Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am very happy to be following the member for Lyons. He has something in common with the member for Braddon, the member for Page, the member for Eden-Monaro and the member for Capricornia. They all represent some of the lowest income families in this country. Indeed, 24 of the 25 poorest electorates in this country can be found in rural and regional Australia. That is the great tragedy of this budget. It is the great tragedy of the cuts to family tax benefit B. It is the great tragedy of the cut in the low-income super contribution. It is the great tragedy of the increases in petrol prices.

Mr Hutchinson interjecting—

Mr Whiteley interjecting—

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! You were listened to in silence.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a government that does not understand rural and regional Australia. It does not quite grasp the disproportionate adverse impacts of this budget on rural and regional Australia. Sadly—I say as the member for Lyons leaves the chamber—it has representatives from rural and regional Australia who are not sticking up—

Mr Nikolic interjecting—

I am glad the member for Bass came in because he is amongst them. They are not standing up and protecting their local constituents, the families in their communities. It is about time they gave them a voice. It is about time they stood up to the Prime Minister and made it clear to him that they will no longer sit back and take the pain being imposed on their constituents in rural and regional Australia.