Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

This could be one of the last speeches I deliver before being up for re-election in my home state of Victoria. I grew up in regional Victoria, and I've seen firsthand how policies affect regional lives. I have seen community coming together in drought, extreme weather and economic downturn. One of my biggest frustrations about politics in this country is that it's from places where the Greens are needed most that some of the most conservative climate criminal MPs sitting in this place come.

I've sat in the Senate for less than a year, and over that time I've seen a Labor government tick off new fossil fuel projects—three coal expansions in one day, which I thought was a pretty significant effort—I've seen a PM purchase a luxury coastal property while state Labor bulldozes public housing developments in my state of Victoria, and I've seen the Labor Party laugh at the idea of a rent cap when many families across this country are one rental payment away from sleeping in their car.

What scares me most, though, is the prospect of a Dutton government. Let's be clear. If Dutton sneaks into government, it won't be because of any nation-building agenda; it'll be because of a campaign designed to attack those most vulnerable in our society, such as refugees, the queer community and casual workers. Forget about that right to disconnect that the Greens fought so strongly for if Peter Dutton gets elected. Things are bad, but we know they would be worse under Peter Dutton. That's why we are running a huge campaign all across Victoria and the country to put the Greens in the balance of power and to keep Dutton's hatred out of government.