QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator HUME (Victoria—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): The deputy governor said inflation is 'unfair', that 'it hits people on low incomes' and that Australians want inflation brought down. Australians are still facing prices that are 10 per cent, 15 per cent or 20 per cent higher than they remember, and they're now confronting the prospect of another interest rate rise.

Minister, will an interest rate rise at the end of September increase or decrease the average Australian's purchasing power?