Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called Labor MPs back to Canberra nearly two weeks early to discuss the cost-of-living crisis facing Australian households. Source: ABC News.
Labor’s caucus will meet in the capital on Wednesday and assess ways to ease the pressure on household budgets, without adding to inflation.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth called Wednesday’s meeting “routine,” but said there would be a key focus on tackling inflation.
“As the Prime Minister has said, we are always looking at how we better support Australians, particularly with cost-of-living relief, but at the same time, not adding to our inflation challenge,” Ms Rishworth said on Saturday.
While Treasury has been asked to provide advice on ways to relieve the cost of living for Australians, without further adding to inflation, it was not clear what measures would be discussed by the party.
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the Government had taken too long to act and called on the Prime Minister to reduce government spending as a means to tame inflation.
“I fear they’ll continue to deal with the symptoms, and I fear that will be putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, when we needed a government that was dealing with the source of the problem over a year ago,” he said.
As well as easing energy bills, the Government has also been facing pressure to address the heightened cost of groceries.
Mr Albanese earlier this month said supermarkets had a “duty” to ensure they were passing on cheaper prices of meat and fruit and vegetables to consumers, as the Government continues its review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.
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Holiday over as Anthony Albanese recalls his MPs for urgent talks to curb inflation and cost-of-living pressures (By Evelyn Manfield, ABC News)
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