Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

What a wonderful addition to this parliament the member for Barton is already. I thank her for the question and her work in her local community in Sydney. All of Australia and, indeed, all of the world's economies are going through a very substantial shock. The people of Australia didn't choose these circumstances, but they are paying a very hefty price for them at the petrol bowser and more broadly as well. We acknowledge that, we understand that but, more than that, we're acting to step up and step in where we responsibly can to help people through a difficult period. Now, a big part of our efforts is working with industry, with states and territories, with international partners, with regulators, with unions, with communities and with others to make sure that we are working together as much as we can to work through these serious issues in a serious way, befitting the pressures that we know Australians are feeling right around the country. So our plan, whether it's about securing supply, making sure the distribution is working, cracking down on the rip-offs, helping with the cost of living and helping small business—all of that—is about working in a cooperative way and a collaborative way where we can.

Today, the Minister for Small Business, supported by the Assistant Treasurer and others, brought together the peak business groups, the BCA and COS BOA, as well as the ABA, the Banking Association, to see what we could do to make sure in particular that our small businesses are being well supported. I want to thank the small business minister for her work in this regard. It also means, when it comes to the tax office, that the tax office is being supportive and flexible where it can, recognising the temporary pressures that a lot of wonderful Australian small businesses are feeling as a consequence of the war in the Middle East.

Earlier this week we cut the excise, halved the excise, to provide cost-of-living relief for motorists and truckies as well. Work was done by the transport minister and others with the PM to ensure that that relief is already flowing. We've seen reports from the NRMA that that relief is already flowing today. Obviously, the full benefit will be felt in the coming days, but the NRMA has made it clear that that relief is already flowing. I've asked the ACCC to provide us with a report today on how that rollout is happening.

The contrast here is really clear, and we see the contrast in the leaked coalition talking points that we read about this morning. This is a government working through serious issues in a serious way. What we know from those talking points is that those opposite are desperately hoping that Australia fails. We know from their talking points they're desperately hoping that Australia fails because they see a political opportunity in that for them. Is it any wonder that they were performing better under Sussan Ley than they are under the member for Hume? (Time expired)

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