Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

The last time the member for Perth and I debated a matter of public importance it was supposed to be about consumers that time too, except on that day, 7 February this year, the member's home state was in the middle of an election campaign. Naturally, it was then that the member for Perth spent his entire MPI contribution telling the House, the federal House of Representatives, how wonderful a WA Labor government would be. There was a lot of talk about Premier Colin Barnett, but there was very little talk about consumers—very little.

It is interesting that the member for Perth has not brought up the WA state of affairs today, considering the funding cuts his WA Labor mates have brought to the Western Australian regional areas. It is interesting to see the WA Nationals investment in Royalties for Regions now in jeopardy. Those projects which have brought so much benefit to so many country communities across Western Australia—and they have; I have been there and seen them—did not get a mention today. It is interesting that the member for Perth, who talked a lot in February about Western Australia's unemployment, is not quite so effusive in his praise of the Premier of Western Australia today. The hypocrisy of the WA Labor government and its mates here in Canberra is truly breathtaking. So happy they are to lecture about funding for country WA projects, but then they cut them just weeks into government. And it is the same here in Canberra. While this government gets on with the job, all those opposite do is bluster, blow bag and lecture.

At the core of everything that I do as the minister responsible for consumer affairs is make sure Australian consumers are protected. Whether that is an update to the mandatory standard for product safety or increasing penalties on those who take advantage of consumers, this government is taking real action to protect consumers. The member for Perth talked about press releases. He was not in the Gillard-Rudd years when it was 'government by press release'. I much prefer to use action rather than just mere words, Member for Perth. Much as those opposite do not like it, this government does not spend its time pacing the press gallery in search of a headline to get our name in the newspaper, nor do we issue press releases or shop out op-eds claiming that consumers are ripped off and say, 'We will give the ACCC powers'—powers that it already has. No, we are an action government.

Mr Hammond interjecting—

No, we do not do that, Member for Perth; we are indeed an action government.

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