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

I thank Senator Hume for the question. We've made it no secret that we accept that households have been doing it tough with the inflation challenge. That is true for households not just in Australia but around the world as the world deals with the post-COVID inflation challenge that every country has seen. That is why, Senator Birmingham, we have introduced all of the cost-of-living support that we could responsibly do without adding to the inflation challenge: to help households. We accept that households are doing it tough, which is why cheaper medicines, better access to Medicare, investments in housing, investments in rent relief, investments in energy bill relief—all of that matters. That's why we're confused about why you come in here and complain about households doing it tough but, when you look at your voting record, it actually shows you voted against support. Our focus is on relief for households and making sure this inflation challenge continues to moderate. (Time expired)