Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer. On Monday, the Melbourne Herald Sun said, 'The average full-time worker is about $3,700 better off than they were a year ago, according to new data analysis being spruiked by Treasurer Jim Chalmers.' With the cost-of-living index up by 9.6 per cent for working households in this past year, core inflation almost twice the top of the RBA's band, interest rates at a 12-year high and real wages down by 2.7 per cent, can you confirm that the Treasurer is spruiking falsehoods and Australians are actually worse off?

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

The figures used in that article are correct. I went through—

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australians are better off, are they?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Birmingham.

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

If Senator Birmingham could stop shouting at me, I am responding—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

Well, he wasn't whispering, alright?

Why don't you stand up and say that, Senator Cash? Why don't you stand up and explain what you just called me, what you both call me all the time?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Urquhart, on a point of order?

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would ask Senator Ruston to withdraw that comment, please.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe it was Senator Cash. Once again, as I requested earlier for Senator Watt to withdraw a comment in harmonious spirit of the chamber, Senator Cash, I would ask you to do likewise.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If it assists the chamber, I will withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cash. Minister Gallagher, please continue.

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

The figures that Senator Bragg referred to in the article are correct. They relate to the difference in the increase in the WPI that is occurring now under this government compared to the 10-year average of the former government. I am surprised that, on the final day, the opposition would again raise wages in their questions on the record that they had, where wages stagnated for a decade, just as productivity did, while the budget got into a mess. That is what happened under your watch. While you try and go out there and say you are the serious economic managers, let's have a look at the actual reality: the worst budget and the worst budget deficit we have ever had; $1 trillion of debt that we inherited with nothing to show for it; wages that had stagnated for a decade. The 10 years you were in government had the lowest productivity increase for 60 years. That is what you achieved. You then come in here and want a conversation with us about wages while, at the same time, you are voting against almost every cost-of-living measure that we have brought into this place. Let us not forget what you did when we wanted to give households support for their energy bills. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bragg, a first supplementary?

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On top of the new superannuation tax, new taxes on trucking and transport, the government recently allowed ASIC to raise levies on financial advisors from $1,100 to $3,200. This was the first increase in these levies since 2019. During a cost-of-living crisis, why is the Labor Party making it harder for Australians to access quality financial advice?

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

(—) (): My recollection of the funding in that part of ASIC is that it is essentially self-funding, cost-recovered, and that is something that the opposition had supported. So now you are telling me that is not the case, are you? Is that the question that you put to me today? In order to adequately fund and resource ASIC and the financial advisors, fees from financial advice are recouped, as it is through APRA and other national regulators. You are now walking away from that position as well, right? If it is not going to be self-funded, it would come as a cost to the budget, because presumably you would want ASIC appropriately funded in order to regulate the financial system. I would have thought that was something we agreed on. But I am not going to take a lecture from those opposite when they have opposed cheaper medicines, they have opposed energy bill relief and they have opposed extra investment in housing. (Time expired)

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The average family's mortgage repayments are up approximately $22,000 since Labor came to government and energy bills are up by more than 15 per cent and heading to increases of 25 per cent. Why is the Treasurer telling Australians that they've never had it so good, whilst your policies continue to make a bad situation even worse?

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

The Treasurer has never used those words, so don't verbal the Treasurer. In terms of the cost-of-living measures, it is our priority focus to look at how we can support cost-of-living relief without adding to the inflation problem in the economy. That's why we've invested in cheaper medicines. That's why we've invested in cheaper child care. That's why we're expanding Paid Parental Leave. That's why we're getting wages moving, which was the first question. That's why we're investing in more affordable housing. You voted about 14 times this week to oppose that. That is the action that you took when we look at cost-of-living measures. The stronger safety net; rent assistance, JobSeeker and parenting payment increases; the energy bill relief plan; and fee-free TAFE places—these are all focused cost-of-living measures that support the growth in the economy and support the productive capacity of the economy without adding to the inflation problem.