Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor government policies, inaction and missteps have kept inflation higher for longer for everyone. In the Upper Spencer Gulf, uncertainty associated with the operations and finances of the Whyalla steelworks continues wreaking havoc for industry and for jobs. There's uncertainty now, too, from the South Australian state Labor government on the future of its hydrogen hub, which is looking right now like a cruel hydrogen hoax. This week, the threat is the United States trade tariffs. They threaten Australian industry and steel. The federal government must secure that exemption, as the coalition successfully did when it was in government.

True to form, the Albanese Labor government has been bad for business growth and associated jobs, unless you're one of the 29,000 new Commonwealth public servants. In just one parliamentary term, there has been a tripling of bankruptcy in South Australia. Upper Spencer Gulf locals are counting every cent, putting off travel and delaying health appointments. I was told staff are even taking their own toilet paper to work. With my colleagues Senator McGrath and now hardworking Liberal candidate for Grey, Tom Venning, we heard that local companies have cancelled contracts. Some businesses and residents can't even pay their bills. Workers and suppliers are not getting paid, and increasing numbers are turning to crisis payments. Demand can't be met, and at least 15 per cent of those seeking help are associated with the steelworks.

This government has turned battlers into beggars. You pulled the wrong policy levers. Locals want back the future you took from them. House prices in Whyalla have risen 40 per cent. Median rent is up 21 per cent. Food prices have risen 12 per cent. A Labor-Greens coalition would deliver so much worse. What these people want and deserve is better government. What they need is a change of government.