Topics: Government’s Economic management; national economy; cost of living pressure; Gold Coast economy

THE HON. SUSSAN LEY MP, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
Well, today Jim Chalmers confirmed that, under Labor, the deficit will be bigger, the debt will be larger, and the path back to budget repair will be longer.
We know this because last week the Parliamentary Budget Office confirmed the costings that Labor took to the election were larger than ours.
Labor is coming after your money, and we know they can’t manage theirs. When you listen to Jim Chalmers what you hear is it’s all too hard, and that’s not good enough.
It’s not good enough for everyday Australians who know the cost pressures that they’re facing. For the small businesses that I’ve met here today, for those who are struggling with rising electricity prices, the cost of doing business, the cost of labour, the cost of food, the cost of wages, it’s not good enough to hear Jim Chalmers simply say, it’s all too hard.

JOURNALIST:
I guess the Treasurer is saying that it’s the Coalition to blame for this rising debt…do you disagree with that?

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
Well the costings that went to the last election demonstrate simply that the debt and the deficit will be larger under Labor, because they took a bigger spending package to the election, and now they’ve got to deal with that…so referring back to the Coalition simply demonstrates no plan. Where is the Labor Government’s plan? Jim Chalmers is spending a lot of time effectively saying it’s all too hard and looking backwards. What’s the plan? What’s the plan that reassures Australians who are managing, struggling, dealing with the challenges every day that this government has a plan for them?

JOURNALIST:
Now the Treasurer says that it would be too expensive to continue payments (inaudible), do you think given those cost of living pressures, do you think they should be open to extending that?

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
I think you should work out how this government is going to support families, struggling businesses and everyday Australians. Because once again, he’s pointing to costs that he knew about prior to the election – a spending package that he brought in that was higher than ours, and has now resulted in apparently no plan for the Australian people. A plan that we know needs to happen to reassure everyday Australians that this government has their back.

JOURNALIST:
Labor will also revise Treasury’s interest rate forecast from 2.2% under the Coalition to 3.5%. Was it fair for the Coalition to hand down its budget on such a low interest rate when you knew that inflation would keep going up?

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
Well, the Coalition used the figures that were provided at the time, and the economic circumstances are always dynamic. What people expect is that their government actually manages the current circumstances according to the needs of the economy and the needs of average Australians…that’s the difference here.

JOURNALIST:
Now the government has backflipped on pandemic leave payments, how important do you think it is to remain flexible while we’re still in a pandemic.

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
Well, the backflip on pandemic leave payments demonstrates a lack of care and concern, and even suggests that this government is going to help balance the budget on the backs of some of our most vulnerable Australians by taking away this pandemic leave payment. Now, we worked very hard, as did many, and that pandemic leave payment has been restored.
But what that demonstrates; is that the government is casting about looking for ideas. Jim Chalmers this morning demonstrated that he has no ideas. However, we know that with a larger deficit, a larger debt and a longer pathway back to budget repair, and no plans at the Australian people. This is not good.

JOURNALIST:
The Treasurer has described the economic statement he’ll be hand down next week as confronting. What do you think he means by that? Do you think he’s trying to manage expectations?

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
Well, Jim Chalmers is talking often about how difficult the circumstances are, and that’s just another example. So, we don’t need to hear from Jim Chalmers about how hard it all is. We need to hear about the plan he has for the Australian economy to generate the confidence that we know everyday Australians need. Talking to small businesses this morning, hearing the cost pressures they face – where’s the connection between this government and what they know they need in order to survive and thrive?

JOURNALIST:
Just one more from me, on the economy, do you think the Treasurer is talking down the economy and do you think that’s a risk?

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
Well, I think the Treasurer is acknowledging no plan, and that is of concern…because what we need to hear is what that plan is for the future. We don’t need to hear how difficult it is. We don’t need to hear complaints. We don’t need to hear it’s all too hard. We need to feel the confidence of a government that has a plan and can manage the economy that they inherited.

JOURNALIST:
Minister, can I just get one from you locally? You’ve been talking to business owners on the Gold Coast today – what’s your sentiment about how they’re feeling and what challenges they might be facing?

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION:
I’m always incredibly impressed by the resilience of our small business sector and it’s no different here. So, to listen to the stories of independent retailers and to understand how closely they are connected with the communities they serve is really special indeed. But it’s not straightforward, and they are worried, they’re worried about the increasing cost of doing business, the cost of labour, the cost of energy, and they need to know that their government has their back with a good plan for them.

Thank you very much.