Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I don't think it's quite right to draw the connection between the experience people were having working, not being able to get to work or not being able to work during the COVID period and the situation that we're going through at the moment. There is no doubt that people are doing it tough as a result of the increase to fuel prices. That's why the government, in the last couple of days, announced the halving of the petrol excise in recognition that people are doing it tough and need support. That's, of course, in addition to the range of other cost-of-living support that this government has provided. As I mentioned in my last answer, as a government, we've also increased the JobSeeker payment. We've increased payments to single mothers, and any further decisions will always be made in the context of our budget.