Sunrise host Nat Barr unleashes Anthony Albanese on cost of living

Natalie Barr posed two tough questions to Anthony Albanese about the cost-of-living crisis following alarming reports that children were stealing food from their classmates because they went to school hungry.

The TV presenter questioned the Prime Minister about the dire situation facing many Australians on Seven’s morning show on Wednesday.

He first referred to the shocking news that the crisis had now spilled over into the schoolyard.

“We know that inflation is coming down, but not fast enough,” he told Mr Albanese.

“We heard this morning, Prime Minister, that students are pretending to go to the toilet at school, rummaging through other children’s bags to steal their lunches.”

That coincides with the rise in interest rates. This is under your watch. How do you feel about that?’

Ms Barr had previously posed the same question to Home Affairs Secretary Clare O’Neil and Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume and was remarkably enthusiastic.

The Prime Minister explained that he knew ‘what it was like to take it hard’ and understood the plight facing Australian families.

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

Mr. Albanese pointed out how interest rates were still lower in Australia compared to the US and Europe.

He referred to the measures implemented by his government, such as the energy bonus, designed to lower household costs.

But Barr stressed that Australians with mortgages were being ‘crushed’ and many could barely keep up after the constant rate hikes.

“They write to us every day. They are barely able to cope. We know. But someone is still spending. Retail spending is up,’ said the presenter.

‘What else can be done for people who are still spending, because it seems like people with mortgages are the ones getting 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 making it really hard. And that is why the government has a difficult task to handle.’

“That’s why we have to direct our spending in a way that doesn’t put pressure on inflation, that points to that relief plan that we have,” he said.

The Prime Minister (pictured) told the TV presenter that he knew “what it was like to go hard” and that he understood the plight facing Australian families.

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

Barr’s comment about the theft of food from schools refers to a report from a New South Wales primary school that students were stealing their classmates’ lunches because their parents or guardians could not afford to feed them.

The Foodbank charity has revealed more reports of students arriving at school without food, which has been correlated with rising interest rates.

As a result, schools turned to charities to help feed students so they don’t go hungry.

The foodbank’s chief executive, Brianna Casey, said there has been a significant increase in the number of schools across the country signing up with the charity to receive food to feed students.

“We are deeply concerned that the impact is having more of an impact on vulnerable families, and we are seeing more people needing food aid more frequently,” he told Newscorp.

‘We are hearing reports from schools of children stealing lunch from other children’s lunch boxes.

“The consequences are truly alarming from a health perspective and for educational outcomes: we can’t expect children to concentrate in class and behave well when they are so hungry that they become ‘hungry’ before the day begins.”