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

If you want a question on the cost of living or inflation or the economy, you've got to rustle one up yourself. Because, when the people of this country are under pressure and when the cost of living is the No. 1 pressure that people are feeling, those opposite couldn't care less, and we know that because they haven't asked any questions this week on the cost of living, inflation or the economy more broadly. It's after three o'clock on the Thursday of a sitting week, and there's total silence from those opposite on the No. 1 issue that this country and its people confront. Those opposite might not care about the cost of living, but this side of the parliament does. That's why we're rolling out cost-of-living relief, with a tax cut for every taxpayer, energy bill relief for every household, cheaper medicines, cheaper early childhood education, rent assistance and getting wages moving again after a decade of wage stagnation.

We're focused on the main game, and they're focused on playing political games. We want to lift people up, and this opposition leader wants to punch down. We want to help people doing it tough, and they just want to divide people and set Australians against Australians.

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