Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

As I said, the Albanese government has a clear plan for managing inflation and cost-of-living pressures with budget discipline recording the first surplus in 15 years. We also have a plan for cost-of-living relief and managing our infrastructure pipeline. But in contrast to the government's clear plan, those opposite can't even agree on whether we should spend more or less. Yesterday we had Senator Scarr in question time begging and demanding us to spend less money in the economy, while at the same time we had Senator McKenzie out there issuing press releases demanding more infrastructure spending. More spending over there, less over here: is it a Liberals versus Nationals thing, or are you just utterly confused about what to do about inflation in the economy? Senator Birmingham has called for 'proper spending discipline' to avoid adding to inflation, but Mr Dutton, the Leader of the Opposition, wants to reinstate superannuation tax concessions for high-income earners and wants to build nuclear reactors everywhere around the country with more spending. Make up your minds! Are you for more spending or less spending? We are for managing inflation and for managing cost-of-living relief. (Time expired)