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

The question every Australian should ask themselves is: am I better off today than I was four years ago? Have my power bills gone down? Has my mortgage repayment dropped? Am I forking out less at the grocery store? Am I paying less at the petrol pump? Have my taxes gone down? Can I now afford insurance? Are interest rates going down? Am I in a better position now than I was before the last election? The answer is clearly, 'No.' Under the Albanese Labor government, we are experiencing the longest household recession on record. Energy prices have soared, mortgages and rent are crippling household budgets, and the cost of groceries and petrol is at record highs. Many people can't even afford the simple rite of passage of taking their kids to a Cowboys game.

If Labor's economic policies are tough in the cities, then they're 10 times worse in the regions. Things like flights and holidays have become a distant dream for many families who are struggling to pay the bills this Labor government has inflicted on them.

Businesses are going bust, economists are sounding alarms, and Australia is still facing one of the highest inflation rates in the developed world. All the economic indicators are flashing red, yet this Labor government seems to be completely oblivious to the mess it's creating for Australians.

Australia needs a new government, one that will get our economy back on track and put Australians first. We don't need more wishful thinking, wasteful spending, divisive referendums or culture wars. We do need a government that will fix the economy, keep our communities safe and champion our regions. We do need local representatives who will genuinely stand up for their communities.

Over the past five years, I've served as Townsville's voice in Canberra, not Canberra's voice in Townsville. I've fought for all who call Townsville home, whether they be local families, defence personnel, veterans, small-business owners, young people or the elderly. They all should have a voice in Canberra. As the defence capital of Australia, with 500 extra troops plus their families expected to move to the city over the next few years, Townsville faces unique challenges and opportunities. The housing market is strained and our bravest shouldn't have to battle for a place to live. That's why I fought to prioritise Townsville for a big build of new DHA housing, which will provide new homes for our defence community.

Rampant youth crime is another top issue in Townsville. When the coalition government's Safer Communities Fund was axed by Labor, leaving 90 young people without a safe haven, I fought to reinstate that funding. We successfully fought for an extension for the Community Gro Youth Hub to keep it running, keeping many of our at-risk youth off the streets.

I've been fighting for Townsville's first responders, who are local heroes in every sense. They should have access to mental health support and services. When a key support provider was left hanging by Labor for funding, I brought the issue to Canberra, moved a motion in parliament and secured the commitment they needed to continue their invaluable services to our first responders.

Likewise, when Labor tried to cut federal funding for the brand new AEIOU autism support centre in Townsville, I stood firm and advocated relentlessly until the funding was restored, ensuring our families raising kids with autism continued to get the support they need. We have now celebrated the opening of this new centre.

Another issue burdening our community is the skyrocketing cost of insurance. I have continually been advocating for the government to get insurers on board to the reinsurance pool. We are now starting to see some evidence of lower increases to premiums, although much more is needed.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in our democratic society, but Labor threatened to shut it down through its misinformation bill, the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024. I opposed it fiercely in this chamber. Thankfully, that dangerous un-Australian bill is now off the table—for now. Labor is taking its misinformation bill to the next election as one of its policies.

I've also been holding this Labor government accountable for botching important local projects, with cost blowouts and massive delays on Reef HQ; this project was fully funded before the last election. It's the same for the concert hall. As long as my community keeps sending me here, I'll keep fighting for Townsville.