Opportunities for Australians

More jobs and better pay

In our first term, we created a record number of jobs – more than a million. But there’s more to do. We’re focused on building an economy with more opportunity, with more jobs and better pay.

Across our economy, wages are now growing faster than prices.

If you’re on the minimum wage or an award, you received a pay rise of 3.5% from 1 July 2025. That includes workers in hospitality, retail, community support and more.

We advocated for you to get a real pay rise, above inflation – and now the Fair Work Commission have delivered on it.

Free TAFE

A good, secure job can change your life – and Free TAFE is opening up that opportunity for so many Australians.

Already, there have been almost 600,000 enrollments in courses from child care to cybersecurity, and from accounting to aged care.

We’ll make Free TAFE permanent, so even more Australians can have that opportunity.

Supporting students

We’re wiping 20% off everyone’s student debt. Because going to uni should open a lifetime of opportunities, not leave you with a lifetime of debt.

We’re introducing paid prac for teachers, social workers, nurses and midwives. Because you shouldn’t have to worry about whether you can afford to do placements.

And we’re supporting the next generation of tradies with a $10,000 payment to help construction and clean-energy apprentices finish their studies.

Gender equality

We’re the first government with a majority of women. And we’re turning equal representation into results.

Already we’ve reduced the gender pay gap to record lows, made large companies publicly report their gender pay gaps and banned pay secrecy clauses.

We’ve expanded the Parenting Payment (Single), made child care cheaper, and we’re increasing government-funded paid parental leave to 26 weeks – with superannuation paid on this leave for the first time from 1 July 2025.

We also know gender equality can’t be achieved without ending gender-based violence, and we’ve invested a record amount to accelerate action that will address it.

First Nations Australians

Real, practical change will come from working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In remote communities, we’re building more housing, improving access to safe water, making it easier and more affordable to get fresh food and essentials, and upgrading community laundries and health clinics.

We’re helping communities access education, from making sure children are prepared for school, to supporting students who need to study away from home.

We know that self-determination requires economic empowerment. We’ve committed to establish the First Nations Economic Partnership, and set up the new Remote Jobs and Economic Development program that is creating up to 3,000 jobs in remote communities.

This is in addition to supporting First Nations communities to care for Country by doubling the number of Indigenous Rangers over the decade and expanding the Junior Ranger program to create 1,000 jobs.

Quality healthcare changes lives, so we’re working with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to deliver the First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program – with more than 470 people already enrolled.

The NDIS

The NDIS is about opening up opportunities for people with disability – making sure they can get the support and services they need, in a way that puts choice and control in their hands.

People with disability have always been at the heart of the NDIS, and we want to make sure every dollar goes to the people who need it most.

We’ve been working to get the NDIS back on track, protecting what makes it so important while making sure it’s strong and sustainable for generations to come.