Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am very pleased to rise in this chamber today to speak about the coalition government's record and our achievements since winning the election in 2016. The Australian people returned a coalition government because they believed in our plan to grow the economy and create more jobs. Since taking office in 2013, the coalition government has been focused on making Australian lives better, safer and more prosperous. During the previous coalition government in 2007, when we were at the peak of the mining boom, with some $20 billion in budget surplus and $40 billion in the bank, we had the opportunity to make many decisions for the benefit of the country. However, after losing government in 2007, we saw a period of government under Labor which saw the Australian financial situation—from a coalition perspective—trashed. That left a legacy for this country of debt and deficit as far as the eye can see.

Since winning the election, the coalition government has sought to tackle budget repair head-on. In the past six months or so, we have managed to pass significant pieces of legislation, many of which those opposite—and other commentators elsewhere—did not believe we could pass. And this was despite having fewer seats in the House and fewer seats in the Senate. We have already passed some $22 billion in budget repair measures and are currently working to pass a further suite of $13.2 billion of budget savings.

Our focus on restoring the budget surplus is more than finding savings. We have also sought to improve the way we manage the money that is placed in trust with us by the Australian people, because, at the end of the day, not a single dollar of what we spend is the government's money; it is the Australian people's money. We have sought to expand the Department of Human Services forward-prevention and debt-recovery capabilities, and, by recovering welfare overpayments or, in same cases, fraudulent payments, we have delivered some $2.1 billion in net savings over the forward estimates. The temporary budget repair levy remains in place and is expected to raise some $3.1 billion.

But I think most important is our multinational tax avoidance legislation, which we passed in 2015. There was also a further tranche last year and further tranches will be brought to the House. That will raise more than $2 billion in the 2016-17 financial year. Interestingly, it was those opposite that voted against this legislation. There is also the coalition government's diverted profits tax legislation, which is expected to raise a further $3.9 billion over the next four years. It is this coalition government that is looking to pass important savings and ensure that those who operate business in this country pay their fair share of tax. That is what will allow us to continue the task of budget repair.

But we have not stopped there, because Australian taxpayers want to know that they are getting value for money. In that regard, we have said that any spending decisions, including all of our election commitments, must be fully offset by spending reductions in other parts of the budget. What we are saying to the Australian people is that we cannot pass unfunded, uncosted promises and election sweeteners. Any funding promise will be costed and accounted for in an effort to reduce borrowing and, importantly, prevent tax increases, because we know that more taxes have a negative effect on economic activity. We want to see lower taxes, so that we have a growing economy that provides the opportunities for business to grow, develop and employ people.

Locally, the coalition government is delivering for many of the communities in my electorate of Forde. One of these achievements is the increasingly positive progress of the NBN rollout. Many suburbs in the electorate will soon have access to faster, more reliable internet with the construction rollout that is currently occurring. For the residents of Windaroo, Bannockburn, Belivah, Bahrs Scrub, Logan Reserve and Chambers Flat it is clear that super-fast broadband is on its way. I was pleased to catch up with many of these residents recently over coffee and, with a representative from NBN Co, explain some more of the detail around the NBN rollout.

The NBN has also commenced construction in and around Beenleigh and Yatala, which is one of our major enterprise areas. For many years, that area was significantly underserviced by the previous telecommunications infrastructure provider, and the businesses in that area—many of which are exporters that will benefit from the free trade agreements that I spoke of early—are tremendously optimistic about this rollout and the opportunities it will provide for them and their businesses. The next cab off the rank is the area down around Upper Coomera, where the NBN is presently being rolled out as well. That is one of our fastest-growing areas on the northern Gold Coast. There are so many businesses, schools and other organisations in that area that will benefit from the NBN rollout and the opportunities that it will provide going forward. I recently spoke at a chamber of commerce business lunch where, again, with the assistance NBN Co, we were able to explain the detail of the rollout and explain to people what that will mean for their businesses and what opportunities that will provide.

When we talk about these local initiatives, it is important to reflect that we only get to stand in this place because of the support of a great many people who help us on election days. In that regard, I want to acknowledge and recognise the many people who have helped out not only in the 2016 campaign in Forde but also in previous campaigns—people like John and Gwendoline Skeers, John and Helen Broadhurst, John and Ros Murray, Jeff and Cathy Charlesworth and many, many more. It is those people, some of whom have been members and involved in the LNP or its previous incarnations for 30 and 40 years. They are the backbone of our local campaigns who turn up at little community events and at our regular meetings, and are there on polling day each election helping out, and sometimes in very difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, this campaign in Forde was very negative to the extent that at one of our polling booths, a gentleman who was assisting a particular party—not yours, Madam Deputy Speaker Bird but who was a representative of a union that does support your party—ended up having to be arrested because of his conduct. I do not think anybody in this chamber would support that sort of conduct by a person at a polling booth. Equally, the comments that were made to some of my volunteers by representatives of political parties were, I think, quite uncalled for, particularly when they were directed at women volunteers. Those who made those comments to those ladies should be very, very ashamed of themselves.

But I am pleased to say that, now, as a representative of the most marginal coalition seat in the country, I do have the honour of representing the electorate of Forde for another three years. In closing, I would like to thank some very, very important people: my campaign manager, Nathan Kucks, who, as usual, has gone above and beyond; and the fantastic team who work tirelessly every day, day in and day out and during the campaign, went over and above. Everybody in this place and all our staff in our offices do a fantastic job. Lastly, I would like to recognise my wonderful wife Judi and my two fantastic sons, Zac and Josh. We, all in this place, spend a lot of time away from our families and I think it is important that at an opportunity like this we get to recognise and to acknowledge the value, the support and the love we get from our families, and thank them for supporting us in a job that we do here to represent our communities and to make decisions and represent the best interests of what is great in Australia. I thank all of those people whom I mentioned. There are many others whom I have not mentioned but deserve thanks and gratitude for their support, their service and their assistance; but, most importantly, to my wife Judy and to my two sons, Zak and Josh, for their undying support, love and commitment, without which I would not have the honour of being in this place.

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