Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I'll take the interjection from Senator Birmingham. I always think it's a very dangerous thing when politicians try to compete about these things—about being in touch, that is—because we're all politicians, aren't we? But we understand very acutely the cost-of-living pressures facing Australian families. Obviously, for a whole range of reasons, inflation has driven increases in costs. People are feeling it at the supermarket and they're feeling it in terms of utilities and services. That is why those of us on this side, along with the Australian Greens and others, voted for price relief for Australian families.

Every time someone from the other side comes in here and tells us about energy price relief, let's remember they voted against energy price relief. That is what the coalition did. You voted against a price cap for coal and gas. You voted against $3 billion in targeted bill relief for businesses and households most in need. You voted against a 12-month price cap on uncontracted gas at $12 a gigajoule and a 12-month price ceiling on domestic coal for New South Wales and Queensland. And then you have the gall to come in here and talk about who's out of touch. No-one who is in touch with Australian families and what is happening on the cost of living out there would have had the temerity to come into this chamber and vote against price relief for Australian families. If you want to talk about who's not in touch, have a look in the mirror, Senator Cash.