A huge sign that millions of Australians are on track for cost-of-living relief

The government has said more help is on the way for Australian households hit by the rising cost of living.

In a victory lap after Labor retained its seat in the south Melbourne electorate of Dunkley on Saturday night, Education Minister Jason Clare said high living costs remain a priority for voters and would be at the center of Labour’s federal budget in May.

‘The big issue for all Australians, whether they are in Dunkley or the rest of the country, is the cost of living. That’s what’s on everyone’s mind. Whether it’s paying bills at the supermarket or paying your mortgage,” Mr Clare told Sky Agenda.

‘Tax cuts will help with that, reducing inflation will help with that, raising wages will help with that. But we are very aware that that is the biggest problem facing Australians right now.

‘It will be a big part of the budget. “That’s the biggest issue in the country right now, it’s what all Australians are focused on and it’s what we’re focused on too.”

The latest ABS data shows that over the past year food prices for Australians have increased by 8 per cent, travel and accommodation has increased by 25 per cent and household electricity bills have increased by a whopping 15.5 per cent. percent.

Contenders received good 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 its reading. from December.

Ahead of the federal budget, Labor has said it will consider a number of additional relief measures on top of its reshuffle of the stage 3 income tax cuts due to come into force in July, including changes to the university tuition system .

Clare said the government was considering linking indexation to the wage price index or inflation rate, rather than the CPI, to reduce down payments for university students with HECS debt who were on lower incomes.

Ahead of the federal budget, Labor has said it will consider a number of additional relief measures on top of its restructuring of the stage 3 income tax cuts due to come into force in July, including changes to the university tuition system .

Clare said the government was considering linking indexation to the wage price index or inflation rate, rather than the CPI, to reduce down payments for university students with HECS debt who were on lower incomes.

Under pressure to reveal the Coalition’s own cost-of-living package after its Dunkley defeat, opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said many people across Australia were feeling the pressure and the flagged plans to reveal the Liberals’ own policies were “on the move.”

‘We all want inflation to return to normal levels. But the problem is that it will stay higher for longer because of the decisions this government is making,” Ms Hume told Sky Agenda on Sunday.

‘Watch this space.’