Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. Andrew Clennell at Sky News has today reported that he is in possession of leaked government focus group images connected to the Dunkley by-election. Some of the slogans on the images read: 'While Albanese is doing anything else, your grocery bills are more expensive,' and 'While Albanese is doing anything else, petrol prices are going through the roof and he's doing nothing about it.' Will the Prime Minister admit his own government's focus group material perfectly sums up the appalling record of this government?

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

I thank Senator Henderson for the question. It's great to see, in the Parliament of Australia, during question time on Wednesday, when the opposition can ask us about anything, they have gone, in the first question, to some document supposedly relating to research by a political organisation.

Senator Henderson asked me a question around the Dunkley by-election. It is an important by-election this Saturday. We have an excellent candidate who's running a great campaign down there and who was hand picked by the late Peta Murphy. What an incredible act of graciousness for her to be looking forward to who is a suitable replacement for her in the seat of Dunkley. Whilst you might get obsessed with stories from Sky News, Senator Henderson, we are focused on delivering for Australia, whether that be in our cost of living—

Honourable Senator:

An honourable senator interjecting—

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

You don't want to hear about that!

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I raise a point of order, on relevance. I'm asking about the government's own focus group material, if the minister could address that question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, the minister is being directly relevant to your question.

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

Senator Henderson, I can't confirm some document that you have heard about on Sky News. What I can confirm is that the tax cut legislation that passed this parliament last night—unanimously, I might point out—delivers a tax cut for every taxpayer in Dunkley. They now have certainty that 90 per cent of women taxpayers in Dunkley will get a bigger tax cut. Young people in Dunkley will get a tax cut.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about petrol prices and grocery prices?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash!

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

I'm merely reflecting the decision of the Senate last night. We are delivering tax cuts and cost-of-living relief. You opposed our investments in energy; you opposed our investments in child care, urgent care clinics, health— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, a first supplementary?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the focus group material also contains the words: 'Anthony Albanese has the wrong priorities. He's wasted a year talking about his Voice referendum or spending time overseas.' Will the Prime Minister admit that his own government's focus group material is a completely accurate reflection of the PM's conduct since being elected?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I'm not going to call the minister until there's silence in the chamber. I have just given a statement about unruly behaviour.

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

What I can confirm—and I work very closely with the Prime Minister—is that he spends every minute of every day working for the people of Australia. He remains focused on doing the right thing for the right reasons. He will put people before politics. Senator Henderson just confirms again what this opposition is like. They'll always go the politics—always. It's their default move. It's the Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton's, leadership that means they will always go into the gutters, talking about the politics, not about the things that matter for the people of Dunkley. The government are focused on making their lives easier by relieving cost-of-living pressures where we can, without adding to inflation—I note that you haven't asked me a question yet on inflation; I hope it's coming. We are making sure that those tax cuts get delivered on 1 July, with an excellent candidate in Jodie Belyea, who will continue the amazing Peta Murphy's legacy. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, a second supplementary?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the focus group material also contains the words: 'While Albanese is doing anything else, rents are going up,' and, 'This by-election, send Airbus Albo a message.' Does the Prime Minister agree with his own government's focus group material and that the voters of Dunkley should send him a message this Saturday?

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

Senator Henderson confirms yet again what we know of this opposition: always out there to divide; always out there to stoke the bear; always there to go for the politics, never the issues that matter. I'm confident that the people of Dunkley will recognise that this government has focused on meeting all of the pressures that households are dealing with today. Whether it be investments in Medicare, whether it be dealing with the energy transition, whether it be generating jobs, whether it be managing inflation, whether it's about the getting the budget back in shape, whether it's about rebuilding Medicare after you guys ruined it—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order on relevance. I'm asking about the message: rents are going up. Could the minister please answer the question in relation to this messaging.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe the minister is being relevant to your question, Senator Henderson.

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

Thank you for the prompt, Senator Henderson. That is why we invested in historic amounts of Commonwealth rent assistance to provide relief. That's why we've invested $25 billion—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, withdraw that comment.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw the comment.

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

That is why we've invested $25 billion in addressing some of the housing shortage that we have inherited from a decade of a government that couldn't care less about housing for Australia. (Time expired)