Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has told the senate inquiry into Labor's cost-of-living crisis that the rising cost of living is having an acute, adverse impact on small and family businesses that underpin livelihoods. Prime Minister, why do Australian families and businesses always pay more under Labor?

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

Again, we have that tag in there which allows me to do a comparison between this government and the former government. Although, there is a link there, because, if I am not mistaken, it's a former minister in the former government who has made the submission that you're talking about. Is that right? Is that right?

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

Order! The Prime Minister will direct comments through the chair.

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

So the political appointment made by those opposite, which they leave out of the question, gives a submission that is a pro-Liberal Party submission from the former pro Liberal Party minister. Shock! Horror! 'Deidre Chambers. What a coincidence!'

The member is from Western Australia, and I note that in Western Australia today there is a bit of a comparison about the former government and this government. On a day when my Attorney-General has introduced very important legislation into this parliament, the former Attorney-General of the former government is part of Clive Palmer's operation to sue the WA government for $300 million. The Liberal Party were anti-WA when they were in government, they're anti-WA now they're the opposition, and they're anti-WA—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The member for Hume! Members on my right will cease interjecting. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting, and so will the member for Barker. The Manager of Opposition Business?

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on any reasonable test of relevance, the Prime Minister has strayed a very long way from this question. He should either be directed back to the terms of the question, or—

H onourable members interjecting—

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

Resume your seat. The members for Macnamara and McEwen are not helping. The Prime Minister will return to the question, which was about rising costs of living and the compare and contrast at the end of the question, which I think he started with. I am listening to him carefully, but I want silence so that I can hear him. If he strays, he will be returned to the question.

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

It was also about former Liberal Party ministers and Mr Porter's colleague. Knowing Clive Palmer's record for paying his workers, I hope Christian Porter asked for his money upfront. I hope he got that! Together at last: Palmer and Porter. Name a more iconic duo—I dare you!