Trevor Evans (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support this motion and to note the government's achievements and progress in the months since the election. As a new MP, I have been proud to see so much of the government's agenda and so many of its election commitments being passed through this House so quickly and to see so much being passed through the Senate. These achievements have obviously been underpinned by meaningful conversations and genuinely constructive negotiations with other parties, particularly in the Senate. I believe that is what Australians want to see from their government—cooperation, collaboration and negotiation in Australia's best interests. Despite some of the partisan rhetoric coming from those opposite on this motion and at other times when the TV cameras are on, they know, as I have come to realise, that the vast bulk of work done in this place is achieved with bipartisan support and genuine negotiations made in good faith and in the best interests of Australia.

I note that in popular commentary there presently exists a theme of general dissatisfaction with politics and governance, not just here in Australia but around the world. In some other countries, the rise of populist policies has been linked to an apparent ruling class in capital cities that seems to be blind to or even actively encouraging the stagnation or decline of the living standards of their citizens. There is little doubt that in some parts of the world many people have been left out or have felt left out of the benefits flowing from new technologies, increased trade and transitioning economies. Here in Australia our living standards and economic growth have continued to grow, even through some tough times, with markedly better outcomes than in many comparable countries. That Australia has just achieved a milestone of 25 years of uninterrupted economic growth speaks volumes for the good work done in this place in a bipartisan fashion, including by this government and by many of our predecessors going back decades. Yet some dissatisfaction with government, and not just at the national level, is still evident and palpable in many places. I do believe that this can be explained by lingering doubts and fears resulting from the pace of change and the transition, as in some of those other economies.

Yet I also believe, very strongly, that much of the pain felt in Australia over recent years can be attributed to our style and the results of our model of governance. The past 10 years saw an unprecedented level of instability emanating from Canberra—a high level of turnover of governments and a high turnover of personalities, a churn of policies affecting many key industries, and the loss of significant experience and corporate knowledge in our model of governance. That instability has undermined confidence and increased risk, and as a result it has choked investment and spending by households and businesses alike.

This is the best-placed government that Australia has had in many years to deliver the sort of continuity and stability that has eluded us for too long. Merely in being re-elected, this government is the first in 12 years to be re-elected and returned to office in its own right. This government has started to deliver what we critically need: a more predictable and certain future everyone can bank on and invest in. I suspect it will take some time for decision makers, the media and commentators—indeed the broader community—to move on from those past years of unpredictability. It is worth everyone asking themselves the question: what does a more stable and predictable model of governance look and feel like, and who might be incentivised to try to stop us from achieving it?

I am very proud to have played a part in some of the government's key achievements so far and I applaud the government's significant early wins on budget repair—$11 billion so far, and counting. I want to highlight the government's recent tax cuts, which will benefit tens of thousands of residents in Brisbane. I also want to congratulate the government for its vision for our defence industry. I have already heard from so many local businesses around Brisbane, including advanced manufacturers and specialist service providers, who are benefiting from this vision and are creating jobs and opportunities for people in Brisbane right now.

I am also very proud to be a member of the House Economics Committee and to have played a role in the recent bank hearings. I also want to recognise the importance of the government's registered organisations bill and the ABCC bill. Both passed this House last month and are due to be decided by the Senate in the coming days.

During the campaign I had so many tradies, project managers and subcontractors all coming up to me on the street to tell me terrible stories about what was happening on the building sites in inner-city Brisbane, and then to learn that new apartments in our inner-city are between $60,000 and $80,000 more expensive for young or new home owners, when the CFMEU has been involved in the construction on those sites, has been devastating for so many people.

While it may not suit the short-term interests—maybe—of the opposition or indeed some in the media, this government is delivering on its commitments and agenda as well as delivering in the important area of stability. I very much look forward to working hard to continue to deliver in the very best interests of our country.

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