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

I thank the member for his question. I'm asked about two things: what we're doing this week, in the last week, but, also, about cost-of-living pressures, which we understand.

Julie, along with a lot of Australians are under financial pressure. We understand that. That's why we're acting. But, what I hope you said to Julie, when she raised it with you, was that you voted against her getting—if she's from Queensland—from $1,000 between the federal government and the state government of Steven Miles in energy bill support. I hope you said that you voted against it. I hope you explained to Julie, if she's a worker on a low income, that you opposed her getting a tax cut. Not only did you oppose it but you also then said you'd reverse it. Then your leader said there should be an election on the basis of it—that's how hostile you were to tax cuts for Julie, if she's a worker. If she is not a worker, and she's on a payment, as the Minister for Social Services just outlined, we have supported increases that those opposite have also said are wasteful.

I hope you have said, 'I'm sorry that my side of politics thinks there is $315 billion of waste that we wouldn't have undertaken.' I hope that you've explained to Julie, if she buys any medicines, that you wanted medicines to be more expensive rather than cheaper, because Julie might be one of the people who have benefited by $1 billion. I hope, as well, that the member has said that he's been opposed to, and has voted against, affordable housing.

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