Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks for that protection. I don't really need it, because, when they start interjecting, you know that the truth is hurting those on that side of the chamber.

We will be introducing electricity bill relief as a key feature of the May federal budget. It will provide direct support for households and businesses that the opposition tried to block. Let's put this on the public record. They tried to block it. Unlike the previous government, we have invested in 180,000 fee-free TAFE places that are now available to tackle the skills shortages. From the contribution that was made in question time today, we know about the attributes that were displayed by those opposite when they were in government. They had a finance minister who didn't even know that the Prime Minister at the time had taken over his portfolio, and now they come in here and try to lecture us about the cost of living and what needs to be done for the economy!

We know that there have been difficulties. We know that some of that can be attributed to the Iraq War and what's happening there in terms of energy prices—