Interview with Tom Steinfort on the Today Show

‍SubjectsMid-year Budget update, government spending and inflation, cost-of-living relief, new opinion polling, national debt and spending, economic management.

E&OE....

Tom Steinfort:

Welcome back. The Government's cost-of-living relief has come to an abrupt halt, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers to run what he's calling a pretty tight ship in his mid-year Budget update. We are joined now to discuss the headlines by Labor MP Julie-Ann Campbell and Shadow Minister for Housing Andrew Bragg. Nice to see you both. Julie, I might start with you first. The Treasurer, has he finally realised that the Government's spending spree is actually causing inflationary pressure?

Julie-Ann Campbell:

Oh look, Tom, I think that there's absolutely no doubt that it's pretty rough out there for everyday Australians. They've been feeling pressure, and I know that lots of people who hold mortgages, their hearts sank when they heard the RBA's decision come down last week. But it's why we're doing two really important things. The first is making sure that we've got responsible economic management, and you'll see that in the savings package that the Treasurer has flagged will come in the mid-year, but also that we've seen in every single Budget that this government has handed down. And the other thing is cost-of-living relief. We've seen that through tax relief, and we've also seen it through changes to bulk billing, and in my local electorate, we've doubled the number of bulk billing GPs. And so I think that those two things are what we're focused on to make sure that families have what they need right now.

Tom Steinfort:

So Andrew, I mean, what's your take? Do you think the government is spending wisely at this point in time?

Senator Bragg:

Well, Labor has lost control of the nation's finances, and whatever savings Chalmers and Albanese come up with will be a pimple on the elephant's ass when it comes to the disaster they've created with our Budget. I mean, they've pushed up spending from 24 to almost 27% of GDP, which is like historically high levels. We've not seen anything like this in my lifetime. So they've got to radically change course, or just resign.

Tom Steinfort:

Well, I mean, what we're seeing now is the latest polling come through, and it does seem to all be heading in the same direction. We've got Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese now at record lows in the latest round of polls this morning. Julie, I know the stock standard answer is we don't worry about the polls, we don't look, but we all know you do. When do you start to take notice of the fact that this policy process at the moment is on the nose?

Julie-Ann Campbell:

Oh look, Tom, I think for anyone who watched the game last night, if you watched it, you'd know that just before half-time the Knights were ahead by 12, and we all know what the result was when the final buzzer went through. And I think what it means is that whether it's football or politics, you have to keep your eyes firmly fixed on the match, and making sure that our eyes are firmly fixed on those two things—cost-of-living relief, practical things that help everyday Australians every day, as well as that responsible economic Budget—are really important. And when Andrew talks about the challenges that exist, I think what we have to remember...

Senator Bragg:

You can't argue it's responsible when you spend more money you can poke a stick at.

Julie-Ann Campbell:

I think what we have to remember, Andrew, is that it's a debt that was racked up—two-thirds of it—by your Coalition. And in terms of the debt position that we're in now, we've saved $200 billion. And I think that when the Coalition talks about a big game...

Senator Bragg:

You've pushed up spending to wartime levels.

Julie-Ann Campbell:

What you have to make sure that you do is tell people, what are you going to cut?

Tom Steinfort:

Well, what are you going to cut, Andrew?

Senator Bragg:

I mean, that's such an embarrassing response. What a disgrace. They've pushed up spending to wartime levels. Inflation and interest rates are through the roof. Taxes are through the roof, red tape's through the roof. They've smashed housing, they've smashed small business. The economy is so sick, we've got the hardening of the arteries here in this country. People are going bananas, you're seeing it in the polls, because the economy and the country is completely off track here. And the Australian people are exactly right to expect better from this Government. And these patronising, disgusting responses from Labor members and senators are what is making Australians go even more bananas, because they know that this is all bullshit and lies.

Tom Steinfort:

All right, well, coming in hot this morning on a public holiday there in Sydney. Appreciate both your time this morning, thank you.

[Ends] - Media Contact | David Nouri | 0401 392 624

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