Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition (Social and Community Affairs)) Share this | Hansard source

My question without notice is to Senator Minchin, Minister representing the Prime Minister. Is the minister aware of reports that, because the government broke its election promise to keep interest rates at record lows, many working families will be forced to sell their homes? Does the minister have any advice for families reported in today’s press who are now having to give up things like a family pub dinner, brand name nappies for their children, a glass of wine after work or even driving to the shops? Is the government concerned that people like single mum Joanne Pagano from Sydney are considering giving up their family’s private health insurance because of increases to their already huge mortgage payments? Hasn’t life for many working families just got a lot tougher because of the government’s failure to honour its promise to keep interest rates at record lows?