Mr TIM WILSON (Goldstein) (15:46): It is, of course, a great privilege to be able to stand up here and be part of a government on the day that passed the biggest tax cuts in Australian history. Opposition members interjecting— Mr TIM WILSON: I think I need to restate that for the members of the opposition. If you're thinking about the aspiration, the opportunities, for middle Australia to be able to realise their dreams—their opportunity and the opportunity of this great nation—nothing could be greater than passing the biggest tax cuts in Australian history. Everybody on this side of the parliament voted for it. And everybody on that side of the parliament voted against it. And they will be judged harshly come the next election. When I think about the aspiration and opportunity that I seek to represent, as everyone else does on this side of the chamber, I think of the good people of Goldstein: hardworking, aspirational, putting the hard work and effort into it to better their lot—theirs, their family's and their community's, and as a foundational pillar of improving this great nation. I think about the professionals who wake up every morning and get themselves ready. They get on, say, at Hampton Railway Station and catch a train into town to work for a company or a business of others to be able to provide for their family. I think of the small-business people who live in Bentleigh who have brought together a business on Centre Road and who are doing their best to try and create an opportunity for themselves and for their family. And I think, of course—like everybody does on this side of the House—about the self-funded retirees in, say, Caulfield South and what they have done. They haven't just worked hard their whole lives, although they have. They have sacrificed. They have saved; they have foregone holidays and other privileges and luxuries to be in a position where they do not take or draw down from the taxpayer. Those are the people who seek aspiration and opportunity as part of the great middle class of this country. These are the people who benefit from the plan that has been implemented by the Turnbull coalition government. And one of the biggest challenges that they face, in seeking their aspirations and their opportunity, is not just the Labor Party and those sitting opposite but the threat of the policies that they would impose if they ever made it onto the Treasury benches. It's the threat of Labor's retiree tax, where they would directly tax all of those people who have made savings to be able to put themselves in the best position. It undermines the policies that this government has prosecuted, which have delivered more than a million new jobs for Australians. If you want to talk about the gap between those people who do not have opportunity and those who do, it strictly comes down to a very important point: whether people have the opportunity to secure employment. I know there are plenty of people on the other side who don't understand such a basic proposition— Dr Aly interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Cowan is warned. Mr TIM WILSON: the proposition that working is the best foundation for securing your chance and your opportunity in life. This government understands that the great middle class of this country needs to be able to keep more of the earnings that they make. This government understands that we need to make sure that we continue to do everything we can to drive up wages. We've seen growth in wages as a direct consequence of this government's policy, because what we've injected into the heart of the economy is confidence. We have delivered security and predictability, and now tax cuts as well. We've seen that the wage price index grew by 2.1 per cent over the last year, a pick-up from the trough reached nine months ago. Key sectors are now experiencing strong growth—2.7 per cent in health care and social assistance; 2½ per cent in arts and recreation; 2.4 per cent in education and training and other services; seven per cent in rental, hiring and real estate services; and six per cent in ICT, media and telecommunications. This government looked at the challenges that the great middle class of this nation faces— Opposition members interjecting— Mr TIM WILSON: while those on the other side of this parliament yell and complain—and sought to realise their aspiration and opportunity in policy and law, and we're damn proud to be part of it. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will remind the member for Goldstein that banging on desks, even when speaking, is not parliamentary. Mr Tim Wilson: I accept that. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the member for Herbert.