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

The important balance to strike when we provide this responsible cost-of-living relief in the budget next month is to make sure that we are providing that relief without adding to inflationary pressures. So we are providing that relief in a way that also satisfies our broader economic objectives: in child care, cost-of-living relief but with an economic dividend and similarly with medicines and TAFE fees—and the list goes on and on—while also getting wages moving in a strong and sustainable way once again.

We want to make sure that we don't add to the pressure on the Reserve Bank when it comes to interest rate decisions. We want to take some of the sting out of inflation over the medium term, and the best way to do that is to provide that relief in a responsible way and invest in the issues in our supply chains. A wasted decade of missed opportunities, warped priorities and deliberate wage stagnation has left Australians, their budget and their economy more vulnerable. The budget will make them more resilient. (Time expired)

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