Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question, but, as everyone in this parliament knows, and Australians know as well, the inflation rate had a six in front of it when we came to office and it now has a three in front of it. Yes, there was a rise in the latest figures, but that was after a number of falls. Indeed interest rates, which the member referred to as well, commenced to fall under us. They started to rise under the former government, as the member knows well. And the unemployment rate has a four in front of it. We have seen employment continue to grow—more than a million jobs being created on our watch—and the lowest average unemployment of any government in five decades.

We are very proud of our record when it comes to the economy, such as the fact that, for the first time in decades, this Treasurer produced two budget surpluses in a row as well as lower deficits than what they went to the election on. At the election, held six months ago today, the Australian people gave their verdict on the choice before them: a Labor government committed to continuing to put downward pressure on inflation, a Labor government continuing to provide cost-of-living relief, a Labor government continuing to stand up for Australian jobs and a Labor government committed to real action on climate change—or the alternative. The alternative that was before the Australian people was—

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