The Albanese Government welcomes new figures today showing wages growing at their fastest pace in more than 9 years.

The Wage Price Index rose 3.1 per cent in the year to September, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Today the IMF has backed the Albanese Government’s responsible approach to the Budget and economic management in an assessment following its annual consultations.

The IMF confirms that the Budget was responsible, right for the times, and readies Australia for the future.

Australia is contributing $50 million to the Pandemic Fund—a new global Financial Intermediary Fund to improve future pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The Pandemic Fund is the culmination of global efforts to ensure the world learns lessons from COVID-19.

Today I will travel to Indonesia to attend the G20 Joint Finance and Health Ministers Meeting and to accompany the Prime Minister to the B20 Summit from 12 to 14 November 2022.

The meetings come at a critical time for the global economy and our region, and provide an important opportunity to discuss global conditions and forge deeper international collaboration.

The Albanese Government welcomes the release of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) latest report into digital platform services.

The inquiry has identified significant consumer and competition issues across a range of digital platform services including search engines, social media, online private messaging, app stores, online retail marketplaces and digital advertising.

Today I announce a number of important appointments to the board of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) that will bring the best available mix of experience and fresh thinking to the regulator and promote more women to key positions.

John Lonsdale has been appointed to be the next Chair, Margaret Cole to become a Deputy Chair, and Suzanne Smith and Therese McCarthy Hockey to become Members.

The Albanese Government today announces the National Housing Accord, a landmark agreement to address one of our nation’s biggest economic challenges: the supply and affordability of housing.

It will align for the first time the efforts of all levels of government, institutional investors and the construction sector to help tackle the nation’s housing problem.

The Albanese Labor Government is putting a premium on Budget restraint and economic resilience.

The best defence against growing global uncertainty is responsible Budget management at home – and that’s what this Budget delivers.

More than 400,000 low‑paid workers in key industries will take home a bigger pay slip from today, thanks to a 4.6 per cent increase to minimum wages under their awards.

Industries in which workers are set to benefit include hospitality, tourism and aviation, with full‑time workers seeing a minimum $40 extra per week.