Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. One month before the election the now Prime Minister promised he would deliver on reducing cost-of-living pressures for Australian families because he had a plan. Because of Labor's policies, interest rates are rising higher than they otherwise would, and Australian families are paying an extra $18,000 per year on a typical mortgage. The Prime Minister is failing Australians because he doesn't have a plan. Why do Australian families always pay more under Labor?

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

The Governor of the Reserve Bank has made a number of appearances this week, and one of the things that he has said is that our policies are taking pressure off inflation. He has indicated that monetary policy is working hand-in-hand with fiscal policy. That is what he has said. Indeed, what we are seeing is the measures that we've put in place making a difference. This is what the Origin statement to the Australian Stock Exchange declared today:

The announcement in December 2022 by the Federal government of price caps on gas and coal … is in response to these global and domestic shocks.

More recently we have seen prices decline …

That is what Origin have said.

Dr Steven Kennedy of the Treasury, who has served both the former government and the current government with distinction, said:

Following the December announcement, National Electricity Market futures prices have declined significantly … If sustained, lower futures prices will be reflected in the default market offer announced by the regulator around the middle of the year … Over the year to June 2024, Treasury expects the coal and gas caps to reduce inflation by half a point.

That's what he had to say. But not everyone supports—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister was talking about mortgages, the cost of living and inflation pressures, I remind the House, which was about the question. I'll call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on tedious repetition, Mr Speaker—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. Resume your seat immediately. I call the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the questioner should know, having been here for a long time, that standing order applies to debate. If it applied to questions, none of her questions would be in order.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a relevant point of order—just. I just want to remind the House: if the Prime Minister or any other minister is addressing the House and is being directly relevant and an abuse of standing orders occurs, there will be consequences. I give the call to the Prime Minister.

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

Those opposite oppose every action we put forward to try to reduce inflationary pressure and to deal with the challenges which arise at a time when we acknowledge the ongoing struggle of the people of Ukraine. The Ukrainian war and the actions of Russia, unfortunately, are having an impact on global energy prices. They're feeding into inflation globally. That's just a fact.

But those opposite oppose price caps. They oppose the safeguard mechanism legislation. They oppose the Housing Australia Future Fund. They oppose the National Reconstruction Fund. They oppose us increasing wages for the lowest-paid workers in Australia. What is it about the last election where they didn't get the memo? People are over conflict fatigue. People want to look for solutions and a positive agenda—

Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Everyone got the memo!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fairfax will cease interjecting.

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

and those opposite, having created the problems, now stand in the way of all of the solutions.