HON STEPHEN JONES MP
ASSISTANT TREASURER
MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES
MEMBER FOR WHITLAM 

ALISON BYRNES MP
MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

Today marks the second anniversary of the Albanese Labor Government.

Two years ago, Australians put their trust in Labor to grow the economy, support workers, create new jobs, boost renewable energy projects, and invest in skills and training.

Treasurer Chalmers just last week handed down a second budget surplus for the first time in nearly two decades. The government has also backed in multiple pay rises for our lowest paid workers and we have created the most new jobs of any government on record.

We have been investing in Australian ingenuity and domestic manufacturing for a Future Made in Australia which will have economic opportunities for the Illawarra, and we are training our workers with hundreds of thousands of Fee-Free TAFE places in key worker areas.

We promised we would not leave anyone behind, and that’s why we’re giving every taxpayer a tax cut and giving every household $300 off their energy bills. These cost-of-living measures will leave more money in locals pockets, without adding to inflation.

We know there’s more to do, and we’ll keep working every day to deliver for all Australians.

For the past 730 days we have not wasted a second in fighting and delivering for our community, including:

• $312 million for the Mount Ousley Interchange
• $45 million in Commonwealth funding to support to Hysata in developing new technology to deliver low-cost hydrogen in Port Kembla.
• $10 million to establish an Energy Futures Skills Centre located at the University of Wollongong, so we have the skilled workforce to build the grid of the future.
• $2.5 million for a Renewable Energy Training facility at Wollongong TAFE to support training in renewable energy technologies.
• Investing over $1 million in community batteries for Warrawong and Dapto making renewable energy available to some of the most vulnerable in our community. 
• Over $1.9 million in funding for local sports, arts, disability, and community organisations.
• $25 million over a period of 5 years to the Illawarra Women's Health Centre to establish the new Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre.
• $500,000 for the new Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens Education Centre.
• $450,000 for the Ngunuggula Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery.
• Secured a Wollongong and Dapto Urgent Care Clinic to help ease the pressure on our local hospital emergency departments.
• Cheaper child care for more than 12,000 local families.
• 1,361 Commonwealth Supported Places for the University of Wollongong.
• Funding upgrades for dozens of local primary and high schools as part of the Schools Upgrade Fund.

This is on top of the Albanese Labor Government’s proven track record of supporting Australians by:

• Delivering energy bill relief for every household and eligible small businesses.
• Providing a tax cut for every taxpayer.
• Making medicines cheaper and more accessible.
• Tripling the bulk-billing incentive for GPs.
• Wiping $3 billion in student debt and introducing a Commonwealth Prac Payment.
• Delivering fee-free TAFE places, with almost 300,000 taken up in 2023 and another 300,000 available from this year.
• Delivering an increase in the minimum wage and backing wage increases for our aged care workers and early childhood educators.
• Investing more than $22.7 billion to make a Future Made in Australia.
• Increasing Paid Parental Leave and introducing super for PPL.
• Establishing 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave.
• Delivering a National Anti-Corruption Commission and conducting a Robodebt Royal Commission.
• Investing $32 billion in housing, including $2 billion for social housing and $1 billion incentive for state governments to fund infrastructure to build homes.
• Helping over 1.1 million Australians with the rising cost of rent by increasing the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent in this Budget, totalling 25 per cent, the first back-to-back increase in over 30 years.

We are proud that the Albanese Labor Government’s second year in office continues to deliver for the Illawarra, but we know there’s more to do.

Quotes attributable to Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones:
“Representing our community is a privilege never taken for granted, and we will always work hard to deliver for the region."

“It is an honour to serve in the Albanese Government as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services."

“We will continue to crack down on scammers and protect consumers, as well as provide cost of living relief and ensure a better future for Australians.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes:
“In my first speech to Parliament, I promised my community that the Illawarra would never be ignored, and together we have kept that promise."

“We are investing in vital local infrastructure and ingenuity, supporting our local community organisations, and looking after our local workforce."

“I care about people, I care about jobs and I care about the planet. All values of which are underpinned in the priorities of our Albanese Labor Government. We know there’s more to do, and we will continue to fight for the Illawarra."