QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (15:05): I thank the member for Ryan for her question. I'm asked about a comparison between our government after four years, and I'm happy to give some. Employment is now 14.8 million.
It was 13.5 million when we were elected. The participation rate is higher today than it was then, even in spite of the growth in population. It is 66.8 per cent, up half a per cent even with the increased population.
The gender pay gap was 14.2 per cent. It's now 11.3 per cent, a record low, the lowest it has ever been. Women employed full time—the member would be interested—has gone from 3.6 million to 4.1 million.
There were 128,000 industrial disputes in the last quarter of the coalition government. In the June quarter, the latest figures, it's now 21,200. It's down almost by one out of six.
Annual headline inflation, of course, had a six in front. Now it's got a four in front. Annual wage growth was 2.6.
It's now 3.2. The investment the whole way through, in the budget— Honourable members interjecting— Mr ALBANESE: You asked the question. Mr ALBANESE: When it comes to fiscal policy, something that's been the subject of some debate today, a $78 billion deficit was anticipated in their last year.
We turned that into a $22 billion surplus thanks to the Treasurer. The next year, the $56 billion deficit was turned into a $15 billion surplus by this government. In 2024-25, a $47 billion deficit was reduced to $10 billion.
And in the last year, 2025-26, a $42.9 billion deficit was reduced to $20.3 billion. I do welcome the question, because what we are building is a stronger economy, a stronger Medicare, a responsible budget, more jobs, lower income taxes, higher wages and Australia's skill base through free TAFE. All of these measures are making a major difference from what we inherited in spite of the opposition that comes from those opposite and, occasionally, the opposition that comes from the 'no-alition', such as it did with the Greens party decision to oppose— (Time expired.)