Sunrise host Nat Barr unleashes at Anthony Albanese about cost of living

Natalie Barr has asked Anthony Albanese two tough questions about the cost of living crisis following alarming reports that children went to school hungry as families struggled to pay their mortgages.

The TV presenter grilled the Prime Minister about the dire situation faced by many Aussies on Seven’s morning show on Wednesday.

She first referred to the shocking news that the crisis had now spread to the schoolyard.

“We know inflation is coming down, but it’s not fast enough,” she told Mr. Albanese.

“We hear this morning, Prime Minister, of students pretending to go to the toilet at school, rummaging in other children’s bags to steal their lunches.”

This coincides with interest rate hikes. This is under your care. How do you feel about that?’

Ms Barr had previously put the same question to Home Secretary Clare O’Neil and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Jane Hume, becoming noticeably agitated.

The Prime Minister explained that he knew ‘what it was like to have a hard time’ and understood the difficult situation faced by Australian families.

My government will work every day to make a difference. We’ve had global inflation, has had a real impact here, as it has around the world,” he said.

Mr. Albanese points out that interest rates in Australia are still lower than in the United States and Europe.

He referred to measures taken by his government, such as the energy discount, to reduce costs for households.

But Barr stressed that Aussies were “crushed” with mortgages and many could barely keep up with consistent rate hikes.

They write to us every day. They can barely handle it. We know that. But someone still spends money. Shopping spending has increased,” said the presenter.

“What else can you do for the people who are still spending because it seems like the people with the mortgages are the ones who get hit all the time. What is your message to the Reserve Bank?’

The Prime Minister replied, ‘Well, you’re right Nat. Some people are doing well, while others are having a very hard time. And that is why the government has a difficult task.’

“That’s why we need to target our spending in a way that doesn’t put pressure on inflation, that targets that contingency plan that we have,” he said.

The Prime Minister (pictured) told the TV presenter that he knew ‘what it was like to have a hard time’ and understood the difficult situation facing Australian families

Barr’s comment about the theft of food in schools refers to a report from a NSW primary school that students stole their classmates’ lunches because their parent or guardian could not afford to feed them.

The Food Bank charity has revealed further reports of students coming to school without food – linked to the rise in interest rates.

It has led schools to turn to charities to help feed students so they don’t go hungry.

Brianna Casey, CEO of the Food Bank, said the number of schools across the country applying to the charity to receive food to feed students has increased significantly.

Barr’s comment about the theft of food in schools references a recent report from a NSW primary school that students stole their classmates’ lunches because their parent or guardian couldn’t afford to feed them (stock image)

“We are very concerned that it will have more of an impact on vulnerable families, and we see more people needing food assistance more often,” she told Newscorp.

“We hear reports from schools of children stealing lunch from other children’s lunchboxes.

“The consequences are really alarming from a health perspective and for educational outcomes – we can’t expect children to concentrate in class and behave well if they’re so hungry they’ve become ‘hangry’ before the day has started.”