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

Imagine asking about gas prices when they came in here, at the end of the first year we were in government, and voted against our gas caps. Imagine being so slow on the uptake that he comes in here and asks about gas prices. When Australians needed them to act on gas prices, they were nowhere to be found. The reason that's top of mind is that, in the same legislation, they also voted against electricity bill relief.

At the end of 2022, when we were dealing with the fallout of the last energy minister—now the shadow Treasurer—we came in here and asked the whole parliament to side with the Australian people, to put caps on gas prices and help with electricity bills, and they were nowhere to be found. And they've got form on that front.

It wasn't just gas prices where they abandoned middle Australia. They abandoned middle Australia on tax cuts. They abandoned middle Australia on cheaper early childhood education, as my ministerial colleague was telling you about a moment ago. They abandoned middle Australia on rent assistance. Right across the board, when it comes to the cost of living, they have been nowhere to be found.

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