Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. In these uncertain economic times, Australians needed a budget that restored their standard of living—that restored prosperity and created opportunity and restored budget discipline and honesty. Instead, Australians got a budget that will leave interest rates higher for longer, costing mortgage holders and renters thousands of dollars. Labor came to government promising that Australians would be better off. They said you would feel a change of government in your pocket. But isn't it true that, after two years and three Labor budgets, real wages have gone backwards by 7.5 per cent and the average Australian household with a mortgage is $35,000 worse off?