Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Australians paid more, under the coalition, in inflation, because the largest increase in any quarter this century was March 2022—2.1 per cent. Australians paid more tax. The highest taxing government in modern Australian history was, of course, the Howard government. The second highest was, you guessed it, the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government. That's a fact. The deficit was larger under those opposite.

We understand that there are inflationary pressures in the economy. Today the inflation figures have come off a bit, the monthly figures, but we understand there is more work to be done. We understand the pressure that constituents, such as the ones mentioned by the member for Petrie—I assume. I never actually get the correspondence, but I will take him at its word. He's a Dolphins fan so he can probably be trusted. I'll take him at his word. We understand that people are under pressure, and that's why I just hope that the member for Petrie told those people: 'Yes, that's true. I get that it's tough. Sorry for voting against $1½ billion of energy price relief.'

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