Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The following are some of the reactions from economists to the government's latest budget:

This is the most irresponsible budget in recent memory. The government set itself a simple standard: not to make the Reserve Bank's job harder. Michele Bullock may just choke on her cornflakes.

HSBC's chief economist, Paul Bloxham, said that core inflation is likely to be higher in a world with subsidies than one without and, 'There is a growing risk that rates remain higher for even longer.' Chris Richardson said: 'My big ask of the budget was that it didn't poke the inflationary bear. I don't think it passed that test.' Minister, given the reactions of independent economists, aren't the Reserve Bank's inflation assessments far more credible than the Albanese Labor government's?