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

Thanks, Mr Speaker. The weakness in our supply chains has made us more vulnerable than we should be. Right around the world, countries like ours are coming to this same conclusion, and it's an opportunity for Australia as much as it's a challenge for Australia. In a global economy that puts a premium on what's reliable and high-quality, we have advantages, and the National Reconstruction Fund will help us leverage those advantages and make the most of this moment. Busted supply chains and weakness in our industrial base is one of the key reasons for the inflation we've seen in our economy. So, investing in the supply side of the economy is a key part of our plan to address cost-of-living pressures. In addition to the cost-of-living relief that we're rolling out, and getting the budget in much better nick than we inherited from those opposite, investing in the supply side is really important.

It's disappointing but not especially surprising to see those opposite try to block this investment in Australian industry.

Opposition members interjecting—

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