Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. On Labor's cost-of-living crisis, my constituent Brett told me, 'There is no money left after our mortgage, bills and groceries are paid for,' while Russell told me: 'Things are out of control. Power, insurance and food have doubled. I can't keep up.' Does the Prime Minister accept responsibility for the impact his decisions are having on lowering the living standards of Australians?

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

Another tight question from those opposite! I'm asked about Brett and Russell. Well, I hope that Brett and Russell got told by the member for Lindsay that more than 1.2 million jobs have been created since we've been in government. I hope that they have been told, when it comes to the cost of living, that we have given them, if they work, a substantial tax cut already, as a result of the changes that we made to the coalition's unfair stage 3 tax cuts. I hope that the member for Lindsay said those opposite were opposed to that.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I note that some of them are still opposed to that tax cut, through the interjection helpfully put forward by one of the new shadow ministers down the end there—the revolving door that is their entry forward and back from the frontbench. But I hope that the member for Lindsay has also told Brett and Russell that those opposite were going to reverse the tax cuts that they're going to get in July and that the coalition were also opposed to the tax cut they're going to get next July. I hope as well that the member for Lindsay has told Brett and Russell that she, along with other members of the coalition, has opposed every one of our submissions that have gone forward to the Fair Work Commission arguing for pay rises. Indeed, I hope as well that they have been told that those opposite were opposed to the 2.6 million Australians who work public holidays, weekends, late nights and early mornings—we protected their penalty rates. Those opposite want to get rid of them. I hope as well that they've been told that the member for Lindsay opposed the measures that we've put in place to assist with bulk-billing and the 130 urgent care clinics. If Brett and Russell have got a student debt, if they studied at TAFE or university, I hope they've been told that she opposed those measures as well. And, if Brett and Russell have children, then they're like the more than one million families who have paid thousands of dollars less each year with cheaper child care. That makes a difference as well.

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

The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Barker has had a good go today. He's going to leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Barker then left the chamber .

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! It's far too disorderly. Members can't just be yelling and saying what they want. It is the Parliament of Australia.

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

Thanks, Mr Speaker, it's a popular decision on both sides of the House, and I congratulate you on it!