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

It is with great pleasure that I rise today to speak in support of appropriation bills Nos. 3 and 4. Since taking office in 2013 the coalition government has been focused on making the lives of all Australians better, safer and more prosperous. The coalition government has passed some $22 billion in budget repair measures and is working to pass further savings. As part of this we have expanded the Department of Human Services fraud prevention and debt recovery capability and, by recovering welfare overpayments and those payments that have been received on a fraudulent basis, we will recover some $2.1 billion in net savings over the forward estimates. But our focus on restoring the budget surplus involves more than finding savings. Our multinational tax avoidance legislation, which we passed last year, will raise more than $2 billion in the 2016-17 financial year, and the coalition government's diverted profits tax legislation is expected to raise a further $3.9 billion over the next four years.

It is instructive—and I know my good friend over there, the member for Moreton, is always keen to contribute to the debate—that the multinational tax avoidance legislation was opposed by those opposite. I find it passing strange that, when they get the opportunity, those opposite—who complain all the time about multinationals not paying their tax—actually vote against the legislation to make sure they do pay their tax. It is the coalition government that has succeeded in passing these important savings measures and ensuring that multinational companies pay their fair share of tax in Australia. We have not stopped there. We have also recently made changes to the Life Gold Pass for former members of parliament. We have also indicated that any decision to increase spending, including all our election commitments, must be fully offset by spending reductions in other parts of the budget. What we are saying to Australians is that we will not pass uncosted, unfunded legislation—a position diametrically opposed to the approach of those opposite in their time in government. Any funding promise will be costed and accounted for, in an effort to reduce borrowing and prevent tax increases.

It is also important to focus on what we are doing locally in the electorate of Forde. The coalition government continues to deliver for the local communities in my electorate. We have proudly delivered on every election commitment from the 2010 and 2013 elections, and we are working hard to ensure we continue to deliver on the commitments made during the 2016 election. This includes getting work underway on Stage 1 of the M1 upgrades in Logan. Road quality and capacity are big issues in my electorate, and the coalition government has proudly delivered more than $40 million in Roads to Recovery funding to Logan and Gold Coast city councils. This funding is supporting our local governments to repair and maintain our local road networks. The coalition government has also delivered for the residents of Upper Coomera, with a $10-million contribution to the Exit 54 upgrade, which is now being completed.

I am passionate about supporting my local community, whether it is helping our local organisations and sporting clubs with grants, or securing funding for larger projects. I will always back our community groups, who go above and beyond. Beenleigh & Districts Senior Citizens Centre is one such organisation that goes above and beyond. I am proud to say that we have provided them with $90,000 in funding as a grant to upgrade their kitchen facilities, which are also used by our local Meals on Wheels team. They do such a terrific job, not only for Meals on Wheels but also for the many seniors that attend regular events there. It is actually one of the largest senior citizens' clubs in South-East Queensland. The coalition government's Safer Community Program has delivered more than half a million dollars for CCTV cameras, and our Solar Communities program will deliver $100,000 across six local organisations to install solar power and to assist with reducing their electricity bills.

When I speak with constituents around my electorate, the overwhelming consensus is that they want to see governments live within their means. Recently, we sent out the Biggest Survey to the entire electorate, and as I have taken time to sift through the hundreds of responses, time and again, I see that two of the most important issues are a strong economy and job security. These two issues go hand in hand—building a strong economy creates more jobs and creates job security. The only way to do this is to stimulate growth in our business community, while also getting Labor's budget deficit under control—and this has not been an easy task, but it is one the coalition government is tackling head-on.

In times like this, when we need to pass difficult legislation to grow the economy and reduce debt, it is only the coalition government that can provide the economic leadership necessary for this country. We have already proven our capabilities: a great example of this is the success of our free trade agreements. I spoke at length earlier today about the Australia-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which has resulted in strong growth in Australia's trade and services—up some 7.7 per cent to $146 billion per annum. Our free trade agreements are driving Australian jobs and boosting our economy. Tourism has accounted for half of all services exports in 2015-16. As an electorate that takes in part of the Gold Coast—unfortunately, I do not have any beaches or surf—there are an enormous number of people in my electorate who benefit from this tourism-led growth in our economy.

But it is not only tourism. Education exports have increased some 8.3 per cent and business services exports have increased some 8.3 per cent. I also know, from talking to Teys abattoir, our largest employer in the electorate, the value they have received from the free trade agreements with Japan and Korea, in particular, and the growth that it has generated in their business. It allows them to continue to grow and develop their business and continue to keep 800 people in jobs.

Appropriation bills Nos 3 and 4 underpin the government's expenditure decisions, which support a number of important government responsibilities. They will provide more than $143 million to the Department of Health to fund a range of important measures, including updating communication technology systems; supporting health, aged-care and veterans' payments; strengthening mental health care in Australia; and supporting the establishment of a national research network that will focus on improving the survival rates of childhood cancer.

These bills also provide funding to the Department of Defence to the tune $810 million as well as just under $200 million to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. The Department of Human Services will also receive just under $156 million for the second tranche of the Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation Program.

The coalition government is providing financial support to our departments that contribute to the betterment of our nation. Under the former Howard government, Australia was in the peak of the mining boom with a $20 billion budget surplus and over $40 billion in the bank. Unfortunately, our strong financial position was driven into debt by six years of a Rudd-Gillard-Labor government. Labor's poorly planned and poorly targeted stimulus package during the GFC left us with not only lives lost under the pink batts scheme but also $900 cheques to dead people and a multitude of other wasteful spending initiatives.

Since winning the election, the coalition government has been working constructively with the crossbenchers to tackle the job of budget repair. Over the last nine months, we have passed more legislation through the Senate than we did in the three years of the previous government. This is despite having fewer seats in the House and fewer seats in the Senate.

It is the future of our nation that this government is focused on. That is what is so important about us succeeding with our legislative agenda, because everything that we are looking to do is to build a better Australia for all Australians.

As a coalition government, we will continue to focus on the future of this country, ensuring that we deliver the services and supports that we need to build a strong economy, provide long-term stable jobs but also provide welfare and safety-security nets for those in our community who are genuinely in need. I commend these bills to the House.

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