This Bill and this Government recognises that Australian households and businesses are confronting unsustainable, unacceptable energy price rises.

We respond with urgent, targeted, meaningful action – to take some of the sting out of these price rises, and to provide direct energy bill relief.

Thanks Kristy [Graham, CEO ASFI] and Kristian [Fok, Chair & Director ASFI] for the introduction and for the invitation to join you.

I acknowledge Gadigal country and its custodians – who have cared for this land for tens of thousands of years, and still care for it today.

Thanks Michelle [Gunn, Editor, The Australian] for the introduction, to The Australian and especially John Lehmann for the invitation – and what a great idea to get this group of people in the room together, at an important time.

And to everyone at PwC – for hosting us today, and for the contribution you are making to the growth of Australia’s critical minerals sector, including that fascinating and encouraging Aussie Mine report a few weeks back. 

The Ngunnawal and Ngambri people were telling stories and living under law on this country in time immemorial, and I want to pay my respects to their elders past and present, thank them for caring for this beautiful place we are all so lucky to walk on and work on – and extend my respects to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here tonight.

And thanks Duncan [Johnston, Chairman Political Book of the Year Awards], that’s a very kind introduction.

Delegates and friends – thank you for that characteristically kind Queensland welcome.

The Prime Minister and I have been right around Australia this past week, but there’s no place we’d rather finish up than here on the Sunny Coast. 

Good morning, everybody and thank you for having me out west and for showing up in such incredible numbers for a conversation this morning about the Budget and the economy more broadly and the crucial role that WA will continue to play in both.

Can I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of these lands, their culture and customs –

And by thanking Professor Maskell (Duncan, VC University of Melbourne) for the kind introduction, and The Australian and The Melbourne Institute for the invitation.

Thanks Laura [Tingle] for your very kind introduction, and the Board and Maurice, for having me back at the National Press Club to speak for the sixth time, but the first time as Treasurer –

Carrying on an important tradition of fronting up the day after the Budget, to give you a broader sense of perspective behind, and beyond, the numbers.

Speaker, this is a responsible Budget that is right for the times and readies us for the future.

It delivers on the priorities of the Australian people, and it repays their faith in a new government.

Thanks very much Treasurer [Cameron Dick] for your generous introduction and for bringing us all together today. 

I was really happy to accept Cameron’s invitation – as a fellow Queenslander, as a colleague, but especially as a friend.