Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In Queensland, the people voted with their feet. They decided to pick a new state government. They were tired of the hollow promises given to them by the Labor government. The Labor government had failed the people of Townsville. They spoke about fixing crime, and then crime wasn't an issue. They said, 'We'll do more to support you,' but never showed up. The people of Townsville—they voted. They voted for three LNP members, and those members have been out there in the community now. They're out there listening, working and delivering for our community, because, last night, tonight, tomorrow night, a month ago, someone's house will be broken into, someone will be held up in the street at knife point, cars will be stolen, people will feel like prisoners in their own home. This has been a continual circle of events that have happened throughout Townsville. People want to feel like they're supported. They want to be able to wake up in the morning and know that their property is still in their house. They want to make sure that they're not being robbed on the street. Crime is the No. 1 issue that plagues the city of Townsville, and that's why, in the state election, all three of the Labor MPs were replaced by Liberal National Party members.

It is horrible, the things that my office gets told every single day by those who are just trying to live their lives. It is terrifying. Every time I leave Townsville and come to Canberra, I think about my wife and my two children that are behind and the high crime that plagues our street. Now, under a David Crisafulli Queensland state government, laws will be put in place. We will see adult crime get adult time. We will punish bad behaviour. We will lock up repeat offenders. We will make sure that these disgraceful criminals are off our street. We will make sure that our community is safe, because that is what a good government does. That's what the government prioritises. They don't run around and make hollow promises or say things like, 'Crime is not an issue in North Queensland,' when it has been the No. 1 issue for as long as I can remember. The same thing will happen in the coming months. The people of Australia will be able to make a decision. Do they want to stay with a government that hasn't prioritised them federally, that talks about the No. 1 issue being the cost of living but took a referendum to the people without tackling the cost-of-living crisis, spending $400 million, not putting the people first, allowing criminals to be let out of detention—rapists, murderers, paedophiles—because the minister was overseas in the UK at the time spruiking about how good the Voice to Parliament would be instead of being back here in Australia doing his job? They've had a couple of little reshuffles and moved some problem ministers out, but the same problem is still there. The Australian people aren't being put first. Or do they want a government led by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, and his team that will put the Australian people first every single day?

We've heard the Labor government say that the Leader of the Opposition is too tough, then he's too soft, then he goes too far and then he doesn't go far enough. These are more fear and smear campaigns coming from a weak, tired first-term Labor government. The Australian people deserve a government that will stand up for them every single day and that will put their needs before anything else—not another referendum that they were told not to have. Tackling the cost-of-living crisis, making sure that you are better supported, putting you first—that's what a Dutton led coalition government will do.