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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, by what percentage has the cost of food increased since the election of the Albanese Labor government?

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

I thank the member for her question. Indeed, it goes to cost of living, and it goes to inflation. What we know is that inflation is now at 2.4 per cent, less than in the bottom half of what the Reserve Bank range of two to three per cent—their target range—is. We know that, when we were elected, it had a six in front of it. Of course, the price of all goods and services feed into those inflationary figures. We know, as well, that the underlying rate is down to 3.2 per cent.

We know, as well, that the response of those opposite has been to have never been more upset than when inflation was going down. They went out there and—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat for a moment. The deputy leader will raise a point of order.

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

My point of order is on relevance. The Prime Minister appears to be in some parallel universe. These figures are readily available. It's a question about the increase, by percentage rate, of the cost of food since Labor was elected.

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

Order! The minister for the environment and the Leader of the Opposition will cease their helpful remarks! The Prime Minister was asked, once again during question time, for a specific figure, number, fact or figure. If the Prime Minister wishes to release that figure or perhaps wants to talk about the topic regarding the impact on that figure—inflation would be a relevant impact—he can't talk about other things that aren't relative to the question. It was a very short question. There's not a lot of scope for the Prime Minister to go wide range here. But, so far, with talking about inflation and about the impact that that's having on the question, I think anyone would agree it is directly relevant. I ask the Prime Minister to continue, and to make sure he's directly relevant.

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

We understand that inflation has an impact on households. That's why we have acted to make sure that inflation is brought down. That's why, in addition, we've taken action against supermarkets, including the mandated code of conduct that we have brought in. That is why, across the board, we are taking action on the cost of living. That is what our government has been focused on, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, along with the rest of her team, has opposed all of the cost-of-living measures that we have put in place. In addition to that, one of the things that has helped to bring prices down and bring inflation down is the fact that we turned a $78 billion Liberal deficit into a $22 billion Labor surplus and backed that up with a second surplus. So, whether it be cost-of-living relief, whether it be action against supermarkets—

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

The deputy leader—I will, out of courtesy, give her the call.

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

I seek your ruling as to whether the Prime Minister is in order with his remarks following your earlier directing him back to the question.

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

The Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two things: one, members can rise on a point of order. This concept of rising on a ruling is not anywhere in the standing orders. Secondly, when we're talking about food prices, I don't know in what universe action on supermarkets is not directly relevant to that.

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

There's only one point of order allowed. If you're not happy with the way I've handled a situation, any member can take action then. But to simply come back in the future and go, 'Can you further clarify a minute later what your decision was,' that's not practical and that's not common sense, and no Speaker has had to deal with that before. We're going to make sure that the Prime Minister is being directly relevant. I was listening before he was interrupted about supermarkets or impacts. Yes, I can appreciate it's a short question and you want a number and you want a figure. As long as he's being directly relevant, we've got to make sure that everyone follows the standing orders. The Prime Minister.

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

We have had a multifaceted approach to this. We have sought to bring inflation down through a range of measures by ensuring that our cost-of-living support is also having a downward impact on inflation. In addition to that, we have had stronger action against supermarkets to make sure that, instead of having a voluntary code of conduct where they all just sit around voluntarily—which is what we inherited from those opposite—we have introduced a mandated code of conduct, which they voted against, I am reminded. So we will continue to take action to help Australians. Those opposite will continue to—I'm reminded that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was very strong in opposing tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners and said— (Time expired)