Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) | Hansard source

WALLACE () (): Fisher is home to some world-class farmers and primary producers, with agriculture adding over $530 million to the Sunshine Coast economy every year. Yet this week, our farmers will begin to feel the impact of Labor's most recent callous and careless cuts. Starting today, those seeking seasonal work on farms and with primary producers will be forced onto the Workforce Australia platform.

The Harvest Trail Services program is being defunded by this Labor government. This comes despite protests from the sector and after over 25 years of its success in supporting our primary producers. The Harvest trail program has supported backpackers, working holiday-makers and Australian workers, many students, older Australians and those struggling to find a traditional job. And it has worked. So why have Labor axed the program? It cannot be for the $47.3 million in savings over five years. This is all about Labor's vindictiveness and their radical agenda to tax, spend and smooth-talk their way through government.

But, every day, we see that the stark reality of life under this Prime Minister is getting worse. Australians are paying more for less, and regional communities are footing the bill for Labor's budget blowouts at the big end of town. These changes will open the door to on-farm exploitation. They'll cripple farmers in my electorate, like the pineapple farmers and strawberry farms across Beerwah, Coochin Creek and the Glass House Mountains. These are families who've built the Sunshine Coast from the ground up, and Labor will put hardworking Australians and backpackers out of a job, as their cost-of-living crisis wreaks havoc on households right across this country.

Labor have slashed the ag visa. They drove up the price of temporary working visas. They're taxing truckies. They want a new carbon tax for utes. Every day and in every way, it has become clear that this Labor government has it out for Australian farmers.

Every single Australian is being punished under this Labor government. It doesn't matter what stage of life they are in; inflation is impacting upon every part of their life, whether it's at the service station, paying an electricity bill, their rent or their mortgage payments. Mortgage payments have gone up for the average Australian by $24,000 a year after tax. Who can afford this? Who can afford this Labor government for one more day?

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