Henry Pike (Bowman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Prime Minister. Julie from Macleay Island, in my electorate, has told me, 'I can't get past the expense of food and just how quickly the price of two bags of groceries has risen. I didn't feel so poor a few years ago, and I could save for items I needed for the house, not now.' This week the Albanese Labor government is taking our country in the wrong direction. How can Australian families and businesses possibly afford another three years of Labor?

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

The Treasurer is warned. It's the same rule for everyone about interjecting before someone starts.

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

I thank the member for his question. I'm asked about two things: what we're doing this week, in the last week, but, also, about cost-of-living pressures, which we understand.

Julie, along with a lot of Australians are under financial pressure. We understand that. That's why we're acting. But, what I hope you said to Julie, when she raised it with you, was that you voted against her getting—if she's from Queensland—from $1,000 between the federal government and the state government of Steven Miles in energy bill support. I hope you said that you voted against it. I hope you explained to Julie, if she's a worker on a low income, that you opposed her getting a tax cut. Not only did you oppose it but you also then said you'd reverse it. Then your leader said there should be an election on the basis of it—that's how hostile you were to tax cuts for Julie, if she's a worker. If she is not a worker, and she's on a payment, as the Minister for Social Services just outlined, we have supported increases that those opposite have also said are wasteful.

I hope you have said, 'I'm sorry that my side of politics thinks there is $315 billion of waste that we wouldn't have undertaken.' I hope that you've explained to Julie, if she buys any medicines, that you wanted medicines to be more expensive rather than cheaper, because Julie might be one of the people who have benefited by $1 billion. I hope, as well, that the member has said that he's been opposed to, and has voted against, affordable housing.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

I don't know if Julie has kids, but you voted against child care being cheaper. Those opposite have also voted against a pay rise for childcare workers, a pay rise for aged-care workers, and you voted against, of course, free TAFE. Your deputy leader explained why you're opposed to free TAFE, because if things are free, apparently, according to the Liberal Party philosophy, they're not valued, which explains why you don't support Medicare and never have. It explains why you don't support public schools and why you continue to just say what you're against and not put anything forward constructively that will help Julie. (Time expired)

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

I remind the Prime Minister and all members to direct their remarks through the chair. I didn't want to interrupt the Prime Minister during his answer.