Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have never heard a group of people who are so tone-deaf as those opposite here today. When I and, I'm sure, those on this side of the fence talk to our local businesses in our communities, they're not talking to us—and I am sure they're not talking to those members opposite—about the fact that Australians apparently, if you listen to those opposite, have never had it so good. They've never had it so good, according to this lot over here.

Both local businesses and families in my electorate are absolutely screaming blue murder because they are having so much trouble trying to keep ahead of the tax man and keep ahead of just paying the bills, and we know that, for around 880,000 Australian families, their mortgage rates will go from a fixed rate of around two per cent to north of around six per cent over the next 12 months. On an average Australian mortgage, that equates to $20,000 a year after tax. But apparently, according to those on the other side, the government, Australians have never had it so good and everything is so rosy.

Through you, Madam Deputy Speaker Claydon, let me tell you this: Australians are doing it tough, and the people on the Sunshine Coast are no different.

One of the major industries on the Sunshine Coast is the building and construction industry. It is one of the largest employers in the country. It's an industry that I have worked in in various forms for over 30 years. The building industry across this country is built on subcontractors. Not content with making life more difficult with high inflation, those opposite want to amend and change the way subcontractors are dealt with at law. I can tell you one thing: right now, there are builders and subbies working on building sites right across this country, and, yes, occasionally they do have the radio tuned to parliament.

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