COMMITTEES

Senator ASKEW (Tasmania—Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate) (16:31): At the request of Senator Canavan, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2026: The reasons behind the latest unprecedented cost blowouts in the Government's budget and its impact on inflation and interest rates, with particular reference to: (a) the impacts of government budget blowouts on increasing inflation rates; (b) the influence of high government spending and elevated inflation rates on the standard of living of Australians, including on: (i) the affordability of housing, (ii) the effective delivery of government services, and (iii) the quality of public infrastructure, including roads and public transport; (c) the extent that high government spending is increasing government debt; (d) the factors that led to the largest budget blowout on record; (e) the pressure that increasing inflation rates is putting on state government budgets; (f) the influence that deteriorating economic conditions is having on the wellbeing of Australians; and (g) any other related matters.

Question agreed to.