Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President. They're feisty today. As I was saying, over the same period, the funding from the WA state government—you know, under the federation, those guys that are actually responsible for funding hospitals—increased by 18 per cent. So, while the Commonwealth has increased its funding by over 72 per cent, the WA state government—which, let's face it, is pretty much on its own. We know you guys won pretty big over there, so there's no-one else you can really blame. We are now increasing the funding by approximately four times that of the state government. I honestly hope for the people in WA that someone within the WA government starts to pay attention to that, because their hospitals are currently at the highest level of alert without a single case of COVID. So, if people would be concerned, I wouldn't be casting aspersions from WA about how fantastic they are when it comes to COVID and COVID management. Of course, the Prime Minister of all Australians—even the ones who have incompetent premiers incapable of funding the services they're supposed to be responsible for—the Commonwealth, through this Prime Minister, is ensuring that those citizens are protected.

That isn't actually where I wanted to start today. I just thought it was important that we got bit of clarity out there on who is actually looking after all Australians. Unlike many people in this place, I've actually known the Prime Minister personally for nearly 20 years, and he is an absolutely fantastic leader. I got to know him when he was State Director of the New South Wales Liberal Party. That was when we were working on the 2004 campaign. Those opposite might remember it, through you, Acting Deputy President: Medicare Gold. Remember that one? That was a cracker. We had the Mark Latham handshake, and we had Mr Howard being mobbed by loggers in Tasmania, as they were so grateful for the support that the Howard government was giving them, as opposed to what Mr Latham wanted to subject them to. Mr Morrison, when he was Mr Morrison, State Director of the New South Wales Liberal Party, was an absolutely fantastic leader and a great campaigner—a fantastic campaigner—and someone who it was an absolute privilege to work with. I would like to say: actually, because of the Prime Minister, the thought of massaman curry just turns my stomach since that campaign. I have never seen anyone who could order curry literally every night over a six-week campaign, consistently. It really was something to behold. It's probably his biggest flaw: his embracing of curry in so many flavours.

I thought that, for those opposite, we might have a little talk about the actual achievements of this government and how they have delivered for Australians across the nation.

We know you sneer; those opposite love to smear and sneer and carry on when the Prime Minister talks about team Australia. Well, that's because those opposite aren't on it. The only team they're on is the team of the union bosses, who make sure they do exactly as they're told. Those opposite are not interested in helping to fight for small businesses. In fact, they're not even interested in large businesses.

You pretend, those opposite—through you, Acting Deputy President—that you're interested in jobs. No; you're not interested in jobs. You're only interested in the job the government pays for. You're not interested in the jobs that are created by Australian innovation. You're not interested in the jobs that are created by Australian companies. You're not interested in those businesses that employ the vast majority of Australians—and those vast majority of Australians are still connected to their workplaces, even with the current situation that we're seeing in the ACT, New South Wales and Victoria. These people are still connected to their jobs, and that's because of the introduction of JobKeeper, and that kept them together, and they were there, but it was never a permanent solution. Those opposite were claiming we'd fall off the economic cliff, but guess what? Some people actually paid attention in economics class, and that did not happen. What we're actually seeing now is that we have more Australians in work than we did before the pandemic. We have more women in the workforce than we did before the pandemic started. In fact, we're the first advanced economy to have reached that milestone. We're faster than the US and faster than the UK. None of them can claim the same sort of economic victory over COVID that was experienced by Australians—all Australians!—last year, led by this Prime Minister.

It's the 3.4 million small businesses that are receiving tax relief all across this country. These are everyday Australians who've set up their own small business and employ fellow Australians. They are being supported through tax relief, but we know you guys on the other side don't like tax relief. It was all about $387 billion of taxes at the last election. I just wonder whether, when the current opposition leader finally faces up to the member for Maribyrnong, they'll be bringing those taxes back. I've yet to hear the former opposition leader say to the current opposition leader that he's not keen to see them reintroduced.

We know that those who sit up at the further end of the chamber like to talk a lot about emissions. A lot of hot air is expended discussing some of these issues, but what we should be recognising—again, this is for all Australians across the country—is that all Australians are now seeing that emissions are at a lower level, 19 per cent lower, than they were in 2005. That's the lowest level since 1995. So emissions have been reduced to their lowest level since 1995 under this government. But this government has done that with a Prime Minister who has led from the front and who made sure it was technology, not taxes. He didn't go out there to shut industries down. He didn't go out there to whack on every tax he could find. What we've done is invest in Australians across the country—all Australians, even those in WA who were let down by the health expenditures, who we know are incredibly poor and have been locked off from the rest of the country under that COVID doona.

We've also supported all Australians through schools. There has been an increase, from 2014 to 2021, in spending for schools. It's gone from $13.8 billion to $23.4 billion. That is a significant increase in expenditure in education, which, again, for those who have read the Constitution, is the responsibility of state governments. But the federal government, the Commonwealth government, led by this Prime Minister, is ensuring that every Australian is well supported, even when their premiers can't do their job.

I have a very special place in my heart for the Hunter. The Hunter region is absolutely booming, and I am loving every minute that I get to spend up there. I cannot wait until New South Wales opens up, as our vaccination rates keep charging through, and Premier Berejiklian will stick to those lockdowns, making sure we can ease them off as soon as we can. Our vaccination rates are charging along, unlike some of those other states hiding under the doona. But you could almost call the Prime Minister the PM for the Hunter. He and I have been up there a couple of times together and have made significant announcements around investments that are going to boost that region. But not only are they for the people of the Hunter; they are going to boost the entire north-west of New South Wales.

I know those opposite don't like New South Wales; we know that. They're all a bit jealous of Sydney. I know we've got the harbour. It's kind of the best state—and I say that having lived in three of them. That's fine. But the Hunter region opened up the whole north-west region.

We've just spent $66 million investing in Williamtown airport not only for the Defence Force, securing those jobs, but to ensure that Newcastle can open up as an international destination once borders open up. Let's be honest: people from New South Wales will be going to London before they will be going to Perth with the way things are going at the moment—and soon you will be able to fly from Newcastle.