Cost of Living

Polley defended the government's record, noting that inflation had fallen from 6.1 per cent when they took office and that real wages had grown for seven consecutive quarters. Polley highlighted the introduction of cheaper medicines and the protection of penalty rates for workers as key cost-of-living measures. Polley argued that the government had turned previous deficits into surpluses and halved the deficit in the third year, contrasting this with the previous government's fiscal management. Polley also pointed to the creation of more than 1.1 million jobs and the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years as evidence of a strong economy.

McKim argued that the cost-of-living crisis was driven by corporate profiteering from banks, energy giants, and supermarkets, rather than government policy alone. McKim criticised both major parties for allowing these entities to benefit while ordinary Australians struggled with rising costs for power, mortgages, and rent. McKim contended that political rhetoric scapegoating migrants and refugees was a deliberate strategy to distract from the actions of big corporations and the wealthy. McKim stated that the Greens stood with communities targeted by racism and those left behind by an economy rigged in favour of the powerful.

O'Sullivan argued that the government had failed to deliver on promises to reduce inflation and provide energy bill relief, with headline inflation rising to 2.8 per cent. O'Sullivan cited evidence that government spending was detrimental to productivity, leading to higher interest rates and reduced private investment. O'Sullivan noted that non-mining investment had dropped and private sector capital expenditure was at its lowest contraction since 2020. O'Sullivan called for the removal of red tape and the encouragement of private sector investment to sustainably raise living standards, rather than relying on government spending.

Dolega highlighted that the government had inherited significant debt and deficits, which they had reduced by more than $207 billion. Dolega pointed to three interest rate cuts in the last six months, saving households with mortgages approximately $330 per month. Dolega detailed various cost-of-living measures, including tax cuts, reduced PBS script costs, and reforms to industrial relations to protect penalty rates. Dolega also mentioned the introduction of a five per cent deposit scheme for first-home buyers and a reduction in student debt as part of the government's ongoing efforts to assist Australians.

Whitten criticised the government for failing to deliver on promises regarding cheaper power, a stronger economy, and housing affordability. Whitten argued that families were paying significantly more for electricity and facing a rent crisis, with homeownership becoming unattainable for many young Australians. Whitten claimed that the government's renewables-only policy had driven up electricity prices and put farmland at risk. Whitten stated that the government had presided over multiple interest rate rises and failed to provide effective leadership on cost-of-living pressures.

Smith argued that energy insecurity was leading to economic insecurity, with electricity prices rising by 30 per cent under the Labor government. Smith cited data from Western Australia showing a 26 per cent increase in business insolvencies and the highest annual inflation rate of any Australian city in Perth. Smith noted that job growth in Western Australia had slowed significantly, with only 10,000 jobs created in the six months to 2025 compared to 43,000 the previous year. Smith concluded that the combination of rising energy costs, business failures, and slowing job growth demonstrated that the country was going backwards under Labor.