who would cut everything from health to manufacturing rather than cut their taxes.
We know that, right now, Australians are doing it tough. It's rough out there. When people put groceries into their basket and wheel them up to the check-out, they're doing it tough.
When people drive up to the servo, pop the bowser in and watch the numbers tick over, they're doing it tough. When young people want to get into that first home—one to call their own and help plan for their future—they're doing it tough. But here's the thing: higher taxes will not put them in a better position, and nor will a half a trillion dollars worth of unfunded promises.
As I said, there's no question that the global economy is in a challenging, tough and uncertain time. We know that higher interest rates and inflation across the globe are impacting us back here at home. It's why the Albanese Labor government has got a responsible economic management plan.
It's why, when you look in the budget, you'll see the savings package and you'll see the productivity package. And it's why our focus is on shielding Australians from those incredibly challenging global economic conditions. As the Treasurer said earlier, it's not just us saying that.
The IMF has said that we have one of the strongest economies across the globe. Three credit-rating agencies reaffirmed the AAA credit rating in August and July this year—something that cannot be said of the Queensland government back in my home state. When you look across the deck, you will see that Australia and this Albanese Labor government have the lowest average unemployment rate in half a century, have an average growth faster than every other advanced major economy with the exception of the US, have had wages growing at more than three per cent for 16 consecutive quarters, have a budget that is $264 billion better off than what we inherited from those across the aisle and have gross debt that is less than half of the average of the G7.
Our motto on this side of the chamber is not to bury our heads in the sand and not to obfuscate the realities of the global economy but to reinvest in the health, housing and cost-of-living relief that Australians deserve every single day.