Delivering cost of living relief

I am focused on making sure we deliver support for Territorians and the Albanese Labor Government is making cost of living relief our number one priority, writes Marion Scrymgrour.

Marion Scrymgour with Colin at Freds Pass markets chatting about the cost of living.

Many Territorians are feeling the cost-of-living pressure with added costs for most of our goods and services.

I am focused on making sure we deliver support for Territorians and the Albanese Labor Government is making cost of living relief our number one priority.

To help all Territorians we are delivering tax cuts for every taxpayer, making medicines cheaper, cutting students debts, making childcare cheaper, delivering energy bill relief and reducing the cost of groceries in remote community stores.

The previous government’s tax cuts left out people earning $45,000 or less.

Under our government, everyone who pays income tax gets a tax cut.

We are making cheaper medicines even cheaper – with a script to cost Territorians no more than $25 under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Having already slashed the cost of medicines – with the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS in 2023 – we’re now going even further with this $689 million investment in the budget.

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour

We’re wiping $3 billion in student debt loans by cutting 20 per cent off all HECS debts, raising the minimum repayment threshold for student loans and cutting repayment rates.

We’re also reducing financial barriers for the next generation of nurses, midwives, teachers and social workers.

One of the most costly things for our working families is childcare.

Many families in my electorate were having to sacrifice days of paid employment because they could not afford to pay for extra days of childcare.

Under the Albanese Government over 3000 families in Lingiari have had their childcare costs cut.

This means more money in the back pocket for our Lingiari families.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering $300 energy rebates for all households, and $325 rebates for eligible small businesses.

And just this week we announced $150 in Energy Bill Relief, extending our energy rebates until the end of 2025.

Just recently with Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians, I was proud to announce the National Strategy for Food Security program.

Under this program, Labor will reduce the cost of 30 essential products in many remote stores to help ease cost of living pressures and improve food security in remote communities.

I will continue fighting for the Territory to deliver cost of living measures to families across the electorate.