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

I thank Senator Darmanin for the question. It is an important question. As outlined in that question, our focus was on budget repair in the last term, providing cost-of-living help in targeted ways that didn't add to the inflation challenge and getting wages moving again. It was all part of our economic plan. I am really pleased to update the Senate that for the final budget outcome for the 2024-25 year we are forecasting a deficit in the low double digits, which is around half of what we expected at budget time and about a quarter of what we inherited from those opposite when we came to government, showing our significant budget repair work is continuing to pay dividends. That means that we have been able to find room to help families and households with those cost-of-living pressures. As the Treasurer has also said, productivity growth is well known to be a challenge facing Australia and indeed other economies. Our productivity problem hasn't been with us for a couple of years; it's been with us for a couple of decades.