House debates

Monday, 19 August 2024

Statements by Members

Albanese Government

1:57 pm

Photo of Angie BellAngie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | | Hansard source

It's been more than two years of this Albanese Labor government, and Australian families have never been worse off. Under Labor, prices have increased by more than 10 per cent—

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Never!

Photo of Angie BellAngie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | | Hansard source

including—ever!—for our most basic needs. Groceries are up 10 per cent. I'll take that interjection from the Prime Minister. He agrees with me! They've never been worse off than they are now. Housing is up 15 per cent. Rents are up 15 per cent. Electricity—remember that promise from the Prime Minister?—is up 22 per cent, not down $275—no. Gas is up 25 per cent. Australians have faced 12 mortgage rate increases. So, if you've got a mortgage of $750,000, I'm sure you're aware that you are $35,000 worse off under this Prime Minister. Household savings have collapsed by nearly 10 per cent. Living standards have decreased in this country by eight per cent. Shame on you. Small businesses are shutting their doors, and we've seen a record number of insolvencies. Real wages continue to go backwards, and unemployment is at its highest level since the election. Unfortunately, Australians looking for some kind of relief won't find any from this Prime Minister. This government's reckless spending and economic mismanagement have left Australian households and businesses in the lurch. Australians need real, targeted cost-of-living relief, and they are not getting it from this Prime Minister. They are not getting it from this Labor government, Prime Minister.