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

I'm asked about inflation. I'm asked about international comparisons on inflation. The RBA governor has completely contradicted the Leader of the Opposition's declaration as part of that rhetorical question where he said that it was Labor's budgets that were having an impact. The truth is that what the RBA governor has said very clearly is that fiscal policy has been running a surplus for the last couple of years, so I would say that's been helping the inflation situation, if anything. It's a direct quote from the RBA governor. Indeed, I think the shadow finance minister, Senator Hume, has said that the things that cause inflation are not of Labor's making. That's what their shadow finance minister had to say. Of course, that's consistent with the reality of what has happened.

I'm asked about international comparisons. Australia has faster economic growth than Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK in the G7. We have a lower unemployment rate than Canada, France, Italy and the UK. We have faster employment growth than Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the UK. We have a higher participation rate than Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the UK, and Australia is the only one with a budget surplus along with the smallest gross debt.

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