Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. The ABC's Jacob Greber has reported a senior Labor figure described RBA governor Michele Bullock as a 'nutter' and the RBA in general as 'barbarians' and 'weirdos'. Has the treasurer spoken to Wayne Swan or Paul Keating in relation to these matters? With falling disposable income and sticky high inflation hurting households, why is the Albanese Labor government fighting the Reserve Bank while Australian families go backwards?

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

The first part of the question probably was more of an opinion, but the last part of the question was definitely in order. The Treasurer has the call.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy to answer all of it. First of all, I haven't spoken to those former treasurers for more than a couple of weeks now, and I know that those opposite are going around pretending and getting people to write that somehow there's been some element of coordination with the comments that former treasurers have made about these matters. I note that they're perfectly fine with former treasurer Howard, former treasurer Costello and former treasurer Frydenberg being out there in the public debate, but, if you're a former Labor treasurer, you've got no business being involved in it. I haven't spoken to either of those two guys about their commentary or their views in at least a couple of weeks.

As regards the other part of her question, about the comments reported by Jacob Greber, who's up there in the gallery, I think I was asked this yesterday or the day before, and I said I completely disagreed with those comments. I completely and utterly disagree with the comments that were made to Jacob in this regard. I think I've already made that clear, and, if I haven't, I make it clear right now. I have a respectful working relationship with Governor Bullock and her colleagues. As Governor Bullock has made it clear a number of occasions, we work well together. We've got the same objective; we've got different responsibilities. Because of our combined efforts, we've seen inflation halved since the year we came to office, and that's important. That's the main game. The primary fight is against inflation at the same time as we roll out cost-of-living help, get the budget in better nick and invest in a future made in Australia, in housing, in energy and in skills. So I don't agree with those comments. I haven't discussed them with anyone. I've answered this question before, and I'm happy to answer it again.