Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I suppose the response to that might simply be: How do you reconcile your opposition to more investment in housing with the statement that you've just read out? It is utterly inconsistent. But because Senator Smith and I have served here a long time together, I will take the less political aspect of his question—oh, sorry; now you're going to be in trouble, aren't you, now I have said that?—which goes to the inflation point. It is an important balancing act that the government has had to take through the budget as we look at how you invest in support for the cost of living, given the cost-of-living pressures that Australians are facing, without adding to inflation.