QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Ms LANDRY (Capricornia—Chief Nationals Whip) (14:25): My question is to the Treasurer. The Reserve Bank decision to increase interest rates will place more cost-of-living pressure on Australian families. When the Reserve Bank cut rates in August last year, the Treasurer put out a long media statement taking credit for the decision.

Treasurer, why is it that the government takes credit when interest rates go down but no-one takes any responsibility when the rates go up? Why don't you apologise to the Australian people?