Fiona Phillips

Answer from Kristy McBain

The minister reported $361 million in housing support, $2 billion in the Local Infrastructure Fund, and $750 million for Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs. She highlighted specific projects like the Cannonvale Community Hub and Langhorne Creek Discovery Trail. She contrasted this with the previous government's use of regional grants for urban projects like the North Sydney pool.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister reported that 535,833 households had installed cheaper home batteries, with more than 10 per cent of households in seven electorates participating. He highlighted that the electorate of Mitchell had the highest participation rate at 12.5 per cent. He stated that total installed capacity had reached 15 gigawatt hours, exceeding the entire US home battery capacity. He argued that the opposition's desire to abolish the program was the only thing that could stop this progress, citing high public support for the policy.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer reported that the Reserve Bank kept interest rates unchanged at 4.35 per cent, providing relief to mortgage holders. He noted that inflation forecasts had been downgraded while growth forecasts were upgraded, with inflation moderating for three consecutive months. He attributed persistent price pressures partly to the war in the Middle East. He highlighted that Australia retained its AAA credit rating and had lower gross debt than other major advanced economies, attributing this to responsible economic management.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The Minister highlighted $600 million in Growing Regions Fund funding, citing specific projects in Mission Beach and Wynyard. She announced $750 million for future rounds and $400 million for the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. She contrasted the government's merit-based grants with the previous government's allocation of funds to coalition-held seats.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister explained that the government had cut the fuel excise and released fuel reserves to aid distribution, particularly in regional areas. He noted diplomatic engagements with trading partners in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Japan, Korea, and China to secure supplies. Through Export Finance Australia, additional cargoes of fuel and fertiliser were being shipped to Australia. The budget would include a $10 billion Australian fuel security and resilience package, establishing a state-owned stockpile of one billion litres to lift national reserves to 50 days and creating a fuel and fertiliser security facility.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister highlighted the opening of 132 urgent care clinics and expanded medical school places in Cairns, Launceston, and the Northern Territory. He noted a 50 per cent increase in newly registered doctors since pre-COVID levels and record enrolments in general practice, with 2,100 young doctors choosing the field this year.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The minister highlighted investments in roads, health, and education, including doubling the Roads to Recovery Program to $1 billion annually. She noted the opening of 126 Medicare urgent care clinics, 40 in regional areas. She criticized the opposition for lacking a regional strategy, citing their election review which omitted regional issues.

Answer from Sam Rae

The minister stated that bulk-billing for over-64s was now over 88 per cent, with 32 fully bulk-billing clinics in the member's community. He noted that 96 per cent of older Australians lived within 20 minutes of a bulk-billing GP. The minister highlighted PBS medicine cost caps, with concession card holders paying $7.70 and an annual cap of $277. He also mentioned $25 billion in extra hospital funding and the opening of 137 urgent care clinics.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The minister reported that 220,000 Australians had accessed the five per cent deposit scheme, with 73,000 living in regional areas. She highlighted $1.5 billion in housing infrastructure funding for roads, sewerage, and water, mostly directed to regions. She noted that the Housing Australia Future Fund included a dedicated regional stream for social and affordable homes in locations such as Tamworth and Shepparton. She criticized the previous government for building no social or affordable homes in regional areas.

Answer from Catherine King; Anthony Albanese

The Minister announced that administrators had secured a way forward with Air T, subject to a creditors meeting. The government would support Air T in restructuring Rex's debts in exchange for commitments to preserve regional connectivity, including returning aircraft and increasing flight frequency. A new $5 million program was established for local government-owned airports. The Prime Minister congratulated the Minister on the achievement, noting it prevented regional communities from losing aviation services.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister reported that 108,494 households had taken up the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, with high participation in regional electorates such as Page, Richmond, and Riverina. He noted that many households with solar and batteries achieve net zero energy bills or receive payments. He highlighted that approximately $200 million in community benefits and $1 billion in benefits for landholders and farmers would flow to regional communities by 2030. He argued that climate change poses a threat to regional Australia through natural disasters and falling farm productivity, citing a delegate from the Young Nationals who warned that moving away from net zero would harm future generations.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister reported that 81,413 batteries had been delivered in the first 100 days of the policy. He highlighted high uptake in regional and outer-suburban areas across multiple states. He noted that half of those installing batteries are also adding solar panels, potentially reducing annual bills by over $2,000. He criticized the opposition for opposing the policy during the election and warned that they might cut it if elected.

Answer from Sam Rae

The minister announced that the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program would commence on 1 November. He noted that 20,000 additional homecare packages would be fast-tracked in the eight weeks leading up to this date, with a further 63,000 packages to be rolled out by June 2026. He highlighted existing reforms, including mandated 24/7 registered nursing, which had delivered over 6.8 million additional minutes of care daily. He also mentioned a $17.7 billion investment to increase aged-care worker wages.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The minister reported a reduction in emissions of 612 million tons in the year to March, across all sectors except transport. He noted that 36,592 households had installed cheaper home batteries, with Gilmore having the highest uptake in New South Wales. He criticized the opposition's Canavan review and the introduction of an anti-net-zero bill by National Party and Liberal members. He stated that the government remained committed to climate action, contrasting it with the opposition's stance.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that parliament had approved the tax reductions in the 2025 budget, providing an average benefit of $50 a week. He noted that the first rate of tax was now the lowest in half a century. He criticized the shadow Treasurer for admitting that the opposition would increase income taxes for every taxpayer if elected. He argued that this would increase tax-to-GDP ratios and harm participation, setting up a clear choice between the government's tax cuts and the opposition's tax increases.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister confirmed that all 14 million taxpayers would receive tax cuts starting next year, reducing the lowest marginal rate from 16 per cent to 14 per cent. He stated that under the previous plan, those earning under $45,000 would have received nothing, and the opposition had voted against providing any relief to these three million Australians. He emphasized that the average tax cut would be $212,000, combined with cheaper childcare, fee-free TAFE, energy bill relief, and Medicare urgent care clinics. He also highlighted industrial relations reforms, including the right to disconnect and same job, same pay provisions, contrasting this with the opposition's desire to cut wages while maintaining tax levels.

Answer from Catherine King

The Minister announced support for short-listed bidders to ensure the successful sale of Rex Airlines to maintain services beyond 30 June. She stated that if no second sale occurred, the government would consider contingency options, including Commonwealth acquisition. She criticized the opposition for opposing government intervention in regional aviation while supporting publicly owned nuclear reactors.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister detailed the government's support for Rex, including an $80 million loan, acquisition of $50 million in debt, and $12 million for airport upgrades. He stated the government would work with bidders to maximize a successful sale but would consider Commonwealth acquisition if necessary to prevent isolation of regional communities. He criticized the opposition for opposing government intervention in aviation while supporting large-scale public spending on nuclear energy.

Answer from Ed Husic

The Minister emphasized the strategic importance of rebuilding manufacturing capability and reducing reliance on concentrated supply chains. He cited the National Reconstruction Fund and a $2 billion investment plan for aluminium smelters as key measures. He stated that the opposition's consistent rejection of these initiatives, including production tax credits, represented the alternative approach that would leave the sector worse off.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer described the government's strategy of relief, repair, and reform, citing tax cuts, energy bill relief, cheaper medicines, and rent assistance. He claimed the opposition lacked credible economic policies and would need to cut $350 billion in services and find $600 billion for nuclear power, likely by targeting Medicare and hospitals. He contrasted this with the government's $1.7 billion investment in public hospitals.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister highlighted $1.7 billion in additional funding for public hospitals for the next year, aimed at reducing waiting lists and emergency room times. He noted that the Commonwealth contribution to state-run hospitals would increase by 12 per cent to almost $34 billion. He also pointed to the tripling of the bulk-billing incentive and the establishment of 87 Medicare urgent care clinics, which had provided over one million free appointments. He contrasted this with the Coalition's previous attempt to cut $50 billion from public hospitals and their current plan for unspecified cuts.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Minister stated that real wages had grown for four consecutive quarters. He noted that the minimum wage had increased by nearly $150 a week, a rise that took the previous government an entire term to achieve. He cited specific examples of pay rises for supermarket workers, meatworkers, and coal miners due to bargaining laws and 'same job, same pay' provisions. He warned that the opposition would freeze or cut wages and spend billions on corporate lunches instead.