Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The budget highlighted the expectation that interest rates would stay at 3.85 per cent until early 2024 and then fall. Following an 11th rate rise under this government, rates are now at 4.1 per cent. Prime Minister, why did the budget fail within a month?

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

Well, you can't trust anything that the shadow Treasurer says. When you look at what the budget papers actually say in the question that's reflected by the shadow Treasurer, they refer to what expectations are by economists. It's not a Treasury document and it's not in a media release from the Treasurer. And I'll tell you one thing we're certain of: it won't be in an answer from the Treasurer to a question from the shadow Treasurer, because we know that this is something that just doesn't exist!

Of course, the last time I got a question from the shadow Treasurer, he stood up here and said:

My question is to the Prime Minister. UBS data shows that in the last month alone the price of Vegemite has increased by eight per cent, peanut butter by nine per cent. Yoghurt has increased by 12 per cent.

He went on about all this, and then he went on—

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

The member for Groom is warned!

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

Then he went on in the MPI:

As for the things Australians love, Vegemite is up eight per cent—not in a year, in a month.

That was not in a year, but a month! And he doubled down—he doubled down! And, of course, Andrew Clennell on Sky News—always watch Sky News; those opposite would have seen this for sure—went on to say:

I've got a shadow cabinet leak, and that is that Angus Taylor yesterday was castigating shadow cabinet ministers—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. Members on my right: there's far too much noise. A general warning is now issued. That means no one will be warned, they'll just leave the chamber. This cannot continue. The member for Hume on a point of order.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's relevance, Mr Speaker. Australians just want to know why—

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

Resume your seat. The question was broad at the end, when you asked, 'Why did the budget fail within a month?' So the Prime Minister is being relevant. If you ask a broad question, with that as the tag, he will be able to answer that. I give him the call.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker, I'm certainly speaking about it! They're not happy little vegemites over there!

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The Prime Minister will return to the question.

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

He went on to say, 'Maybe Angus doesn't go shopping much, because we know inflation is bad and grocery prices are up, but he should have seen that question prepared by his staff.' And he went on about the figures in a month, and questioned it.

Of course, we know what the member said about his staff before. Do you remember the Clover Moore incident?

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

The Prime Minister will return to the question.

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

It's always the staff! But as Andrew Clennell said so clearly, 'The thing is that after speaking to the shadow cabinet briefing out against the shadow Treasurer, this is one of a number of gaffes.' How can you tell there's a gaffe coming? Because he opens his mouth!