Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources) Share this | Hansard source

I'm wondering if those opposite would like the opportunity to speak, because they're certainly speaking a lot now. No? Thank you. The regions have smaller populations; businesses have static customer numbers, and an increase in costs will push them to the wall. A 50 per cent increase on power prices will result in business closures, jobs losses and increasingly difficult circumstances, thanks to the headlong rush to emissions reductions without a plan to genuinely transition the economy. Local butchers and pubs will have to charge people more and put off staff.

Why do regions matter? Well, for Labor, a small town is just a photo opportunity. But it is so much more for the people, businesses and councils that live and operate there.