Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health
JULIE-ANN CAMPBELL MP: Well it's 1 July, and that means a lot of big firsts for everyday Australians. It's the first time that supermarket price gouging will be banned. It's the first time that superannuation will be paid on the day it's earned, and it's the first time that award working wages will come down- or go up by 4.75 per cent. Importantly, this is not a first, it's not a second, not a third, not a fourth, but a fifth tax cut, and that means that everyday Australians, after all those tax cuts, are going to be up by $2800. And there's even more, isn't there, Bec?
REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING: In addition to everything that Jules has just spoken about, today also marks the beginning of expansion in the paid parental leave system, which means that people can get six months paid parental leave and super is paid on top of that, supporting a lot of working families, about 250,000 every single year. From today, we're also making our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics permanent. So these will become a permanent feature of our health system, supporting about 2 million Australians to access free urgent care right across the country. And from today as well, women's healthcare will continue to receive additional support. So across our 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, we'll also be providing support for menopause and perimenopause care, which I know a lot of women have been asking for, and I'm really pleased to see that from today they'll be able to access that.
JOURNALIST: New data out from Totality shows house prices are going down. Is that a good thing out of the budget for first-home buyers?
WHITE: We've been really clear that this budget is about providing opportunities for first-home buyers. About 75,000 more first home buyers will benefit from the changes we've made in this budget. I think we can all accept that the housing system is not working and is particularly not working for first-time buyers. Treasury modelling has indicated that house prices on average across the country will rise by about 2 per cent less than what was expected if we didn't have these tax changes.
JOURNALIST: And on the wage and tax cuts and minimum wage increase, there's concerns it's going to be eaten up by inflation and a potential RBA rate rise. Are you concerned about that?
CAMPBELL: Well, I think you have to look at all of the five tax cuts and the fact that they do have a $2800 impact on average Australians. And it's not just that. Every little bit counts. And so when we talk about being able to go to an Urgent Care Clinic with just your Medicare card, when we talk about more money in the pockets of parents who are having their first children, their second children, their third, and when we talk about the impacts that we've made from cheaper medicine, all of these add up to make a real impact. And these are all things that the Coalition has voted against at every turn.
JOURNALIST: There's debate about whether young workers should get super. I know the Treasurer said he's talking with the unions. What are your opinions? I know you've been involved in the union movement. Do you think those younger workers on a part-time job should get that bit of money for their retirement?
CAMPBELL: Look, I think that superannuation is a really great Labor achievement, a great Labor legacy, just like Medicare. And I think that the Treasurer has made it very clear that he'll work through those. But the most important thing that we've done at the moment is to be able to get the LISTO, get a better impact on the LISTO, and to expand the people who can actually get access to the LISTO as well.
JOURNALIST: There are concerns potentially for some of the businesses which are dealing with, particularly cafes and that sort of thing, which are [indistinct] rate rise coming on in relation to [indistinct] super. And are having to raise prices as a result of these changes.
CAMPBELL: Well, look, I think that when it comes to wages, we're never going to apologise for backing in higher wages for some of the lowest paid Australians in this country. Not only is it 4.75 per cent wage increase for the people on award, it's also 6 per cent increase for people on minimum wages. We've implemented through this budget a whole range of support measures for business, and we think that both of those things are really good for everyday Australians. And it also means that there's a stronger customer base for small businesses as well.
JOURNALIST: Thanks.
