Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As we approach election season, we're seeing the same tired old tricks from the opposition, the coalition con job: ignore a problem, deny responsibility and then later blame someone else. While in government, they sat on their hands for a decade, ignoring growing problems until they could blame someone else. House prices were steadily increasing, supply did not keep up with demand and homeownership decreased, particularly among young Australians, yet the coalition government did nothing. For years they didn't even have a housing minister. While the supermarket duopoly grew in Australia for over a decade, the coalition government did nothing.

The coalition ignored—indeed, hid—the worsening state of Australia's environment until they could pass on the responsibility and blame someone else. Now in Hasluck we see Senator Reynolds fronting up with coalition candidates and trying to campaign on environmental matters, matters that are deeply important to the people in my community, while conveniently forgetting the inaction of the coalition over the last decade. The Albanese government is a government of action. We will not shirk our responsibility or waste time in government. The Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 is before the Senate, and we are one vote away from establishing an environmental protection agency. I challenge Senator Reynolds to put her vote where it matters—one vote away—and to vote for this legislation to bring some comfort to my community, not the cold comfort that she brings.

Hasluck people are fed up with being ripped off at the supermarket, and so they are glad that we are listening, taking action on supermarket price gouging and looking for ways to ensure that both shoppers and farmers see a fair price. The coalition talk about competition and productivity a lot, but they were never prepared to take the hard decisions to ensure that we get good outcomes in this space. On the environment, my constituents want to see environmental laws passed. They don't understand why the Senate is holding up the establishment of the first independent environmental protection authority, and neither do I.

My constituents want more action on housing, like the Housing Australia Future Fund, which the opposition opposed, and the Help to Buy Bill, which they continue to oppose. We managed to get the future fund passed and are delivering the first round of 4,200 social housing homes and more than 9½ thousand affordable homes. This includes 1,200 homes for women and children escaping domestic violence. It's more help than the Liberals and Nationals delivered in almost 10 years, and they're still in it. They're still playing that blocking game, along with the Greens. They've managed to find common ground, unholy ground, to block housing supply. They are holding up the delivery of support to 40,000 Australians that Labor wants to assist with an equity contribution for a home for themselves.