Huge hint cost-of-living relief is on the way for millions of Aussies
- Reimbursement for living expenses along the way
- Huge hint revealed ahead of budget
More help is coming for Australian households crushed by rising costs of living, the government said.
On a victory lap after Labor retained its seat in the electorate of Dunkley in Melbourne’s south on Saturday evening, Education Minister Jason Clare said the high cost of living remains a top priority for voters and will be central to the federal budget in May of Labour.
“The big issue for all Aussies, whether in Dunkley or across the country, is the cost of living. That’s what everyone thinks about. Whether they are paying bills at the supermarket or paying off their mortgage,” Mr Clare told Sky Agenda.
“The tax cuts will help with that, lowering inflation will help with that, rising wages will help with that. But we are very aware that this is the biggest problem facing Australians today.
‘It will be a large part of the budget. That is the biggest problem in the country right now. That’s what all Australians are focused on and that’s what we’re focused on.”
More help is coming for Australian households crushed by rising costs of living, the government said
The latest data from the ABS shows that food prices for Australians have risen by 8 per cent in the past year, travel and accommodation costs have risen by 25 per cent and household electricity bills have risen by a whopping 15.5 per cent.
Battlers received some welcome news last month after the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data showed consumer prices rose 3.4 percent in January from a year earlier, unchanged from their December value.
Ahead of the federal budget, Labor has said it will consider a number of additional support measures, on top of the shake-up of the Phase 3 income tax cuts due to start in July, including changes to the university tuition fee system.
Mr Clare said the Government was considering linking indexation to the wage price index or inflation rate, rather than the CPI, to reduce upfront fees for university students with HECS debts who were on lower incomes.
Ahead of the federal budget, Labor has said it will consider a number of additional support measures, on top of the shake-up of the Phase 3 income tax cuts due to start in July, including changes to the university tuition fee system.
Mr Clare said the Government was considering linking indexation to the wage price index or inflation rate, rather than the CPI, to reduce upfront fees for university students with HECS debts who were on lower incomes.
Under pressure to announce the Coalition’s own cost of living package after their Dunkley loss, Opposition Finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said many people across Australia were feeling the pressure and flagged the plans to introduce their own policies of the liberal to reveal ‘in full swing’.
‘We all want inflation to return to normal. But the problem is that interest rates are staying high for longer because of the decisions this government is making,” Ms Hume told Sky Agenda on Sunday.
“Watch this room.”