Economy

Cox argued that inflation had more than halved since Labor took office, falling from 6.1 per cent to approximately 3.2 per cent, allowing the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates three times. Cox highlighted that a household with a $700,000 mortgage was saving about $330 per month due to these rate cuts. Cox listed government measures including tax cuts, energy bill relief, cheaper childcare, free TAFE, and expanded bulk-billing for Medicare. Cox contrasted this with the opposition's history of debt and proposed cuts to services.

Payman stated that the cost of living remained a major issue, with 761,000 children living below the poverty line. Payman argued that the government lacked the necessary data to make proper decisions on poverty policy because there was no universal definition of income poverty. Payman called for holistic reform rather than tinkering around the edges, citing the role of poverty and housing crises in trapping families in cycles of abuse.

O'Neill defended the government's economic record, stating that underlying inflation was at three per cent, within the Reserve Bank's target band. O'Neill argued that the opposition's prescription of austerity would hurt ordinary Australians and lead to higher unemployment. O'Neill highlighted the government's investment in Medicare, with a goal of achieving 90 per cent bulk billing by 2030, as a key measure to reduce out-of-pocket costs and ease budget pressures for families.

Whitten attributed the rise in inflation to electricity prices jumping 23.6 per cent after rebates ended in Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Whitten argued that high immigration levels were flooding the housing market, contributing to a 2.5 per cent quarterly rise in housing costs. Whitten claimed that the government's policies had landed the Reserve Bank in a difficult position with rising unemployment and inflation, describing the situation as market sabotage.

Babet argued that the cost-of-living crisis was actually a cost-of-government crisis driven by red tape and bloated departments. Babet noted that property rates and charges had jumped by 6.3 per cent, marking the sharpest rise since 2014. Babet claimed that despite Australia's abundant energy resources, electricity prices had risen 23.6 per cent in the last year due to government waste and focus on climate strategies over practical issues.

Price argued that the government was moving Australia towards a state-controlled economy, resulting in record spending and $1.2 trillion in debt. Price claimed that under Labor, Australians were paying significantly more for food, housing, health, and insurance, with electricity costs up 40 per cent. Price criticised the net zero target, estimating it could cost between $7 trillion and $9 trillion by 2060, and argued that it would deindustrialise the nation without altering global temperatures.