QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Dr CHALMERS (Rankin—Treasurer) (14:27): I take my colleagues much more seriously than his colleagues take him. That's the first point that I would make. Of all the people to ask a question like this, I don't think the karaoke clown over there would be at the top of anybody's list.
The SPEAKER: No, the Treasurer— Dr CHALMERS: When it comes to— The SPEAKER: I'll handle this, Manager. I've totally got this. Treasurer, we're not having those descriptors.
Just as I asked the Minister for Climate Change and Energy yesterday to address members, I take this very seriously. You are now on a warning for that sort of behaviour, just as the minister yesterday was. No matter where you sit in this parliament, everyone will be treated with respect and their titles used.
Dr CHALMERS: The matters that the honourable member raised in his question didn't come up at the briefing I did on the intergenerational— The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Nationals in the House of Representatives? Mr Chester: I understand what you just said to the Treasurer, but he didn't withdraw. The SPEAKER: My apologies.
I meant that at the time. My apologies to the member for Goldstein. That's my fault.
I was dealing with the issue, but I'll just ask the Treasurer to withdraw and then move on. Dr CHALMERS: Of course I withdraw. The specific matters raised in the honourable member's question did not come up in the briefing that we did earlier in the week on the Intergenerational report.
But, as I said at the start of my answer, I do take my colleagues seriously and I take our economic challenges seriously as well. It's why I make myself available for discussions with the parliamentary party. It's a very informed and a very engaged group, and I will continue to engage with them, in good faith, about the most important issues.
It's also true that people are under pressure, and that's why this whole government, from the backbench to the frontbench, is focused on inflation and productivity and the global environment. Where that's coming together right now is in the fallout from the war in Iran, which is playing out in higher cost of living and also higher borrowing costs as well. Because we take these issues seriously, we're managing the budget in the most responsible way that we can—a much more responsible way than it was managed by our predecessors.
It's why we've got the broadest productivity package of any government in decades. It's why we've got an ambitious tax reform package, which is about cutting income taxes for workers and giving first home buyers a fair go in a housing market which has locked them out for too long. It's why we've got a big emphasis on fuel security and the energy transition.
It's why we're providing cost-of-living help via the tax system, via bulk billing and via higher wages and other wages as well. Because we take our economic challenges seriously, the Intergenerational report that we release on Monday will be really important. That's what the briefing that I did with my colleagues was all about, earlier in the week.
This country does face serious economic risks, but it— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer will pause. Sorry to interrupt the Treasurer.
I made remarks to the House when I put the members for Bowman, Forrest and Cook on warnings. I said there'd be consequences for actions. Now there are, because the member for Bowman has disrespected my decision.
He'll now leave the chamber under 94(a). The member for Bowman then left the chamber. Dr CHALMERS: This country, like every country right now, does face serious economic risks, but we are unique in the world in that we also have very substantial opportunities as well.
The Intergenerational report will show that we are focused on both of those things—the risks and the opportunities—in a global environment which is only becoming more volatile and more uncertain as we go. As we work through these issues, in the serious way that this moment demands of us, I will always do my best to include all of the colleagues in that as we work through—whether it's inflation, productivity or the global environment.
We will take these things more seriously than those opposite take them.