Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. What feedback has the government received about Labor's cost-of-living tax cuts? What attempts have there been to prevent cost-of-living relief for middle Australia?

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

I thank the member for Blair for his question and for his strong advocacy for the people of Ipswich. Our plan is aimed squarely at middle Australia, helping low- and middle-income earners who are under financial pressure. Those opposite, of course, would never have thought of doing this, and they're already working on how to undo it. The reason it didn't cross their mind to cut taxes for low- and middle-income earners is because they simply don't think about them. Their gut reaction was to oppose it. Their first instinct was to roll it back. At the first chance they get, they will walk away from middle Australia.

Now, they can change how they vote, but they'll never change who they are, and we saw it there last night, with that rather extraordinary performance from the Leader of the Opposition on ABC's 7.30 program—an extraordinary, angry performance. I think a shorter assessment was given by Malcolm Turnbull during the Nemesis program. You know something's remarkable when Malcolm Turnbull can describe something in one word and one syllable. You know that's right. He got this bloke right. We saw it last night—all the anger. No wonder they keep him away from serious interviews, the National Press Club or any proper forums.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Moreton is warned. The member for Page on point of order.

Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, it was a dorothy dixer to the Prime Minister, but it wasn't a question to lash out at the opposition leader.

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

The Prime Minister was asked about feedback regarding the cost-of-living tax cuts. So I'll just listen to him.

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

It was very modest compared to what we've said about each other—very modest. The fact is that, last night, the feedback from the Leader of the Opposition was that he agreed that our tax cuts would help low- and middle-income earners. When asked why he then didn't just keep the high-end stuff as well, he said, 'Well, you can't do both.' It was an assessment that gave a complete tick to the actions that this government has taken, which is maybe why they're voting for it but arguing against it at the same time.

But Australians out there are saying positive things. Australians out there are responding because they know that this government had the courage to take the right decision at the right time for the right reasons to make a difference for them.