Natalie Barr unleashes at Anthony Albanese’s government over cost of living crisis: ‘This is people’s lives here’
- Sunrise host unleashes on Labor administration, saying: ‘It’s a mess’
Natalie Barr has unleashed on Anthony Albanese’s government over its perceived lack of action in the face of a cost-of-living tsunami barrelling down on Australian households.
The Sunrise host spoke for many of her viewers at home when she accused the Labor administration of not getting a grip of spiralling costs, rising inflation and skyrocketing bills.
‘People at home are just shaking their heads and thinking, “I’m hearing inflation, I’m hearing cost of living crisis, and I can’t pay my bills. It’s a big mess”,’ said Barr.
It comes as the latest inflation figures are set to be released at 11am on Wednesday, after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has struggled desperately to drive inflation down with 12 consecutive rate rises in almost as many months.
Social services minister Amanda Rishworth defended the government’s ‘cost of living measures’.
‘Through our cheaper childcare, our improvements to paid parental leave, whether it’s our cheaper medicines, or Medicare – our job is to support people with cost of living as well as investing in productivity into the future,’ said Senator Rishworth.
But Barr held her feet to the fire, asking: ‘I guess people are going to see this surplus. They know that the economy’s in trouble. 900 businesses going under. This is people’s lives here and they’re gonna think, “why can’t the government help me?”‘
Families are spending an average $1,924 more on groceries this year, while the median weekly rent for a unit has soared by $120 in Sydney and $90 in Melbourne.
Shadow finance minister Jane Hume said that the government needed to focus on ‘controlling its spending’.
Sunrise host Natalie Barr (middle) asked Social services minister Amanda Rishworth (left): ‘They (Australians) know that the economy’s in trouble. 900 businesses going under. This is people’s lives here and they’re gonna think, “why can’t the government help me?”‘
‘That sends a signal to the RBA that it doesn’t need to keep pushing up interest rates to bring inflation down because bringing inflation down is the only way that you can give a give consistent cost of living relief to all Australians in a sustainable way,’ said Senator Hume.
Australian workers have opened up about the sacrifices they’re making to cope with the cost of living crisis – cancelling travel plans, scrapping beauty routines, and ditching Coles and Woolworths for Aldi.
