Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank Senator Rennick, in his newfound spirit of independence, for bringing forward this motion on the political culture, because it raises so many of the pressing issues confronting decent, honest and hardworking Australians, particularly my constituents of New South Wales: the cost-of-living crisis, which has ballooned so much over the last 2½ years; the energy crisis and the Albanese government's outrageously broken promise to the Australian people; the housing crisis that, despite billions being spent by state and federal Labor governments, is only getting worse; and the immigration crisis, where this government can't help but continue to add more fuel to the fire.

However, I think Senator Rennick has got it wrong in his motion. He is half right: the Albanese Labor government has absolutely no plan to deal with these major crises and in fact has made them worse. But the coalition, on the other hand, has a serious plan to deal with these crises, and we are not afraid to govern. We have a plan to deal with the energy crisis that means being technologically agnostic and not placing a blanket ban on any form of technology. We have a plan to fix the housing crisis that means making the Australian dream a reality again. We are going to break free the critical backlogs that are stopping families from getting into their new homes. We are going to fund the critical infrastructure that is a prerequisite of any new housing development—the commonsense things like water, power and sewerage. We are going to stop union thuggery and intimidation on our building sites by restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission. We are going to allow people to use their own money to buy their first home, because if Labor's mates and the big super funds can own your home with your money, why shouldn't you be able to do that, too? And we are going to allow separated women to do the same, because women over 55 are the largest-growing cohort of homeless in our country, and that is shameful, and in no way should this government be getting in the way of their accessing their own money to buy their own homes.

We have a plan to rebalance our migration program, because we can't keep taking on the equivalent of a new Adelaide every four years. It is simply not sustainable. The problem Labor has created over the last 2½ years simply cannot continue. We are going to reduce the levels of permanent migration by 25 per cent to a responsible level that recognises the rich contribution of migration to our country and balances it with a sustainable path forward. We are going to reduce the number of international students studying at our metro universities, because right now it is causing too much strain on our housing market, particularly close to our cities. It is locking young Australians out of affordable housing. We are going to re-secure our borders, because that is a core responsibility of any government to keep their people safe. And we are going to strengthen our detention laws, because violent criminals whose visas have been cancelled must be properly monitored and kept off our streets.

Most importantly to everyday Australians, we have a plan to address the cost of living, because nothing is more pressing to Australian families than the financial pressure they are under—pressure caused by this Labor government. We are going to rein in wasteful government spending, because this government has spent over $200 billion more than was budgeted before the election. This has directly contributed to skyrocketing inflation. We are going to provide lower, simpler and fairer taxes for Australians, because tax money belongs to Australians; it does not belong to any government. Personal income taxes are 22 per cent higher since this government was elected. We are going to bring down inflation because inflation is an insidious disease that eats away at the savings of working Australians. The IMF has projected that this year Australia will have the second-highest inflation of any developed country. Under Labor, our economic conditions have deteriorated and Australia is heading in the wrong direction. That is their legacy. Ours will be getting Australia back on track.