Aaron Violi, opposition whip:

Research conducted by the St Vincent de Paul society shows Australian families are still confronting cost of living turmoil. 32 per cent have skipped meals or gone without food to cover essentials, 36 per cent of Australian families are concerned about going without food. 62 per cent said that cost of living pressures are making difficulty difficult to plan for Christmas this year. Is this what the Prime Minister meant when he said no Australian would be left behind?

Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister:

Cost of living pressures are real and that is why we are acting on them in a real way. We have, since 1 July, delivered a pay rise for all minimum and award wage workers. Taking the total increase under this government to over $9,000. Number of times that the coalition, in government or in Opposition, has made a submission or a fair work case supporting an increase in real wages, zero. Zero. Zero. Now, we know they don’t support net zero but we know also they are net zero when it comes to increases in real wages. Superannuation guarantee, increased to 12 per cent, paid parental leave extended to 24 weeks and super now being paid on paid parental leave. More energy bill relief opposed by those opposite each and every time. $10,000 bonus for housing apprentices on top of their wages, opposed by those opposite. The batteries program that has seep more than 100,000, I haven’t caught up with the latest figure but I’m sure you’ll hear it later in question time. I’m sure it’s coming, I’m confident of that. through those doors. Making an enormous difference. Urgent care clinics that we’re opening up as well, another 50. We have cut student debt by 20 per cent, something that we announced exactly one year ago, and remarkably, remarkably, was opposed by those opposite. By those opposite, and they took that to an election as a saving for them. What we did was do a saving for students and graduates of an average of $5,500 each time. Making a difference to all of these measures. The $20,000 instant asset write-off extended for another year, more choice, lower cost in high-quality care for Australian women as well and, of course, importantly, we have frozen draft beer excise for two years. Making a difference as well. We will continue to engage in all of these measures, including cheaper medicines, there’s one thing they have in common, though. Every single measure by the government, before the last election and since, has been opposed by those opposite.