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

I thank Senator Walsh for that question too because this has been the approach of the government, trying to make sure that we're able to maintain as many people in jobs as possible. We've seen such resilience and strength in the labour market, and that's a great outcome.

But, at the same time, we're making sure that we don't add to the inflation challenge. Again, in other countries as inflation has moderated, we've seen the unemployment rate tick up quite considerably. We haven't seen that to that degree in Australia, and that should be something that this chamber welcomes universally—more people holding onto those jobs, getting paid better in those jobs and having the tax cuts come through their pay cheques.

We have been working, and our whole fiscal plan has been about making sure we do balance those competing priorities but also making sure we provide that cost-of-living relief which we see flowing through to households right now.