Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of doorknocking in Lindisfarne on Hobart's eastern shore with the Tasmania Liberal candidate for Franklin, Josh Garvin. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of the residents of Lindisfarne who we spoke to that day and who shared their thoughts with myself and Josh. There was no surprise. The feedback on the doors was that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting Tasmanians hard.

One issue really stood out for us, and that was the alarming rise in food prices, which we know is having a real impact on household budgets. Under this Labor government, prices have increased by more than 10 per cent including for our most basic needs. Food is up by 11 per cent, health is up by 11 per cent, electricity has increased by 22 per cent and education has increased by 11 per cent. The list goes on and on. These increases are straining household budgets and families are forced to rethink their grocery list and their meal plans.

While many whom we spoke to appreciated the energy bill relief offered by the government, it is important to recognise this assistance is merely a one-off payment. It provides only temporary relief and it fails to address the root of the issue here. People are rightfully asking: what is the Albanese Labor government doing to provide a lasting solution to the inflation crisis that we find ourselves in? We have to remember that this year every major advanced economy has seen inflation decline except for Australia. Yes, you heard that right—except for Australia. The Labor government attributes our domestic cost-of-living issues to global factors, yet we see other countries making progress while Australia stalls. It is clear that Australians, particularly Tasmanians, are paying the price for Labor's economic mismanagement, and we simply cannot afford another three years of this sort of thing. Frankly, Tasmanians deserve better.