Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thought we might get through the MPI today successfully without hearing the political spin from those opposite, but we didn't. The member for Hawke used the Treasurer's favourite spin line: one trillion dollars of debt. The awkward part about that mistruth from those opposite is the budget papers actually show that, when the ALP came to power, net debt was $517 billion, and they don't talk about the 30-odd per cent from Rudd and Swan. We won't talk about that. They talk about the one trillion dollars, which is made up, when it was actually $517 billion.

But the reason it's important we call that out is it just shows what this government is all about. It's about spin and it's about optics. It's not about providing solutions for the Australian people, and they know that every day. After two years of this government, Australian people know it when they put petrol in the bowser, when their energy bill comes in and it's up, and every time they go to the supermarket. When you listen to the Prime Minister and the Treasurer today, you would think the Australian people have never had it better, but the Australian people know.

Labor have failed in two years to address this cost-of-living crisis, and that's why community organisations have played an important role in filling the void. I'm fortunate in Casey—every member here is fortunate—to have community organisations that give back, and I want to take a moment to mention First Impressions Clothing Exchange in my electorate. It's a local organisation that empowers women for brighter futures, helping them to achieve their personal and employment goals. I had the opportunity to attend their fundraiser, a high tea to raise funds for their amazing work. Over $10,000 was raised on the day. I pay tribute to Renee, to Gus from Cire and to all the participants, mentors and everyone in the community that turned out. Over 150 people were there to raise funds and share their stories about how FICE and Cire are helping women in need.

We need these community organisations to continue to do this work, and I'll continue to support all community organisations in Casey, because, as I have said, they are not getting support from this government. The best they're getting is $15 a week from 1 July, which the government have talked about for four months. They've spent $40 million of taxpayer money to sell their $15 a week increase, but, at the same time, they made a decision last year to take $1,500 a year from the Australian people. They let the low- and middle-income tax offset lapse when they had the ability to step in and continue it. This government let that initiative lapse. They took $1,500 away.

They now celebrate a $15 a week increase, and now they're celebrating $75 a quarter—$75 a quarter!—for the Australian people, including for Twiggy Forrest. We haven't heard the detail yet. If you've got five houses, we think you get $1,500, because the Prime Minister didn't rule it out when he was asked today. If you're unemployed and you're in one household, you get $300. If you have 10 houses, you get $3,000. The Prime Minister had the opportunity to rule it out today. He didn't. If you're a billionaire, you get this money. At a time when food is up 10 per cent, housing is up 12 per cent, gas is up 25 per cent and electricity is up 18 per cent, you're going to get $75 a quarter from this government, and you're supposed to be thankful and praise them. How out of touch can you be? How out of touch are this Prime Minister, this Treasurer and this government?

What they need to do is treat the source, the inflation. Let's be clear: this is homegrown inflation. To quote the RBA governor, Michele Bullock:

The remaining inflation challenge we are dealing with is increasingly homegrown …

Homegrown inflation is at five per cent. The target band is two to three per cent. It is going to be harder and harder for the Australian people. Prices are continuing to go up every day, and all this Prime Minister and this Treasurer can offer is $15 a week from 1 July, after they've talked about it for four months, and $75 a quarter for 12 months. That's it, Australian people. You've been abandoned, because they don't have the answers to the economic challenges the Australian people face, and that's why they're trying to spin their way out of this situation.

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