Keith Wolahan (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Well, it is hard to hear, with the interjections. They seem to be quite upset that Roshena Campbell lives in the seat of Aston. And it's important that that be clarified.

Those with a mortgage of $750,000 now have to find an extra $20,000. That's $20,000 after tax. So, whether you're a single income family or a dual income family, you have to go and find that extra money. Now, we know that's not going to come from a pay rise, whether you're in the private sector or the public sector or self-employed. That's just not how this works. So that extra saving has to come from things that you cut, and it comes in many different ways.

When you're standing in the checkout line at Woolworths or Coles or an IGA, there are things that you used to buy that you now put back. And we know that the things that cost most are fresh, quality food. So Australians are having to put quality food back on the shelves. That food's not just for the individual paying the bill; that is for the children in those families. There are real, daily consequences for people. We know that, when children come home and say: 'I'd like to go on a camp'—and those children include students from Melbourne and the seat of Aston, who would like to be here, on a camp, but those things cost money—again, parents are making choices and they're making sacrifices. They're making sacrifices for things like sport—for joining a soccer team. Soccer is one of the most expensive sports that you can play. It's not subsidised like AFL and other sports are. And it's so popular in Melbourne. It's a popular sport in the seat of Aston. Families are telling me, in my seat and in other seats, that they now have to pull back. They can't let their kids play the very sport that they want to play. So, when the voters of Aston go to the booths on Saturday, they will pass judgement on this government.

I'm not someone who comes in here and blames every interest rate rise on you; I won't do that. But I will say that what you do in response is your responsibility, and you have been found wanting. You come in here and want to re-litigate the previous government, because that's the easy thing to do. It's easy to stand up and pretend you're still in opposition, to pretend you're here. And if you really wish to be over here, you're welcome to come over. You know that can happen. If what you want to do is re-litigate the previous government, then where you really want to be is in opposition. That's where you really want to be. That sounds like it's easier and it's more fun because it's easier to throw stones than to actually solve problems for people who are doing it tough. To the people of Aston—of Rowville, of Bayswater, of Upper Ferntree Gully: you get to pass judgement this Saturday.

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