Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Walsh for her question. The Albanese government's economic plan is carefully calibrated to provide targeted relief to those that need it most whilst not aggravating inflation. The May budget was very carefully designed with this in mind and has successfully walked this line between giving a hand to Australians in need and not causing inflation. In fact, Danielle Wood, head of the Grattan Institute, told the Sydney Morning Herald on 10 May:

They've managed to walk that short-term line between giving some relief, particularly to the most disadvantaged households, and not substantially adding to inflationary pressures.

Inflation will still be higher than we'd like and more persistent than ideal but down from where it would have been. We're making a meaningful difference to families and individuals around the country. These cost-of-living pressures have been largely driven by Russia's illegal war in Ukraine, and they have been made worse by a decade of wasted opportunities from the previous government, with its energy policy chaos and failure to address the nation's skills shortages. (Time expired)