TRANSCRIPT
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is getting right in the middle of the family juggle, with those experiencing a rate cut for the first time.
SPEAKER 1: "A little bit more money in our accounts to do things."
SPEAKER 2: "We would sometimes second guess if we could go out for an extra meal, once a month or something like that. This gives us a little more peace of mind that it's going in the right direction, and we have that flexibility."
He's on an election footing, and is keen to take some credit.
“My government has worked with Australians to bring down inflation, to see wages increasing, to see interest rates now falling, a tax cut for every single Australian and jobs being maintained as well.”
Similar words from Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
“When we came to office inflation was much higher and rising, now it is lower and falling. When we came to office interest rates were going up and now, they're coming down. When we came to office real wages were falling and now, they're growing again. All of that are deliberate design features of our economic policy.”
The first rate increase of the cycle hit the coalition government during the last election campaign.
Twelve more came under Labor.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was quick to attribute blame.
“The Prime Minister might be doing high fives with the Treasurer, but I know there are a lot of families who are still struggling to pay their grocery bill, struggling to pay their electricity bill or their gas bill. Everything has gone up under this government and inflation is a big problem still in the economy.”
And opposition spokesman for treasury Angus Taylor has a warning.
“The very strong indication from the Reserve Bank governor is we're not going to see a lot of rate cuts and we are certainly not going to see anything like getting back to where we were when these rate cuts began under Labor. We've seen twelve increases - one reduction now. And, of course, those cost of living pressures continue to bear down on Australians.”
The Prime Minister's response...
“Angus Taylor looked like someone ran over his cat in the driveway yesterday, he looked so disappointed, and they continue to talk Australia down. I'll continue to talk Australia up.”
Minor parties and independents are growing their footprint across the nation and could be lower house kingmakers at this election.
Mining billionaire Clive Palmer is keen to buy in.
He's promising to follow US President Donald Trump's "drain the swamp" campaign slogan, suggesting he could run candidates across the country.
“Australia needs Trump policies, Australians want them. As the opinions polls have shown us and will show you in the coming days, we don't need to be welcomed to our own country. We respect all Australians; we don't need to be individually acknowledged by people that we don't know and have never met. We need to respect all people that have made Australia what it is today.”
After failing in the High Court to re-register his Palmer United Party, the one-time senator is engineering a re-brand.
“Trumpet of patriots will put Australians first and make Australia great again.”
He's running on cutting government waste, reducing immigration and recognising only two biological genders.
Just a single senate seat for Ralph Babet was the payoff after a massive advertising spend at the last election.
Swift criticism from the Prime Minister.
“A bloke who spends over $100 million to deliver one senate seat with a bloke who sits in the corner and engages in conspiracy theories does not represent value for money.”
The parliament has passed cap on election donations, but it comes into effect after this year's poll.
