Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ready to walk the talk as MPs return to Parliament House
Like many workers on Monday morning, the start of the work week for Anthony Albanese began with a commute from home to the office.
As MPs and senators gather in Canberra ahead of the first sitting week of the new parliament, the Prime Minister braved a chilly winter morning to walk from The Lodge to Parliament House, ahead of official proceedings kicking off.
Arriving alongside his son Nathan, the Prime Minister is set to start his second term in office implementing a lengthy agenda taken to voters at May’s election.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Labor’s ranks have expanded in the 48th parliament to include 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, being the first government in nearly 60 years to not lose a single seat at a federal poll.
The Prime Minister will address the significantly increased Labor caucus later on Monday, before Parliament is officially opened on Tuesday.
Earlier, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley addressed her joint party room for the first time since the coalition’s landslide loss at the election, which has seen their numbers reduced to just 43 seats.
She said the real work of opposition would begin with the start of Parliament, but was ready for the challenge.
“On behalf of struggling Australians, we are here for them. We are here to take the fight up to (the Government),” she told the party room meeting.
“That’s what people expect. They want a Parliament that understands their lives, what their lives are like, and a government that gets out of the way.
“Our policies are up for review, but our values are not.”
Among the laws set to be introduced in the first week of Parliament are a 20 per cent reduction for HECS debts for students, expanded protection for penalty rates and increased safety measures for children in childcare centres.
Ms Ley said the opposition would be willing to work with the Government to get the childcare laws passed as soon as possible.
“If the Prime Minister and his team brings forward constructive policies that are in the national interest, then we’ll support them, and we’ll work with them,” she said.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said the coalition is prepared for a tough path back to forming government.
“We have to be humble for what has happened to us. But we can do one of two things: we can sit in the corner in the fetal position and give up, or we can come out swinging,” he said.
“And I can tell you what we will do is come out swinging.”
