Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
2:30 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Farrell. Minister, how is the government lowering aggregate demand in the economy?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you, Senator Hume, for your question.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade
The budget surplus is a start.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I couldn't have said it any better, Senator. I will take that interjection. Let's go back in time a little bit. I know you hate this, but we inherited a $1 trillion debt. What did we do? Not only did we inherit a $1 trillion debt—
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
No, you didn't!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
We did, Senator Birmingham. I know you don't like it. I know you don't like us talking about your incompetent economic management, but not only did we inherit a $1 trillion debt but we inherited a $70 billion deficit. Senator Hume, what we did—
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
She asked the question, with respect.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
And she'll ask me some supplementary questions, and she won't have listened to my answer. I just want to make sure that when I give the answer to this question she—
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
President, on direct relevance. This minister does it time and time again. He runs the clock down with endless waffle and diversionary tactics. He's had more than three—
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
The point of order is on direct relevance.
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
He's had more than three-quarters of the allocated time, and the words 'aggregate demand' haven't passed his lips at all. Does he even know what it is?
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I would remind senators, as I did yesterday, that if there are interjections the minister is entitled to take those into consideration. I will remind him of the question, Senator Birmingham, but if there aren't interjections then we can focus on the question.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you, President, for that clarification. I answered your question in the very first answer I gave. Just because you don't—
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
President, I raise a point of order and a clarification. Economist Chris Richardson said that the only people who would use the phrase 'a billion dollars worth of debt' are either ignorant or making a political point. My question, President, is: which one?
Sue Lines President
Senator Hume, resume your seat. I would remind senators that, if you are standing on a point of order, make sure it is a point of order and not a debating point. Minister Farrell.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you. Is that Senator Hume's first supplementary question? (Time expired)
Sue Lines President
Senator McGrath, there's one of your own senators—order!—on her feet, waiting to ask her first supplementary. Thank you, Senator Hume.
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
2:33 pm
Minister, the cost of food has gone up by 8.2 per cent over the last 15 months. What is the Albanese government doing to stop supermarket bills going up and up?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:34 pm
We're putting downward pressure on inflation. One way we do that is to provide a surplus. We've done that this year.
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
You didn't provide a surplus.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Credit where credit is due, Senator.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
To the resource companies of Australia!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Senator Cash, I know you don't like it that, for the first time in 15 years, a federal government has produced a surplus. But just producing that surplus itself puts downward pressure on.
Now, what have we done about trying to help families who are struggling? These families are struggling with increases food prices—
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition
You've done nothing!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
We're reducing the cost of child care. We're reducing the cost of going— (Time expired)
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
2:35 pm
Can the minister explain how the Albanese Labor government's additional $188 billion in spending is putting downward pressure on inflation, rather than upward?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank Senator Hume for her second supplementary question. I note that the opposition didn't support any of the moves that this government—
Carol Brown Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Shame!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Yes, it is a shame, Senator Brown. They didn't support any of the measures that this government proposed to put downward pressure on inflation. They didn't support the reductions in childcare costs. They didn't support the measures to cap electricity prices. They're not supporting—
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
You're not really helping with the supermarket bills!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Well, what are we doing? For the first time we've had a government that's interested in pushing up wages. Remember what Mathias Cormann— (Time expired)