Cost of Living Discussions in the House of Reps (06/11/2025)

• Cost of Living
  Mary Aldred, MP for Monash, raised concerns about increasing hunger rates among single-parent families living on minimum wage, citing a report from Anglicare. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the government’s actions and attributed some current challenges to cuts made by the previous government that negatively impacted food banks (p. 70).
• Housing Affordability
  Andrew Hastie, MP for Canning, addressed the significant barriers young Australians encounter in achieving home ownership. He criticized the Labor government’s policies, asserting that rising home prices and stagnant wages complicate access for young buyers. Hastie emphasized how inadequate housing supply and poor migration policies exacerbate the situation (p. 101).
• General Economic Discussion
  In a broader context, discussions included reflections on the government’s overall handling of cost-of-living issues and economic policy, comparing current challenges to opposition actions in previous terms, though specific details on legislative actions in these areas were less defined (pp. 66–69).
• Adjournment Discussions
  In an adjournment session, Nicolette Boele, MP for Bradfield, highlighted alarming statistics from the Foodbank Hunger Report 2025, tying food insecurity to the pressures of cost of living and advocating for solutions like tax incentives for surplus food donations (p. 92).

These discussions illustrate ongoing governmental concerns about cost of living challenges and housing affordability, emphasizing the need for effective policy solutions amidst various political debates.