QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator PATERSON (Victoria) (14:04): Deloitte Access Economics partner Stephen Smith said the Reserve Bank finds itself in the trickiest spot, facing accelerated inflation and softening economic growth. Minister, your out-of-control spending is causing higher inflation and higher interest rates, and we have softening growth. Isn't it now clear that the government has failed to live up to its promise that life will be cheaper under Labor?