Ralph Babet (Victoria, United Australia Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australians are experiencing the longest per capita recession on record, with six consecutive quarterly falls in per capita GDP and seven declines in the previous eight quarters. This Christmas, many Australian families will be torn between purchasing presents for their children and paying those skyrocketing electricity and food bills. It is extraordinary to think that many Australians this December, like Mary and Joseph on that first Christmas, will be wondering where they will live, since there is no affordable housing.

Sadly, this year doesn't look like a great Christmas for the vast majority of Australians. The election of the Albanese government did not signal joy to the world; our government is hardly filled with wise men after all! The original wise men arrived that first Christmas bearing gifts, but Labor's wise guys arrive bearing little more than bills. Instead of gold, there's debt. Instead of frankincense, there's the stench of broken promises. There's no gold, there's no frankincense—and as for myrrh, most of us haven't any more clue about what myrrh is than we do about what Labor's plan is to reduce the cost of living.

The Labor Party constantly promise that they will arrive with gifts, only to turn up with boxes that, once unwrapped, are discovered to be empty. More Australians believe in Santa Claus than in the Albanese government's promises—and can you blame them, after the last 2½ years? If Australians have a merry Christmas, it will be not because of but in spite of this government.