Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

As I have said repeatedly in this House, the impact on the overall price level is 0.7 percent, or less than 1c in the dollar. But it is true that it will have an impact on some costs and it will be more in some sectors than in others. That is why the government has put in place a Household Assistance Package as well as an assistance package for industry. We have done that because of those costs. But for those opposite to come into this House and exaggerate those price impacts day in, day out is simply reckless and irresponsible. What they are determined to do is talk down our economy and the hard work of millions of workers and tens of thousands of small businesses in our country.

The Leader of the Opposition is now running away from some of his more outrageous statements about the impact. We have heard about how we are going to have not a cobra strike but a python squeeze. But, of course, we all know that the Leader of the Opposition is simply a snake oil salesman slithering around this country making all sorts of poisonous accusations.

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