If excuses paid the mortgage, this treasurer would have every home in Australia paid for by Christmas, but, unfortunately, the bank only takes money. The PM has reportedly told Australians 'we've dealt with inflation'. He should try that line on a family working out which bill has to wait until the next pay day. Australians are expected to live within their means—if they overspend, they have to cut back—but this government overspends and comes looking for somebody new to tax, and God help you if you've worked hard and actually got ahead. Labor sees that as an invitation to help itself by picking your pockets.

The Treasurer can give all the speeches he likes. Nothing he says makes the groceries cheaper or takes a dollar off the mortgage. I want Australians to be able to build a decent life without being punished for having a go. That means cutting government waste and letting people keep more of what they earn. The coalition will axe Labor's toxic taxes, and we've put $31 billion in budget savings on the table, including cuts to corporate welfare and Labor's net zero obsession. That's how you fund better tax relief. We'll get businesses investing and hiring with lower taxes and cheaper power and get more homes built. We'll make sure you grow the pie instead of taxing the existing pie out of existence. The Treasurer can blame everyone he likes, but it's his name that is on the budget. This is his mess, and he doesn't have a plan to fix it.