Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I'd like to speak about the Prime Minister's claim that Australians have had a pretty good 10 months. This claim is extraordinary. It's astonishing. It's remarkable. But the problem with it is that it's fictitious, because it just ain't true. I don't know anyone who's better off than they were 10 months ago. I don't know any Australian who is. It is absolutely unbelievable. There are rising insurance costs, rising fuel costs, rising power prices and rising mortgages, and the list just goes on.

What about Lee, my constituent, whose home is in Mackay but who is currently in the Townsville hospital fighting an aggressive cancer? He has been there since January receiving chemo treatment, unable to work, with no income protection insurance and 400 kilometres away from his wife, children and support network. This family is suffering from financial stress and, on top of Lee's medical costs, they are facing the pressures of rising living costs. These should not be Lee's worries to have at the moment. His priority should be his health and winning his fight against cancer.

I came to this place to make a difference. I came to this place to serve the people of Dawson, who were already going pretty well under the coalition—as a matter of fact, very well. But what I'm asking for is: can those opposite actually honour some of their commitments, because my people of Dawson are hurting? Rising mortgage costs and rising power costs are hurting my people. Unfortunately, I can't do anything about that from this stage, because I'm on the opposition. But I'm pleading with you folks, from the goodness of your hearts, to please help my people out and address the rising cost of living.

Take Ben, for example. Ben's a constituent of mine, and his business is refrigerated transport and refrigerated cold stores. His model is that he picks up fruit and vegetables from growers, takes them back to his place, cools them in the cold stores and then forwards them on using bigger trucks. He's rung me and said: 'Andrew, I cannot afford the rates that these electricity prices are going up by. I cannot make that work and, more importantly, I can't pass those costs on because my people simply cannot afford it.' He goes: 'What do I do? Also, can you tell me what happened to the $275 reduction in power prices that Labor promised before the election?' He is actually blown away by this, and so am I.

So, what is Labor's answer to this? It's to put price caps on electricity and gas prices. Now, hasn't that worked a treat! I'm proud that I voted against that, because ever since that happened prices have only been going up. It's simple economics. Look at what's happening with gas. When you look at the supply and demand situation, what you need to do to reduce the price is put more gas into the system. But, no. And I'll tell you what for those opposite: you've already had your sugar hit. If it hasn't worked so far, you wait to see what's going to happen in the future. No-one's investing in gas anymore because you have taken their certainty away. It's just simple economics. You need to get on board with this.

And the mortgage—

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