Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The average mortgage holder is already paying around $21,000 more each year in interest under Labor. Today, Australians anxiously await the RBA's announcement on interest rates. The Prime Minister promised Australians we had 'turned the corner on inflation' and that his government had it 'under control'. Countless economists and each of the big four banks predict that rates will rise even further today and this year. Government spending is fuelling this mortgage pain. When will the Treasurer's reckless spending end, Prime Minister?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order—Speaker, you have been consistent, for this whole parliament, that it is out of order and disorderly to yell out 'time' when either a minister is finishing their answer and you've extended their time or when a questioner is running a little bit long on their time. Several members were yelling 'time', in defiance of your ruling—in direct defiance.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I thank the manager. It will assist the House greatly if everyone can stick to the time limits in the first principle. In that instance, people will be warned or they won't be here to hear the answer. You know it works both ways, and the Leader of the Opposition was well over time with her question. I have been generous, and, to ensure that every question is allowed, I'd like the same respect shown on both sides. We'll start on the right foot. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I do encourage my people to not yell out 'time'. There are enough behind her doing that at the moment. When we were elected, inflation had a six in front of it. It's now got a three in front of it. We turned two budget deficits into two budget surpluses, and we used them to pay down debt. That's just part of what we're doing for responsible economic management. As the Reserve Bank has said, the budget is not the main game when it comes to inflation. At the same time that we have got inflation down, wages are up and unemployment is low compared with what we inherited.

We'll continue to understand that there are real cost-of-living pressures on Australians, and that is why we have implemented a range of cost-of-living measures. The only cost-of-living issue they're interested in talking about is the cost of living with each other. That's what they're interested in, and they can't shut up about it.

What we're focused on is cheaper medicines, making sure people can see a doctor for free, making sure that batteries are rolled out around the country, free TAFE and getting wages up. These are all measures that we've implemented—all measures that were opposed by those opposite. We'll continue to engage in responsible economic management. We'll continue to make sure that we deal with the pressures which are there by having a focus on cost-of-living measures. But those opposite, who went to the last election with higher taxes and a higher deficit over the next two years, can't be in a position of doing anything other than—

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Inflation's almost double.

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

I take the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition. It was six when we were elected, and now it's got a three in front. That's less. We've done that, and we've done that while keeping unemployment low and getting wages up.