ADJOURNMENT
Senator GREEN (Queensland—Assistant Minister for Tourism, Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs and Assistant Minister for Northern Australia) (19:29): What we've seen over the last two weeks in the Senate from those opposite has been pretty extraordinary. We have seen them vote against the legislation of a policy they previously supported. We've seen them split on policy decisions.
We've seen them make announcements but not really make announcements. Perhaps it's just the National Party making announcements. And we've seen from those opposites more calls to spend more but also spend less at the same time.
And from One Nation, well, we've seen them reverse a policy on gas reservations—it was something they supported previously—and use language and make offensive comments about Indigenous Australians. Australians can see the really stark contrast between those opposite, who are bitterly divided and intent on dividing this country, and the government, who is delivering real change.
We know that Australians are under pressure, and we know that the government's job is to ease that cost-of-living pressure. That has been the No. 1 priority of the Albanese Labor government. Our approach has been about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn, while bringing down the cost of essentials that families simply cannot avoid.
While those opposite were opposing tax cuts and actually going to the last election proposing to raise taxes on families, our government's been delivering high wages and tax cuts for every taxpayer. While those opposite have been calling things like fee-free TAFE a waste of money, we've been delivering cheaper child care, reducing student debt and delivering paid prac.
While those opposite voted against cheaper medicines six times in the Senate, our government has been strengthening Medicare so that you can see a doctor with your Medicare card, not your credit card. We've also delivered $25 scripts. While those opposite have opposed wage rises at every opportunity, our government has consistently backed wage increases for Australia's lowest paid workers.
It is a very stark contrast for working families in particular. For so many years those opposite opposed any type of wage increase for the lowest paid workers in this country. Our government has backed those wage increases, and, under our government, from 1 July this year, the national minimum wage increase will be six per cent, becoming more than $1,000 a week for the first time ever.
Since our government came to office, the national minimum wage has increased by $6.11 per hour, $230 per week, nearly $12,000 per year and 30 per cent. Modern award wages have also increased by 4.7 per cent, delivering a pay boost to around 2.7 million award reliant workers across the country. We believe that Australians deserve more, and we believe in helping Australians keep more of what they earn.
We know that every Australian taxpayer received another tax cut from 1 July this year on top of tax cuts that we delivered in 2024. More than 3.2 million Australians have had their student debt cut by 20 per cent. We're also ensuring that younger people trying to build their lives and save for home can get ahead, and we're helping them get there.
For families, we're making early childhood education and care more accessible, and from January this year, eligible families have been guaranteed at least three days of subsidised early childhood education and care each week. While those opposite have said that child care is institutionalising our kids, we've been delivering for families. When it comes to healthcare, this is where we've done the real heavy lifting.
The national GP bulk-billing rate reached 81.9 per cent for the first time in the first three months of this year, up 4.6 percentage points compared to the same time last year. In my hometown of Cairns, what that means practically is that there are now 10 new bulk-billing clinics since our bulk-billing changes came in. This is making it easier to see a GP for free.
Senate adjourned at 19:34