Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Yesterday the Treasurer said in parliament: 'Bill Evans from Westpac, a very respected economist, said, "I don't expect them to put upward pressure on interest rates."' Today, Mr Evans said, 'The risk is that the stimulus that's in the economy in 2023-24 proves to be stronger than the Reserve Bank is comfortable with, and, therefore, they don't have the scope to cut rates as early as February.' He said, 'The timing of the first Reserve Bank cut will be the factor where the budget may have an implication.' Does the Treasurer still agree with Bill Evans, whose comments clearly show that Labor's budget risks interest rates being higher for longer?