Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (15:08):
My question is to the Prime Minister. As the final sitting week of the year comes to a close, what progress has the Australian government made to build Australia's future, and what alternatives are there?
Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (15:08): I thank the superb member for Hunter, a giant of a man who has made a great difference. But I've got disappointing news for the member for Hunter, because our candidate for Leichhardt is even taller than the member for Hunter and he'll be here next year. I look forward to them sitting next to each other.
Over the last fortnight we have been delivering major reforms to make a difference: allowing people to buy a first home; increasing the wages of childcare workers; making things here in Australia through the Future Made in Australia; and protecting children through our legislation for stopping under-16s accessing social media.
We are making a difference each and every day. Those opposite, of course, just say no to absolutely everything. I mean, talking to the Leader of the Opposition is like talking to an NPC, a non-player character, because it's just like a bot that does exactly the same thing. The opposition in just the last two weeks have committed to increasing migration by opposing our student caps, to stopping free TAFE, to protecting dodgy private education providers, to preventing Australians buying homes, to blocking more rentals, to keeping student debt high, to stopping Australia making more things here and to privatising the NBN. It's not a bad record in just a fortnight! That is what they have done.
And today they have come in here and called for an election to be held in the New Year's week. He has spent all year saying the costings on his nuclear policy are coming next week or next fortnight. The clock's ticking, and it never happens. Tomorrow never comes!
And they're not just standing in the way; they want to take things away.
These are things they've said they'll take away: our tax cuts, debt relief, Medicare urgent care clinics, cheaper medicines, investment in renewables, help for people to buy, new rental housing and 'same job, same pay'. All of those things they have said they will take away.
The reckless arrogance of those opposite, who haven't got the confidence to put forward a single costed policy, renders them not an alternative government at all, renders them just a reckless, reckless bunch who will not put anything forward.
On that note, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.
