House debates Questions without Notice
Prime Minister, Cost of Living
Darren Chester Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
2:32 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. The average new mortgage holder is now paying $30,000 more per year because of the 16 interest rate rises under his government. The Prime Minister has failed to deliver the $275 reduction in household energy bills he promised 97 times. The National Farmers' Federation has warned that grocery prices will increase because of his failed working holiday-maker visa changes. Why do Australians always pay the price because the Prime Minister won't ever admit he's made a mistake?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
I thank the member for his question. In part, I'm stunned at them raising issues of migration and access to the labour market, because the government is making sensible changes, just as we have brought down the level of net overseas migration by 45 per cent. What those opposite are suggesting would decimate the agricultural sector. I have certainly had representations about that, just as we are continuing to engage constructively with business. As the member might know, the offer has been there for other reforms that would further help to bring down the migration numbers and do so in a way that has no impact at all on the needs of the labour market, but those opposite, unfortunately, have chosen to not support those sensible reforms.