Media release – Helen Polley, Labor Senator for Tasmania, 2 August 2022

ARCHER HAS NO CREDIBILITY ON ECONOMY

The Member for Bass, Bridget Archer, and the entire Coalition Opposition are divided and have no credibility as economic managers.

“When in Government Scott Morrison set the date for the fuel excise reduction to end. Now they’re in Opposition, some Liberal members including Ms Archer are opportunistically calling for an extension, seeking to add to their trillion dollars of debt our Government inherited,” Senator Polley said.

An extension to the fuel excise reduction would cost taxpayers $3 billion every six months.

“In Government you must make decisions in the national interest. And make the tough decisions,” Senator Polley said.

“A good opposition is careful and avoids making irresponsible comments. It seems Ms Archer is just trying to stay relevant and the Liberals are divided on this issue. They just can’t be taken seriously,” she said.

“Bridget Archer and the former government kept racking up the debt with very little to show for it. We’ve inherited a financial position riddled with waste and rorts. They have lost all credibility as economic managers.”

“The Albanese Government understands the costs of living pressures being felt at the supermarket and at the petrol pump. That is why the Prime Minister wrote to the Fair Work Commission arguing the need for an increase in the minimum wage, which has been delivered. And more relief will be delivered in the October Budget.”

Decisions which affect the whole economy must take into account domestic and global factors. The entire world is experiencing high rates of inflation, rising interest rates and a consequence of that is slowing growth trends across sectors. This is where the Albanese Labor Government’s plan for cleaner and cheaper energy, child care reform, investing in skills and the digital economy, advanced manufacturing and the care economy will address the cost of living.

The former government left a legacy of poor economic management. They left us a trillion dollars of debt which is getting more and more expensive to service as interest rates rise.

“The Treasurer has been clear – we have inherited a dire set of financial circumstances and need to be careful with future spending,” Senator Polley said.

“The Government has been upfront and consistent – before the election, during the election and since. That is good government,” Senator Polley said.