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

Such sensitive souls! I didn't mean it as a criticism. It was a surprise, that's all. It was just a surprise, and I'll leave it at that. The shadow minister refers to comments made by the Treasurer in April 2022, when interest rates started going up under the former government because that was the quarter where inflation was at its highest—under the former government. I'm just reminding you, Senator Hume, that the largest quarterly increase in inflation was under your government. The Reserve Bank had to respond then and start lifting interest rates, which is what they have done. We on this side of the chamber accept that many thousands of Australians are doing it tough right now. We accept that, which is why our job has to be completely focused on the measures that we can take to make a meaningful difference in people's lives without adding to the inflation challenge in the economy. We accept that life is harder for people—