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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Under Labor, Australians are living with higher prices and increasing interest rates. While the Treasurer blames the private sector, Australia's leading economists say the problem is government spending. Stephen Smith, Deloitte Access Economics partner, said government spending was 'historically high' and 'a genuine driver of inflation'. We all know the Treasurer won't, so will the Prime Minister accept responsibility for yesterday's rate rise? Yes or no?

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

This is what the RBA governor said yesterday when she was asked very directly about government spending. She said, 'What's happened in the last six months or so is private demand has turned out to be much stronger than we have been forecasting.' That's what the RBA governor had to say very clearly. We know that Australians are still doing it tough, and we know that cost-of-living pressures are real, but that's why we have measures to actually address cost-of-living pressures to take pressure off family budgets in every way that we can. And we'll keep focusing on easing cost-of-living pressures; on making medicines cheaper, which we did on 1 January; investing in more bulk-billing and urgent care clinics, which we are doing; cutting student debt by 20 per cent—opposed by those opposite—paid prac; $10,000 incentives for people to do apprenticeships in construction or in energy; and, of course, free TAFE, which has now had more than 700,000 people participate in it. It's why we support real wage rises. That's why we supported a tax cut last year and why, on 1 July, there will be another tax cut, and, next year, there'll be another one after that.

I note before—

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

Order! The member for Goldstein, don't make it two from two.

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

I note we had a debate about a cost-of-living measure before question time today. Those opposite can't even agree on cheaper beer, remarkably.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will make his point of order, as he's entitled to do so.

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

It's on relevance. The question wasn't about the debate earlier today. It was about interest rates.

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

The Prime Minister was asked about higher prices and increasing interest rates. He was talking about the price of an individual commodity, but I'll invite him to return to the question.

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

I was, Mr Speaker. I was asked about cost of living and the pressure that people are under, and I'm talking about the measures which we're taking. One of them we're trying to legislate through the parliament. It passed the House of Representatives earlier today, but the Liberals split from the Nationals. More than that, five of the Liberals went and voted with the Nationals against the government's position.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Way to go, Bubble Boy!

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

I take the interjection from one of the Nats talking about the bubble. They can't stop talking about themselves, each and every day. Sky News don't have 30 seconds when there's not one of them sitting in their studio.

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

There are far too many interjections from the member for Gippsland. That yelling will not continue.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I gave him his best material!

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

No! The member for Gippsland is now warned. I'm not having a repeat of yesterday with a continual barrage of noise. It's not acceptable and it's not respectful to the chamber. The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order.

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

The Prime Minister is defying you. You directed him to direct his remarks to the question. He is not doing that. He's defying your ruling.

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

Resume your seat. If the member for Gippsland and other members would stop interjecting so loudly, perhaps the Prime Minister wouldn't be provoked. We can easily deal with this.

Opposition members interjecting—

Order! If you want him to answer a question, don't interject, because he's taking interjections. It's pretty simple.

The House is going to come to order. The member for Gippsland has been warned. It's completely unacceptable.

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

I know the Manager of Opposition Business would be somewhat sensitive given he's now down to 23 members who will follow a decision of the shadow cabinet—23 out of 150.