House debates Questions without Notice

Economy

Monday, 14 September 2026 House of Representatives

Tim Wilson

Tim Wilson Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer

2:18 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Labor legend Bill Kelty says the Prime Minister is not telling the truth about the state of the economy. Mr Kelty said:

The PM is telling the country with glee that the price of property is falling, yet the unaffordability rate is increasing.

…   …   …

Real wages are not improving in any significant way—they're falling.

Will the Prime Minister admit Bill Kelty is right that housing affordability is getting worse and real wages are going down on his watch?

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

I thank the member for Goldstein for his question. You're no Bill Kelty, mate—I'll make that point. I know Bill Kelty and I know what he thinks of you. It might appear in print too, but it would probably not be printable.

We know that Australians are under cost-of-living pressure. We know that. That's why we're actually taking action about it. Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia. We've had a global pandemic—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

just a fact—a land war in Europe, disruptions to trade, a new conflict in the Middle East and the biggest oil shock in history. Now, that has a real impact, and we are taking action to deliver lasting relief, helping Australians under pressure here and now, while at the same time driving an agenda to make sure that we're stronger in the face of future shocks.

Now, the member for Goldstein used to recognise that, because he spoke about intergenerational inequity in the housing market. He spoke about what needed to be done. He not only gave speeches in this place; he wrote a book about it, as the member for Ballarat has said—not a book I have read, I must say, but I've heard enough quotes from it.

Now, we are taking action so that fairness and aspiration are lasting features of Australia's economy, because we know that the true meaning of delivering real change is beyond these walls. That's why we want to see every single worker get a tax cut. That's why we went to the election, why they all got a tax cut and why they'll get a tax cut next year as well—one of the five different forms of tax cuts that we've implemented in our just-over-four years in office. And we know that they voted against them and went to an election saying they would reverse them.

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer? Order! When the House—

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Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

Order! Members on my left! The member for Macnamara will get to his question.