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

The figures that Senator Bragg referred to in the article are correct. They relate to the difference in the increase in the WPI that is occurring now under this government compared to the 10-year average of the former government. I am surprised that, on the final day, the opposition would again raise wages in their questions on the record that they had, where wages stagnated for a decade, just as productivity did, while the budget got into a mess. That is what happened under your watch. While you try and go out there and say you are the serious economic managers, let's have a look at the actual reality: the worst budget and the worst budget deficit we have ever had; $1 trillion of debt that we inherited with nothing to show for it; wages that had stagnated for a decade. The 10 years you were in government had the lowest productivity increase for 60 years. That is what you achieved. You then come in here and want a conversation with us about wages while, at the same time, you are voting against almost every cost-of-living measure that we have brought into this place. Let us not forget what you did when we wanted to give households support for their energy bills. (Time expired)