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

It's a pleasure to rise and speak on this MPI. Listening to that contribution from the assistant minister was very illuminating. But, as usual, it doesn't deal with the fundamental issues facing the Australian people. As I said in this place earlier today, the government can wax lyrical all it likes about $15 a week on average for workers across Australia. By the time we get to 1 July, those people will hardly notice that change in their take-home pay, because the multitude of other issues facing the Australian economy are not being dealt with by this government. In effect, in many cases, this government is assisting to make it worse. Let's look at some of the figures to date. Food is up over nine per cent. Housing is up over 12 per cent. Electricity is up over 20 per cent. Insurance premiums are up over 22 per cent. Gas is up over 27 per cent. If I look at just electricity and gas, the government was waxing lyrical a little while ago about putting in place measures to try to reduce the cost of that has had no benefit whatsoever. That's one broken promise.

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