“This means the maximum price for PBS medicines will be $30,” he said.
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On housing,he confirmed a policy reported on Sunday morning in whicha Labor government would help first-time home buyers with a government equity scheme.
On wages,he vowed to act on insecure work and low wages and outlined a new policy to help women.
“Labor has already committed to using all the tools in our power to close the gender pay gap,” he said.
“Today,I announce Labor will make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act. We will set up expert panels on pay equity and the care and community sector to help improve pay and conditions for women in those sectors.”
With hundreds of Labor supporters gathered at the Optus stadium in Perth,Albanese made a direct pledge to voters to offer a better government and highlighted two Labor premiers in the room - South Australia’s Peter Malinauskas and WA’s Mark McGowan - as examples of strong Labor government.
“Australia:if we stand still we will be left behind. If we don’t shape the future,the future will shape us,” he said.
“Because,make no mistake,climate change is here now. Our region is changing now. The jobs and skills and infrastructure that will grow our economy are needed now. There is a crisis in aged care,right now. Families need lasting help with rising costs,right now. Australia does not have three more years to waste.”
In a speech heavy with criticism of Morrison for shifting blame to others,Albanese promised cheaper electricity,child care,mortgages and medicines as a result of Labor policies including a climate change policy meant to create 604,000 jobs while reducing prices under modelling by economics firm RepuTex.
A Labor government would also spend $39.3 million - matched by the NRMA - to build a national network of electric vehicle charging stations at an average interval of 150km in a promise Albanese would mean that “for the first time people will be able to truly drive around Australia in an EV”.
In a key statement,he also promised “better pay” under a Labor government.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese with former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating at the party’s campaign launch in Perth on Sunday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
While Morrison has campaigned for three weeks with a message to voters that they know who he is and should not leap into the unknown by installing Albanese in power,the Labor leader sought to turn this to his advantage.
“I reckon people know all about Scott Morrison,” he said.
“They’ve worked him out. Australians understand we can’t bet our future on three more years of a Prime Minister who looks at every challenge facing our country and says:‘that’s not my job’.”
He also highlighted Coalition ministers Alan Tudge,Peter Dutton and Barnaby Joyce as “the unspeakable and the unthinkable[and] the inexplicable”.
Albanese also promised better governance to make sure taxpayer funds were put into national infrastructure,taking aim at Morrison for promising $660 million for commuter car parks at the last election but not completing most of the projects.
“For a decade now,the Liberals and Nationals have treated governing as an inconvenience and public money as a political slush fund,” he said.
“If you vote Labor,we will change this. A Labor government will restore trust and accountability in politics with a national anti-corruption commission.”