From today, low paid workers will get an extra $26 a week, working families will receive a tax cut, patients will benefit from new health initiatives, and carers will receive a $600 annual supplement.

Federal Member for Grayndler, Anthony Albanese, said the pay rise comes courtesy of a decision by the Fair Pay Commission to lift the minimum wage to $569.90 a week.

The tax relief has been designed to boost workforce participation and strengthen the Australian economy, as well as helping with strained household budgets.

For someone earning $50,000 a year, the tax cuts will mean an extra $450 in the pocket each year; bringing the total tax cut since the Federal Labor Government came to office in 2007 to an extra $1,750 a year.

From today funding will start to flow into the Government’s ambitious National Health and Hospitals Network, a significant reform to our health system.

In total the Government has provided $7.3 billion to deliver better health and better hospitals - improving services for hard working Australian families. This means more doctors, more nurses and more beds to help build a better health system.

More than 500,000 carers across Australia will receive a $600 Carer Supplement, as part of the Australian Government’s Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform.

This payment recognises the significant challenges facing hundreds of thousands of carers who make enormous sacrifices to care for a loved one.

“Australians have worked hard to keep our economy strong during the global recession, and they deserve any help we can provide in the face of cost of living pressures,” said Mr Albanese.