QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator HUME (Victoria—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): Economists today have warned that the government's $2.6 billion fuel excise cuts will add to inflation and will put further pressure on interest rates, because there is not a single dollar of savings that goes alongside them. Is the Prime Minister aware that his version of this policy risks forcing the RBA to raise interest rates and keep them higher for longer?

If he is aware, why is he happy to let Australian mortgage holders pay the price for his failure to find savings in the budget?