Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was standing in the supermarket the other week, and a woman was next to me. We were in the butter section, and she couldn't make up her mind about which butter to buy, because of the cost of butter. We had a discussion about how much everything's going up. When people are standing there and they can't buy the butter they usually buy, we really do have a problem. Cost of living is impacting everyone in my community, from Emu Heights to Colyton. When it is such a difficult choice about what you'll feed your family that night or the ability to put petrol in your car or—if you're running a small business—being able to keep the lights on and keep your employees employed, things are not going right.

I've had many constituents reach out to me in recent months about the pressures they're feeling with soaring prices across the board for everyday items. One manufacturer in Penrith told me its energy prices have gone up 300 per cent. This manufacturer is in threat of closing. It employs hundreds of people, including people in my electorate of Lindsay. The Labor government must consider electorates like mine in Western Sydney and support Australians who are doing it tough right now.

Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, in accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.