What are Labor's core values, and what have they promised?Topic:Elections42m ago42 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 7:39amAnthony Albanese frequently pulled out a Medicare card during the campaign. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)abc.net.au/news/election-2025-what-have-labor-promised/105248518Link copiedShareShare articleLabor will form a majority government after Anthony Albanese claimed a historic second term as prime minister in the federal election. The Labor Party made plenty of promises this year in its pitch for re-election.But what exactly were they?Here are some of the key promises and major commitments the party made to voters in the lead up to its victory. Election essentials:Federal election updates and live resultsHow Labor carved a path to a landslide victoryWhat was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionMedicare and bulk billing Throughout Albanese's time on the campaign trail, there was one little thing that rarely left his side: a Medicare card. Landslide win for Albanese and Labor as Dutton loses seatPhoto shows Four people on stage hold hands in triumph as the crowd takes photosFighting back tears as he addresses supporters, Anthony Albanese flashes his often displayed Medicare card and vows to get back to work tomorrow.The party's re-election pitch centred heavily on a commitment to tip $8.5 billion into Medicare over four years, in an effort to have nine out of 10 GP visits bulk-billed by the end of the decade. The package, which Labor says will be the single largest investment in Medicare since its inception more than 40 years ago, would be spent to triple incentives to doctors not to charge any out-of-pocket costs to patients. It would also go towards training nurses and 2,000 new GP trainees a year, matching a $400 million Coalition GP training plan.In his victory speech in Sydney, Albanese proclaimed the Medicare card was "not Labor red or Liberal blue: it is green and gold". "Medicare belongs to all Australians and together we will make it stronger for all Australians," he said.HousingFirst home buyers were a major focus in Labor's re-election pitch.Albanese said they would commit $10 billion to build 100,000 homes specifically for sale to first-home buyers if re-elected. Labor also promised all first home buyers a leg up into the property market, granting them access to 5 per cent mortgage deposits.Labor said it would also match the Coalition's promise to ban foreign investors and temporary residents from purchasing existing homes for two years. Loading...Cost of living Arguably one of the largest election issues consistently voiced by voters, Labor promised to spend big to help households deal with the cost of living. What the major parties' cost-of-living pledges mean for youPhoto shows People walk through the Chadstone Shopping CentreLabor and the Coalition are promising to spend big to help households deal with the cost of living. Labor pledged to outlaw supermarket price gouging for customers and to establish a task force to set a standard for measuring "excessive pricing".The party also promised to shave $150 off electricity bills for households and small business in a $1.8 million energy bill relief. In another effort, Labor promised to deliver a small tax cut over two stages — one taking place on July 1, 2026, and the other on July 1, 2027. For the first year, it will save Australian taxpayers about $5 a week. From year two onwards, they'll be saving $10 a week.Read more about the federal election:It took just over two hours to call time on Dutton's two decades in federal politicsHave Your Say: What was the issue, policy or event that decided your vote?Federal election map: See a quick snapshot of how the parties are performingWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenCutting HECS debts For Australians paying off HECS loans, Labor committed to wiping student debts by 20 per cent as a one-off measure to combat growing debts as a result of recent inflation. For the average university student with a debt of $27,600, the promise would shake about $5,520 from their Higher Education Loan Program debt. Anthony Albanese has promised to wipe student debts by 20 per cent as a one-off measure. (ABC Brisbane: Blythe Moore)The party also promised to raise the minimum income threshold from July next year — to at least $67,000— before university graduates have to start repaying HECS debts. This means a person earning $70,000 would pay around $1,300 less per year in repayments. The party also promised 100,000 fee-free TAFE places a year for Australians from 2027, if the legislation passes. Building more childcare centres Labor promised to establish a $1 billion fund to build and expand around 160 childcare centres over four years. The party said those centres would be located on or near school sites where possible and the government would retain ownership of those services.Before the election, Labor passed legislation to provide parents a guaranteed minimum three days of subsidised childcare, scraping childcare 'activity test' that required parents to be working or looking for work to access subsidies. Labor also pledged a $650 million initiative to build 50 new urgent care clinics around the country.They said the clinics were designed to take pressure off emergency departments, through treating people with illnesses that are urgent but not life threatening.It will also will slash the price of PBS-listed medicines from $31.60 to $25, at a cost to the budget of $690 million.LoadingLoading...Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.Posted 42m ago42 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 7:39amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLabor victory a 'win for the ages'Topic:ElectionsPhoto shows Smiling Albanese with a coffee at a table with trees behind'Tough results' for Greens, as leader Adam Bandt fights close contest for his seatTopic:Australian GreensPhoto shows Adam Bandt faces several microphones while holding a giant novelty red toothbrush.Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce reveals prostate cancer diagnosisTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Barnaby Joyce sits in parliament.Labor set for easier Senate as Pocock, Lambie risk being sidelinedTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows David Pocock sits behind Jacqui Lambie while she speaks in the senateAnthony Albanese enters the Labor pantheonCAnalysis by Casey BriggsPhoto shows Four people on stage hold hands in triumph as the crowd takes photosPopular nowAlbanese gets warm welcome in electorate as Coalition confronts worst-ever resultLIVEPhoto shows Smiling Albanese with a coffee at a table with trees behindLabor set for easier Senate as Pocock, Lambie risk being sidelinedTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows David Pocock sits behind Jacqui Lambie while she speaks in the senateThere's no mistaking Dutton's campaign gave women the 'ick'AAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Dutton Thursday final week 2025 electionRelated topicsAustraliaElectionsTop StoriesLabor victory a 'win for the ages'Topic:ElectionsPhoto shows Smiling Albanese with a coffee at a table with trees behind'Tough results' for Greens, as leader Adam Bandt fights close contest for his seatTopic:Australian GreensNationals MP Barnaby Joyce reveals prostate cancer diagnosisTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsLabor set for easier Senate as Pocock, Lambie risk being sidelinedTopic:ElectionsAnthony Albanese enters the Labor pantheonCAnalysis by Casey BriggsJust InTwo dead, two critical after car crash in GippslandTopic:Road Accidents and Incidents8m ago8 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 8:13amRobinson unable to ride Bells wave, dumped out of Gold Coast ProTopic:Surfing39m ago39 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 7:42amIt wasn't Nampijinpa Price's MAGA hat that lost the NT for the CoalitionMAnalysis by Matt Garrick39m ago39 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 7:42amWhat are Labor's core values, and what have they promised?Topic:Elections42m ago42 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 7:39amMore Just InBack to top