Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Hume for the question but, most of all, from the very bottom of my heart, I thank whoever thought it was a good idea to get Angus to ask a question about the cost of living! The member for Hume is very chirpy now about the cost of living. But when the Australian people really needed him to speak up about that 20 per cent increase in electricity prices that he intervened to keep quiet about during the election he was absolutely nowhere to be found. It was the same with the captain's call made by the Leader of the Opposition, who said we should extend the petrol excise relief. The member for Hume was asked eight times in a press conference yesterday afternoon whether he agrees with the Leader of the Opposition, and he couldn't do it.

We have been consistent right throughout this conversation. We have said that our priority on the cost of living is to implement the commitments that the Prime Minister and everyone on this side of the House took to the election. Those commitments are around making child care cheaper and more affordable for more people. Our commitments—

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