Consumer price surge by a level not seen since 2001

Federal Labor has accused the government of failing to take the rising cost of living seriously, with new inflation figures showing the price of goods and services have increased 5.1 percent over a year. The opposition has also released details of a new policy to crackdown on tax avoidance by major companies. If it wins the May 21 poll while defending its plan to make large polluters reduce their carbon emissions.