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

Labor's third budget is the wrong budget for Australia. Economist Steven Hamilton called it 'downright reckless'. Economist Paul Bloxham said budget measures 'support underlying inflation, rather than lowering it.' Cherelle Murphy from EY said, 'We were left disappointed.' Why are Australians paying the price for this Prime Minister's wrong priorities and bad decisions?

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

I thank the leader of the economic dream team from those opposite, but his partner, the shadow finance minister, had this to say about our budget:

I'm sure Australians that are doing it tough right now will be thrilled to hear that there's something in this Budget for them.

She went on to say—just yesterday, a day after the budget:

… everybody needs $300 off their power bill. In fact, we'd like to see more.

So they come in here and they say, 'Oh, no; it's all bad.' They voted against power bill relief when it was going in a targeted fashion. They've opposed those who are getting it in a broader sense, just like how on tax policy they opposed, of course, our changes and said they'd reverse the changes that gave every taxpayer a tax cut. Then the Leader of the Opposition said that we should go to an election on it. Well, I await tonight the Leader of the Opposition saying that he'll jack up that first rate from 16c back up to 19c, that he will reduce the amount at which the top rate cuts in from $190,000 down to $180,000—

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

The Prime Minister will pause.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! The Leader of the House. The Treasurer will cease interjecting. Any member can raise a point of order. One point of order of relevance can be done, and that is what the member for Hume is doing, so he'll be heard in silence.

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

The question referred to three economists, who have all said that this budget has failed the Australian people. He is not talking about this budget; he is talking about something else entirely.

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

Resume your seat. I don't know what the quotes were. You're right; the question contained quotes, and at the end of the question was 'why are Australians paying the price for this government's wrong priorities?' I'm assuming that the Prime Minister doesn't agree with that premise, and he's arguing why and delivering quotes to support that.

You just said the question did contain quotes. I don't know what those quotes were, so, if it's context you're after, the Prime Minister is answering the end part of the actual question, regarding information regarding the budget. It was such a broad question at the end that he's entitled to do that. I think everyone can agree on that. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I was asked about the commentating on our budget. I went to quote from the shadow finance minister, and the shadow Treasurer got up to complain and said that wasn't relevant. What a team they have! They can't decide where the nuclear reactors will be. This bloke was out there on Sunday opposing his own leader on it.

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

But I'm asked about reaction. Well, here's what Bran Black of the Business Council of Australia had to say:

There are some helpful wins for business in this Budget, with BCA recommendations accepted including a new single front door to fast-track investment, a strong focus on skills and production tax credits for hydrogen and critical minerals projects.

He went on to say:

We called for an Australian response to the US Inflation Reduction Act, and a targeted investment allowance to support the net zero transition, which we have secured here.

And he continued:

The Government's commitment to reforming Australia's skills system is welcomed by business.

We are also pleased with the investments in growing the construction workforce …

The Minerals Council of Australia has come out and backed it. The Australian Retailers Association, the Australian Industry Group and the Housing Industry Association—all of these groups have come out and applauded our budget. Those opposite— (Time expired)