House debates
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Statements by Members
Economy
1:57 pm
Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The national accounts have now confirmed what Australians are living. They're going to the supermarket and having to put items back because real wages are going backwards while prices are rising. This treasurer has been out there avoiding responsibility, but his own data shows that public sector growth is twice that of the private sector. Australia has experienced the largest collapse in living standards among all developed countries. We weren't diagnosed with this problem on Sunday. The problem is the Treasurer keeps pouring debt petrol on the inflation fire, and he's been fuelling it for four years.
You know, there's a Billy Joel song that sounds kind of relevant: 'The Treasurer did start the inflation fire. The inflation is burning while the Treasurer is squirming. The Treasurer did start inflation fire. Yes, he poured debt petrol on it, and he cashed organised crime to fuel it.'
Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Order! It's a face-off of lyrics.
Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
We are focused on restoring our standard of living, and we are protecting our way of life while they are focused on assaulting our way of life and inflating our standard of living out. And I just want to say hello to Firbank's Sandy House.