Mr TED O'BRIEN (Fairfax—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): My question goes to the Treasurer. Scores of economists have linked higher inflation and interest rates to this government's spending spree. Former Treasury assistant secretary David Pearl said the Treasurer is 'squarely to blame for the inflation mess we're in'. IFM Investors' chief economist Alex Joiner said, 'The fiscal guardrails have come off.' Treasurer, as mortgage holders are hit with their 13th interest rate rise under Labor, will you now finally take responsibility?