Last week we established the foundations. This week we started delivering. It’s so good seeing the Parliament act as a Parliament. Here’s the 5&5:

BEST

Putting the care back in Aged Care
One step closer to ending the climate wars
Question Time highlights
Uluru Statement from the Heart
First speeches

WORST

The Liberal Party don't listen to voters
Michaelia Cash stalling
Opposition speaking about not being able to speak
Diplomats fighting for superannuation on free accommodation
Angus Taylor being wrong 29 times

1. The first laws to pass the new Parliament were the first tranche of our aged care reforms. We’re putting the care back in aged care, and these measures mean older Australians get the dignity and respect they deserve.

2. We’re also one step closer to ending the climate wars, with our 43% emissions reduction target passing the House. What a moment for the country, after nine years of denial and inaction. And the best thing is we actually had a debate on it! How long since we had a situation in Parliament where a debate was moved, amendments were proposed, the Government listened and then the Parliament made a decision based on the debate. Too long! The image of the previous government on climate was Scott Morrison holding his pet rock. The new image, I reckon, is this.

3. By now I think you might have worked out that Question Time is my favourite part of the sitting week. And what a week we had! Amanda Rishworth cut through the ideological rhetoric on the Cashless Debit Card and spelled out the facts. Jim Chalmers reinforced our commitment to the Jobs and Skills Summit, which we still don’t know the Opposition supports. Chris Bowen spelt out the importance of our climate and energy policy after nine years of inaction - not to mention 22 failed energy policies from the other side. Ed Husic made this important point about the potential future for the Australian resources industry: “Frankly, if we mine it here, we should make it here.” And Mark Butler took the Nationals to task over the delivery of regional health services.

4. “My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. How is the Australian government progressing the Uluru Statement from the Heart? What is the way forward on a referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?” Off the back of the Prime Minister’s speech at Garma over the weekend, our first question this week was on the importance of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution. We can do this.

5. There were another round of great first speeches this week. It’s one of the best things about a new Parliament and it was great to see Dr Michelle Ananda Rajah … Sam Rae … Matt Burnell … and Dr Gordon Reid deliver theirs.

1. This one does my head in. So the Liberal Party get thrown out of office and lose a whole lot of seats, where the winning candidates – whether it was us or independents – campaigned hard on climate action. And they decide that there are 3 messages they need to hear: 1) Elect Peter Dutton. 2) Vote against climate action. 3) Argue for nuclear energy, the most expensive form of power.

2. Besides taking the nuclear option – what else did they come up with this week? Not much. They said they’d disallow our changes to give all workers the same rights. Michaelia Cash made it a big issue, saying she was going to have a vote in the Senate, on Wednesday, to stop us. Wednesday came and she said ‘No I’ll do it Thursday’ … On Thursday she said ‘Oh I’ll do it when we come back’ … I’ll keep you posted, but this could take a very long time.

3. Poor Paul. The new Manager of Opposition Business, Paul Fletcher, is trying really hard to put on a show but everything he tries in the chamber falls in a heap. We had a really bizarre situation this week where he and his colleagues kept using their speeches in Parliament to claim they’ve been prevented from speaking in Parliament. Just take a second to try and unpick that logic. And how about this one? The member for Flynn, Colin Boyce, complained that we’d only given him 10 minutes to speak. And then he ran out of material after 8 minutes and 3 seconds. Really?

4. A weird one to round out the week. A small group of former diplomats are in court claiming they should’ve been paid superannuation on the free accommodation they received while posted overseas. If they win, they could pocket as much as $11 million each! That could set a precedent that could end up costing the taxpayers up to $8 billion. Obviously that would be a huge waste of money so we’ve put in a Bill to prevent it.

5. A bit of late mail from last week. Angus Taylor really is struggling to find his place on the Opposition benches. So much so he incorrectly referred to Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon as “Mr Speaker” 29 times last week … and another 4 times after she told him to stop! Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus.

During the election the Prime Minister was asked if he would support a pay rise for workers on minimum wage.

His answer - absolutely.

One of the first things we did in Government was make a submission to the Fair Work Commission arguing for that increase, and we saw one! That meant an extra dollar an hour for workers on the minimum wage.

This week caucus members were proud to accept a commemorative dollar from Sally McManus and rank and file union members.

It’s a good reminder of the positive change Labor Governments deliver for Australian workers.

Parliament is back in September, but there’s lots to do between then and now, with our Jobs & Skills Summit coming up.

‘til then,

Tony

PS. By now you’ve all heard the terribly sad news about the loss of Archie Roach. I’ve loved his music. Seen him live many times. The first time at an ACTU Congress. And the last time at Woodford. But the last time I heard him record anything was for Triple J’s Like a Version.

True to his style he involved 3 younger musicians - Becca Hatch and MARLON & RULLA. With his oxygen tank beside him, he had them perform a medley of Bob Marley hits. Listen to it the whole way through. I loved that the final words he sings here are “Get up, Stand up, Don’t give up the fight.”

5&5: Delivering