Declare the government has failed on cost of living and broken its promises — back it or block it?

A Coalition private member's motion argued the government has broken its promises on the cost of living, pointing to power bills, rents and grocery prices, and calling for the government to change course. Coalition MPs said living standards have fallen, the promised $275 power bill cut never arrived, and the latest budget raises taxes and won't fix housing. Labor MPs said they are delivering tax cuts, higher minimum wages, cheaper medicines, urgent care clinics and fuel excise relief, and accused the Coalition of voting against those measures. The debate ran about 42 minutes and was adjourned with no vote taken.

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📄 House Hansard, 22 Jun 2026 — Cost of Living

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The strongest case each way

For · CoalitionLiving standards have fallen further here than in any other developed country, families are paying more for groceries, rent, power and fuel, and the promised $275 cut to power bills never happened. They say the latest budget raises taxes and, by the government's own papers, will mean fewer homes built and higher rents.

For · CoalitionThey propose lower taxes, ending bracket creep with automatic tax cuts, capping migration to match how many homes are built, backing cheaper reliable energy, and a $50,000 instant asset write-off for small business to reward effort and lift living standards.

Against · Government (Labor)Labor says it is delivering real relief: five income tax cuts including a $250 offset and $1,000 instant deduction, higher wages for nearly three million low-paid workers, $25 scripts, permanent urgent care clinics, extended fuel excise relief, and housing help like 5 per cent deposits — while the Coalition voted against these measures.

Against · Government (Labor)Labor argues the Coalition never delivered a promised surplus, ran up record debt, and left inflation at 6.1 per cent and rising, whereas under Labor debt and the deficit are down, two surpluses were delivered and inflation has fallen to 4.2 per cent.