Mr BEAZLEY (2:44 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. It follows from an answer he gave a couple of questions ago when he quoted from his performance on Neil Mitchell’s show during the election campaign. Does the Prime Minister recollect his remarks at the opening of the campaign office in Gladesville, Sydney, when he said, ‘Well, we’re certainly, first and foremost, we’re offering a continuation of the low interest rates of the last 8½ years.’ In the light of that undertaking, will you guarantee the people of this country that their interest rates will not rise?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —There is no inconsistency between that statement and the statement I made on Neil Mitchell’s show. Neither of them undermines the simple proposition that interest rates will always be lower under the coalition than under Labor.