Cost-of-living front and centre for major parties on day 9

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The cost of living has been front-and-centre day nine of campaigning. With Labor unveiling a multi-billion-dollar plan to make household batteries cheaper. The Coalition was putting the spotlight on housing affordability with a plan to slash international student numbers to take the heat out of the market.

Transcript

00:00Rival rallies to kick-start campaign week two.

00:10How great is it to be back in Tassie?

00:13Both leaders rolling out competing cost of living plans.

00:16We are going to restore the dream of home ownership again.

00:19Targeting key pressure points for voters.

00:22Today, in the sunshine state, we're taking the next step on rooftop solar.

00:28One in three households has rooftop solar, but only one in 40 is connected to a battery.

00:34In the Greens-held seat of Griffith, the Prime Minister is promising to bridge that gap by

00:39slashing upfront costs.

00:41Starting from July 1, Labor will spend $2.3 billion to lower the cost of installing household

00:48batteries by 30 per cent.

00:51Saving around $4,000 on the cost of installing a typical battery.

00:57And it means slashing your power bills permanently.

01:01But only for homeowners who can afford it.

01:03We are concerned about people on low incomes being left behind.

01:07In Labor-held McEwen, an hour's drive from Melbourne University, the opposition leader

01:12returned to favoured territory, promising to reduce demand for housing by cutting international

01:18student numbers.

01:19I mean, the housing situation's a mess for a lot of people at the moment.

01:22The Coalition's planning to slash 80,000 places and cap enrolments at 240,000 a year.

01:30We're cutting migration because we want to put Australians first.

01:33We need construction of housing, not destruction of this wonderful sector.

01:38These are the first substantial new election commitments the major parties have made.

01:44But as the campaign enters its second week, the Prime Minister and opposition leader are

01:48adapting their pitches.

01:50With Donald Trump's tariffs sending global share markets into freefall, both leaders

01:55are seeking to respond to increasing voter anxiety.

01:59These are uncertain times.

02:02This is a period of uncertainty.

02:04Labor emphasising the risks of change and stoking fears of Trump-style policies.

02:09The future we want is not an American-style wages system, not American levels of student

02:15debt and never ever American health care.

02:19The Coalition warning of what it sees as the perils of a hung parliament.

02:24Do you think Anthony Albanese is up to that task?

02:28Do you think that Adam Bandt is up to that task?

02:31Voters will soon have the chance to answer.

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