THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP

ASSISTANT TREASURER

MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

MEDIA RELEASE

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering additional cost of living relief and protections for Australians.

Illawarra and Southern Highlands residents will benefit from the following key measures:

• The wiping of an average of $1,200 in student debt, with more to come.
• A significant pay rise for early child care workers.
• A leg up for first home buyers through the Help to Buy scheme.
• A crackdown on dodgy supermarket rip-offs.

It comes after more than 30 pieces of legislation passed in the Parliament’s Senate, despite deliberate blocking by the Coalition and the Greens.

From better support for renters to a pay rise for child care workers, these measures build on Labor’s plan to ensure Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn.

The Government is also making sure children are safe online by amending the current Online Safety Act 2021. 

Some of the measures the Albanese Labor Government has this week delivered include:

• A reduction in student debt for more than 3 million people, saving students an average of $1,200
• The Help to Buy scheme which helps people purchase a new home with a deposit as low as 2%.
• The Build to Rent scheme to deliver 80,000 new homes across the country.
• Making 16 years the minimum age for social media to protect Australian children.
• A 15% pay rise for child care workers, while keeping fees down for families.
• Boosted funding for public schools
• The biggest reforms to improve aged care in a generation.
• A crackdown on supermarkets doing the wrong thing.
• Future Made in Australia laws to create jobs in the regions.
• Reforms to Buy Now, Pay Later schemes to protect consumers.

Every single cost of living support measure this year was opposed by Peter Dutton and the Liberals.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services and Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones:

“Our Government’s priority in Parliament has been helping Australians fight cost of living pressures and continuing our responsible economic management.

“We’re helping more Australians purchase their own home, get a better deal at the checkout and providing a meaningful pay rise for child care workers. We know there’s more to do, and we’re getting on with the job.

“Australians will not forget that Peter Dutton and the Liberals opposed our cost of living support.”

[ENDS]