James Stevens (Sturt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. On 1 May last year the Prime Minister promised that 'Labor has real, lasting plans for cheaper electricity and cheaper mortgages'. But, according to the Resolve Political Monitor, two-thirds of Australians say higher prices and interest rates are having a serious impact on their households. Isn't this just another broken promise from this out-of-touch Prime Minister?

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

I thank the member for Sturt for his question. I certainly understand that people are under pressure from the impact of inflation. The Reserve Bank understands that. The global impact of every advanced economy in the world understands that. Whether it's the United Kingdom, the United States or Europe, we are suffering from higher inflation than had occurred previously, pre the pandemic, and that's being exacerbated by the higher energy prices that are coming as a direct result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That is having an impact.

I say to the member for Sturt that his constituents would be very grateful if he had voted for the Energy Price Relief Plan of $1½ billion. Our responsibility is not just to identify problems; more importantly than that, it's to identify solutions and develop practical solutions. That's why, with our Energy Price Relief Plan, our fee-free TAFE places, our expansion of paid parental leave, our more affordable housing, our cheaper child care and our cheaper medicine, all of these issues are aimed at taking pressure off families.

I say to the member for Sturt that what he should do is vote for some of these measures instead of just saying no to everything, along with his colleagues.

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

Order! The member for Groom will cease interjecting.

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

Stand up for your constituents, like the member who sits next to you does on issues of principle.