Anne Webster Mallee, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health
2:39 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. In three failed budgets, Labor has made the fight against inflation worse, with bad decisions and the wrong priorities. Betashares' chief economist, David Bassanese, described the latest inflation data as a 'shocker', saying it places huge pressure on the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates in August. Prime Minister, why are Australian families paying the price for Labor's economic incompetence?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
2:40 pm
I thank the member for her question, which is similar to previous questions in today's question time. What we are doing on the economy and in budgets, what I'm asked about, is turning Liberal Party deficits into Labor surpluses. That's what we've done—not once, but twice. And we're doing that whilst we're providing support for people who most need it.
Now, those opposite have an opportunity to come in here and to move a private members' bill to restore their tax cuts that they wanted, where they would get—and I'd get as well—$9,000, rather than $4½ thousand—
Angus Taylor Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Australians have never had it better!
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
But they'd have to explain to the good people of Mallee and that region—many of whom certainly earn under the top marginal tax rate—that, 'Sorry, but if you're under $45,000, you miss out, because people at the top end need that $9,000, rather than people on under $45,000.'
Milton Dick Speaker
Order. The member for Petrie and the member for Mallee will cease interjecting.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
If that's the view that they have, then they should take up the opportunity that they have, perhaps again in alliance with their friends in the Greens in the Senate, to put forward such legislation. But they don't do that. We know that they consistently oppose any increase in wage rises, including for people on the minimum wage, which many people in regional communities, represented by the National Party, are on.
We, on this side of the chamber, want people to earn more, and we want people to keep more of what they earn. But we also want to make sure, as I've said consistently, that—
David Littleproud Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture
We gave them the first two tax cuts. Don't forget that.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
we don't want people to be left behind, which is why we are looking after the people according to need. But that's why, as well, we're looking after families, with cheaper child care. That's why our Energy Price Relief Plan of $300 that comes in on Monday—
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
Have you ever been to Mallee?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Yes, I have been to the member's electorate, actually. I get out and about—I've been to yours too. Have you dropped in? That's the question—have you dropped in? We're busy trying to make a difference with practical plans. Every single one of the plans providing cost-of-living assistance have been opposed by those opposite.