Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKim for his question. Senator McKim can describe a budget that hasn't been handed down or finalised in the terms which he chooses, but this budget is an important budget in terms of the relief that we need to offer for the cost of living.

I've gone through the forward estimates impact of the defence arrangements of AUKUS, to make sure that it isn't an additional cost that's being met from within the forward estimates. In this high-inflation environment there is also a responsibility not to be adding to or fuelling inflation. That means the decisions we take have to be very careful. They have to be about investing in the productive side of our economy—not making the inflation challenge harder but making sure that we are providing sensible and affordable cost-of-living relief where we can. We think we will get those. There are still a lot of decisions to be made, but the budget will be determined in that light.