Simon Kennedy (Cook, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Robertson keeps interjecting, probably wanting to celebrate his energy subsidy, tax cuts and the like, but he's clearly not listening. He's not listening to his constituents. I'm sure his constituents in Robertson would be telling him that.

Australia is doing worse than all other G10 countries. Why does Australia have higher inflation than the other G10 countries? I invite the next member from the government to explain to me why Australia's inflation is higher than in every other G10 country? That question's been asked a lot, but I still haven't heard an answer. I'm genuinely curious.

I'm also genuinely curious why they think the RBA is saying Australia is going to have higher inflation for longer. What is the answer to that? I'd also like the explanation for why independent economist after independent economist is blaming public spending for contributing to inflation, and yet the government don't want to take any ownership of it. Shane Oliver said the RBA's job would be a lot easier if it weren't for government spending. Warwick McKibbin is also saying the government's policies are adding to inflation. We have had independent economist after independent economist agree with this. Please explain this to me and to the rest of Australia.

After two years of Labor stewardship, Australians are being crushed by inflation and they are in a per capita recession. What does that mean? Over the last year, Australian families have been getting poorer. Forty-nine per cent of Australians have gone cold this winter due to fears of higher electricity prices. They've gone cold. They've decided not to heat their houses just to save money. They're not high-fiving about a one-off $300 subsidy that's disappearing into the ether. It's not surprising that Labor believes the answer to higher electricity prices and higher childcare costs is more subsidies and more government.

On this side of the House, we believe the answer to higher inflation is lower prices. It's lower prices from actually investing in supply, not pulling it off early. It's about not taking away energy supply but keeping it there and investing in more and more energy supply. It's not about subsidising child care. It's about more childcare centres to lower the prices.

What is the result of these one-off subsidies? Net disposable income per capita has fallen 7½ per cent. 'What would the Liberals do?' I hear them ask on the other side. A coalition government would focus on increasing supply of energy. We wouldn't be closing down energy supply; we'd be adding to it. This Labor government is under the impression that it's small-target, subsidy-driven set of policies is going make it more electable. The Australian population can see through it. We would also cut wasteful spending. Labor has spent $30,000 for the average household. I can tell you that households in my electorate of Cook and, I'm sure, in the electorate of Robertson do not feel $30,000 better off under this government.

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