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

It is interesting to hear that the line of questioning that I'm getting from the opposition seems to indicate that they are not going to support the energy bill relief that we have in the budget despite the Leader of the Opposition saying they would. I think the shadow Treasurer said they would. Now I am clearly getting the vibe that something has happened on the Senate side to say that they are not supporting it.

Cost-of-living relief has been an important part of this budget, and it was an important part of the previous two budgets. We have looked at ways to provide assistance to people, including those who aren't on existing concession arrangements. The success of the energy bill relief last year showed that we could put downward pressure on inflation. I would remind those opposite that inflation, when we came to government, had a '6' in front of it. It now has a '3' in front of it. The forecast of Treasury has us reaching an inflation rate with a '2' in front of it through this year.