House of Representatives

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the opposition had voted against tax cuts that would provide $212,000 in relief to individuals, arguing they preferred to fund nuclear reactors by cutting health and education. He highlighted that real wages had increased for five consecutive quarters, contrasting this with the previous government's record. He noted the introduction of three tranches of energy bill relief and the largest investment in Medicare since its inception, including tripling the bulk-billing incentive for 25 million Australians with an $812 billion injection. He also mentioned funding for 50 urgent care clinics, reducing medicine costs to $25, and making TAFE free, asserting that the opposition opposed every measure.

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 Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer noted that the Shadow Treasurer had voted against tax cuts for every Australian worker on the same day. He argued that if the opposition genuinely cared about living standards, they would have supported the tax cuts. He stated that the budget focused on cost-of-living relief, strengthening Medicare, and building the future. He highlighted new inflation data showing headline and underlying inflation were down, attributing this to responsible management. He concluded that the opposition's vote against tax cuts demonstrated a preference for higher taxes and cuts to services, which would make Australians worse off.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister reported that 87 clinics had opened, seeing over 1.2 million patients, with one-third seen on weekends and one-third under 15, all fully bulk-billed. He stated that last night's budget funded 50 more clinics, including one in Ellenbrook, ensuring four in five Australians would live within a 20-minute drive of a clinic. He noted that more than two million patients would be seen annually, relieving pressure on emergency departments. He criticized the opposition for opposing these clinics from the start, suggesting they preferred user-pays healthcare, and highlighted that a clinic would be established in the Yarra Ranges despite opposition leadership resistance.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the regions were a major focus of the budget, citing an average tax cut of $43 a week in the member's electorate and expected health benefits from bulk-billing reforms. He acknowledged the two funds mentioned, noting they already contained $1 billion in investment ($600 million and $400 million respectively). He argued that other investments, such as NBN upgrades, regional health care, education, and ensuring bank access, also supported regional areas. He emphasized that the government was finding robust ways to invest in regions as the economy recovered.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer highlighted that inflation had fallen to 2.4 per cent monthly and 2.7 per cent annually, within the Reserve Bank's target range. He stated that real wages were up, unemployment was low, and debt was decreasing, with interest rate cuts beginning. He argued that the budget's investments in cost-of-living relief, Medicare, education, and housing were consistent with inflation coming down faster than anticipated. He emphasized that the opposition's vote against tax cuts proved they would make Australians worse off by maintaining higher taxes and cutting services.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the government had allocated $33 billion for housing investment to increase supply. He noted that net overseas migration was decreasing substantially after a post-pandemic spike, and the government was responsibly managing it down. He criticized the opposition for failing to clarify their own migration policies, citing the Shadow Treasurer's inability to distinguish between permanent intake and net overseas migration during a press conference. He urged the opposition to state their alternative views clearly.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Minister stated that workers in Reid earned more due to government actions, contrasting this with the opposition's votes for lower wages and higher taxes. He highlighted that real wages had grown for five consecutive quarters, reversing the decline under the previous government. He noted the removal of non-compete clauses in the budget to allow workers to seek better pay. He cited examples of wage improvements for flight attendants, mining workers, gig workers, and aged care staff, asserting that the opposition opposed these gains and sought to cut services while maintaining tax levels.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the combined tax cuts would provide $50 a week to help with cost-of-living pressures. He argued that if the member cared about these pressures, he would have voted for the tax cuts. He criticized the Liberal Party for voting against lower income taxes, suggesting this decision was unpopular even within their own backbench.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer confirmed that tax cuts were being delivered three times for every taxpayer, with the bulk already flowing and two more top-ups scheduled. He emphasized that this helped people earn more and keep more of their income. He contrasted this with the opposition's alleged secret agenda for cuts that would make Australians worse off. He stated that the opposition wanted to return to higher inflation and stagnant wages, whereas the government had deliberately pursued a different approach to wages and tax cuts.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that the Shadow Treasurer was confused, as the instant asset write-off was already in the budget but being held up by the opposition in the Senate. He argued that if the opposition cared about small business, they would vote for the legislation that had been in parliament for eight months. He noted that energy bill relief for small businesses was also being provided, which the opposition had previously opposed. He suggested that once the write-off passed, further assistance could be considered.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister stated that $1.8 billion in energy bill relief was flowing to households and small businesses, alongside tax cuts totaling over $2,000 a year for the average taxpayer. He identified the opposition's nuclear policy as a risk, noting that the Shadow Treasurer had failed to provide a clear cost estimate for it, dismissing both $600 billion and $331 billion figures as nonsense. He argued that the cost of nuclear power would likely be paid for by cuts to health and education, which the opposition had previously criticized as wasteful spending.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister highlighted the government's 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and various programs including the safeguard mechanism and Solar Sunshot. He stated that 100 million hectares of ocean and bush had been protected, including quadrupling the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve. He noted a $250 million program to protect 30 per cent of landmass by 2030, blocking a proposed coal mine, and doubling funding for national parks. He also mentioned $550 million for threatened species and an urban rivers program, suggesting the Greens had delayed some implementation.

Answer from Catherine King

The Minister stated that the government had increased wages in female-dominated industries like aged care and early childhood education, delivered cheaper childcare, and added contraceptives and menopause treatments to the PBS. She noted over $4 billion invested in women's safety and expanded paid parental leave, resulting in women receiving $217 more per week on average compared to May 2022. She warned that the opposition's history of cuts threatened these gains, potentially affecting wages, childcare access, and superannuation benefits for women.

Answer from Julie Collins

The Minister confirmed that the instant asset write-off for the current financial year was $20,000, but noted that the legislation had been in parliament for eight months without opposition support. She stated that over $2 billion had been provided to small businesses over the term, including $290 million in energy bill relief, which the opposition had also opposed. She implied that the opposition's delay tactics were hindering small business support.

Answer from Anne Aly

The Minister reported that there were 42,000 more educators, 1,189 more services, and 97,000 more children in care since 2022. She stated that cheaper childcare reforms had reduced out-of-pocket costs by 17 per cent, saving families an average of $4,400. She highlighted the three-day guarantee, which would save 70,000 families $1,370 a year, and $1 billion set aside to build new services. She criticized the opposition for having no plan and intending to cut essential services.

Answer from Julie Collins

The Minister stated that the government had introduced the legislation in June to provide certainty, noting the opposition had delayed it until the last week of the previous financial year. She said that if the opposition committed to getting it through speedily, the government would see what it could do. She emphasized the need for certainty for small businesses and noted the opposition's history of delaying such measures.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the Department of Veterans' Affairs was the best resourced in decades, with 640 additional staff hired since 2022. He reported that the backlog of 42,000 unallocated claims had been cleared, reducing allocation time from 200 days to 14 days. He noted that claims lodged had increased from 66,000 in 2021-22 to 89,530 last year, with 148,294 decisions made in the first eight months of the current year. He warned that the opposition planned to roll back these staffing levels, which would threaten the processing of claims.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer confirmed that the budget indicated debt would exceed a trillion dollars, but noted that the government had inherited this level of debt. He stated that debt had decreased by $177 billion compared to the previous year due to responsible management. He highlighted that the government had delivered two budget surpluses and found almost $100 billion in savings, making the budget bottom line $207 billion stronger than under the previous government. He emphasized that the task of budget repair was ongoing.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister stated that the budget included almost $800 million for women's health, addressing decades of neglect. He noted that three new oral contraceptives, including Slinda, had been added to the PBS, benefiting 100,000 women. He also mentioned three new menopause hormone treatments added to the PBS, saving 150,000 women up to $400 annually, and two new endometriosis medicines, one saving women nearly $3,000 a year. He highlighted increased funding for GP support during menopause and long-acting contraception, asserting that these actions were unprecedented in recent history.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Minister stated that net overseas migration had fallen by 31 per cent year-on-year, including a 31 per cent drop in student visas. He criticized the opposition for voting to make student visas unlimited when the government proposed restrictions. He noted that the 'golden ticket' visa had been removed, which the opposition wanted to restore. He argued that the primary driver of migration was visa issuance, stating that the Leader of the Opposition had issued more visas than any other minister in Australian history during his tenure.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister stated that the budget included $2.6 billion for pay rises for aged-care nurses, bringing total investment since 2023 to $17.7 billion. She noted that registered nurses were earning an extra $430 a week, or $22,000 a year, and would keep an additional $2,667 due to tax cuts. She highlighted benefits from Medicare investments, cheaper medicines, and affordable housing plans. She warned that the coalition would cut services while maintaining tax levels, threatening the progress made for aged-care workers.