Motion on the Government delivering on its commitments

Motion on the Government delivering on its election commitments

I move that this House:

1. notes that since the last sitting of the House, the following have come into effect:
   (a)cheaper child care;
   (b) strengthened paid parental leave;
   (c) reform to the Safeguard Mechanism;
   (d) registered nurses in aged care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
   (e) the National Anti-Corruption Commission;
   (f) a pay rise for aged care workers;
   (g) the Small Business Energy Incentive;
   (h) additional support for more social and affordable rental housing;
   (i) expanding eligibility for the Home Guarantee Scheme;
   (j) the net zero economy agency; and
   (k) a pathway to citizenship for New Zealand citizens;
   
2. further notes that the Government has delivered on these commitments in the face of relentless negativity and opposition from the Liberal-National Coalition; and
   
   
3. acknowledges that the Government has not wasted a day since coming to government by laying strong foundations.
   

Well, 1 July saw some of this government's changes of the past 12 months come into effect, and in my community they have been greatly celebrated. On wages, the minimum wage is up by $1.85 an hour, taking the total increase under the Labor government to nearly $3 an hour. And 2.7 million workers across the country who are on awards have received a 5.75 per cent pay rise—the largest increase since 2009. In a community like mine, where people are working hard to get a start in life—perhaps to buy that first home, or they're new families with young children—these pay rises are really reducing cost-of-living pressures.

Regarding aged care, I note that, like many of my colleagues, across the winter break I visited some of our aged-care facilities, where I was able, with staff, to celebrate the pay rise for aged-care workers, with 250,000 aged-care workers across the country receiving a 15 per cent pay rise. This means that nurses who are on award wages will earn an extra $10,000 where they're working in aged care. And of course there are the changes that see engagement in care by registered nurses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which I know residents were really pleased to see.

Another change coming in on 1 July was around cheaper child care. Again, across the break I visited some childcare centres in my electorate and was really pleased to hear about not just how pleased staff were about their pay increases but also their commitment to a quality education as well as care in my electorate. This increases subsidies for up to 1.2 million families across the country. And a Commonwealth Bank economic insight noted: 'The changes to the childcare subsidy are expected to see a 32 per cent decline in out-of-pocket expenses for households. It is worth noting that cheaper child care for families will also, in the medium term, put downward pressure on inflationary pressures in the economy.' Well, that is good news for families in my electorate, and that was celebrated across the electorate.

We've also seen electricity bill relief, with $3 billion to help shield five million households and one million small businesses across the country. And the Small Business Energy Incentive comes into play. The bonus tax dedication will provide businesses that have an annual turnover of less than $50 million with an additional 20 per cent deduction on spending that supports electrification and the more-efficient use of energy. On top of that we've had additional support for more social and affordable rental housing. We've got the $2 billion social housing accelerator and we've expanded eligibility for the Home Guarantee Scheme. This week we'll reintroduce the HAFF bill into the parliament and ask those opposite to support this important piece of legislation that would see more support for those who most need it getting into housing.

On top of that, 1 July marked further action on climate change, with the reform to the safeguard mechanisms coming into play and the establishment of the Net Zero Economy Agency. The transformation to a net zero economy is a significant source of opportunity for Australia, its regions and its workers as our new industries emerge. The establishment of the Net Zero Economy Agency will help manage the transformation and ensure that the benefits of the net zero economy are realised and shared. It will engage with communities, regional bodies, industry, investors and First Nations groups.

On 1 July, the National Anti-Corruption Commission came online. This was long overdue. It was promised by the former government, yet not delivered. It has now been established by this Labor government. We've also seen a pathway for citizenship for New Zealand citizens, with much celebration in my community. This is certainly being celebrated across the electorate of Lalor. This has all been done in the face of deliberate, relentless negativity from those opposite, and, in some instances, joined by the Greens party. This is a serious government that is cleaning up the mess of a decade of a Liberal-National coalition government. We are helping ease the cost-of-living pressures without adding to inflation, and we're laying a strong foundation for a better future. I'm proud to be a member of this government. I'm proud to stand here post 1 July with those new things implemented so that we can build a better Australia.