Cameron Caldwell (Fadden, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I add my congratulations to the new member for Whitlam on her maiden speech. It's a great honour to rise for the first time to address this place and to speak to her constituents that recently elected her. I do so today, not for my first time, but the first time following a general election, where I have the opportunity to genuinely speak in reply to the Governor-General's address last Tuesday. I do so with a deep sense of responsibility to the people of my electorate of Fadden and to the people of the Gold Coast in Queensland, who have entrusted me to be their voice in this chamber.

As we begin the 48th parliament, Australians face a government determined to dress up inaction as progress and spin as strategy. I want to respond directly to the agenda that was outlined by the Governor-General on behalf of the Labor government, because, while the rhetoric was polished, the reality for Australians is anything but.

Let us begin with the issue that weighs most heavily on families, young Australians and retirees alike: housing. The Governor-General declared that homeownership is within reach, thanks to Labor's so-called Homes for Australia plan—a headline commitment of 1.2 million new homes over five years. It sounds impressive, until you realise that the government has no credible plan to meet it. Approvals are down, completions are down and costs broadly are up.

In my own local electorate of Fadden, young couples tell me that they're giving up on the dream of owning a home, not because they don't work hard, not because they are not willing to save, but because Labor's policies are pushing affordability further and further out of reach with every passing financial quarter.

The Help to Buy scheme, offering government equity in private homes, is not a solution; it's a sign of surrender. Instead of addressing the root cause of unaffordable housing—namely, land release delays, excessive regulation and chronic underinvestment in enabling infrastructure—Labor is embedding state dependency into homeownership. We should be unlocking private capital, reducing development bottlenecks and unleashing the construction sector. Instead, we have a government that centralises control while hiding behind targets it knows it won't meet. And let's not forget the build-to-rent scheme, announced with much fanfare but with almost nothing built and little hope of making a real dent in the rental crisis.

The Labor government says it will train more tradies—and that's welcome. But where is the urgency? Where is the national coordination, and where is the recognition that you cannot build homes without workers? You can't attract workers without supporting small businesses, the ones that employ and train them. We, on this side of the House, believe in home ownership as a pillar of social stability and personal empowerment. We see that as your stake in Australia. Unfortunately, the Albanese Labor government now see it as a distant dream that needs to be rationed and managed.

Turning to energy, the Governor-General spoke of 'energy bill relief' and a 'renewable transition', yet, most significantly, electricity prices have surged by 20 per cent in some parts of the country under this government, despite $40 billion in renewables subsidies and endless fanfare over battery programs. Families in my electorate of Fadden and across Australia still struggle to pay their power bills. The government proudly announced its Cheaper Home Batteries Program, but I ask: how many households can actually afford the upfront cost of installing a $15,000 battery, even with a subsidy? For most Australians, this is not relief; it's a rebate for the well off.

Meanwhile, our base load power capacity is shrinking. The Liddell plant has closed, and other power generators are under threat. Labor continues to sideline dispatchable, affordable energy sources that have powered our industries and homes for decades. It is clear that this government is more interested in virtue signalling to international climate conferences than delivering energy that's reliable and affordable for everyday Australians. We should be investing in technology-neutral solutions, including gas, carbon capture and greater grid resilience alongside renewables. Instead, Labor is driving out investment, creating grid instability and condemning Australian industry to higher costs and greater uncertainty. Energy is not just a household expense. It should be a national competitive advantage, but, under this government, it's becoming a national liability.

Let me speak about national security and defence. The Governor-General said this is a time of 'global uncertainty', words which have been mentioned in this chamber many times of late, and I think we all agree. But Labor's record on defence is one of delay, deferral and, quite frankly, underdelivery. The Prime Minister flies to summits and hosts some warm photo opportunities, but, behind the scenes, key procurement projects are stalling and our naval shipbuilding program is under constant review. Critical defence infrastructure is behind schedule. Recruitment numbers are falling, and morale is low. The AUKUS agreement, an initiative born under a coalition government, is being treated as a political trophy by Labor rather than the vital security undertaking that it truly is. We cannot wait until the 2030s for the first submarines to arrive while our adversaries modernise at a much faster pace.

In cybersecurity, our agencies our stretched. In immigration, border integrity is weakening and we've seen illegal boat arrivals. Once stopped, they're now creeping back onto the radar. The coalition has always believed in strong borders and a strong defence force. We do not apologise for prioritising national security, nor will we sit quietly while Labor talks tough but acts slow. We must increase our defence readiness, support our veterans with timely DVA services and invest in sovereign capabilities across missiles, drones, cyber and logistics. National security is not just a media cycle; it's a generational responsibility.

Now, probably the issue that got the most discussion during the last parliament was the cost of living. The Governor-General claimed that inflation is moderating, interest rates are falling and real wages are growing. This, in terms of headlines, comes as news to millions of Australians who are still paying over $4 for a litre of milk, $2.20 for a litre of petrol and thousands a year extra on their mortgage repayments. The government boasted of tax cuts, but let's be clear; these were not really new tax cuts at all. They were a repackaged version of coalition policies, and they do not undo the financial pain caused by Labor's reckless spending and inflationary budgets, and bracket creep continues to penalise aspiration.

This is a government that claims to help families while adding to their burdens—a government that celebrates economic indicators while ignoring economic lived experience by the average Australian. Labor is creating a two-tiered economy—one of bureaucratic subsidies and short-term handouts; the other of small businesses and working Australians who are keeping the country running. It's small businesses like the one that I ran in Hope Island that carry the real weight of economic responsibility. They are the ones that hire the apprentices, sponsor our local footy clubs and keep the lights on during downturns. And what do they get in return? They get higher costs, more red tape and compliance requirements and less support from this government.

Labor says it will ban supermarket price gouging, but, if the government truly wanted to bring prices down, it would start by unleashing supply, especially in agriculture, energy and housing. Instead it gives us taskforces and temporary relief while keeping the same broken policies that caused the crisis.

On education, the government says it will pursue universal early learning and free TAFE. These sound noble, but we must ask: where is the substance and when will it be delivered? Where, more importantly, is the national curriculum review to lift standards in literacy and numeracy? Where is the accountability to ensure funding translates into better outcomes, not just more bureaucracy? The coalition believes in empowering parents and educators, not overloading them with ideological agendas. We want an education system that builds character, rewards excellence and prepares our youth for a life of contribution, not dependence.

And let us be honest about universities. They must be places of learning, not activism. Free speech must be protected, and practical degrees, particularly in teaching, health and engineering, must be supported by real-world placements, not just ideological frameworks.

I wanted to say a word or two about values. The Governor-General spoke of fairness, aspiration and opportunities. These words matter, but under Labor they are being redefined. Fairness is not promising more while delivering less, aspiration is not penalising those who strive hard, and opportunity is not creating a culture of dependency. We on this side of the House believe in freedom—the freedom to work, to speak, to worship and to build. We believe in responsibility—the idea that actions have consequences and that rewards come to those who contribute. And we believe in the family, the first and most important institution in our society. That is why we oppose policies that define Australians by race, class or postcode. We believe in a nation united by common values, not by endless grievance.

This parliament has a choice. It can be a theatre of slogans or a forum of substance. It can rubberstamp more of the same, or it can challenge the direction in which we're heading. At the recent election, whilst the result was not in favour of the coalition, I still believe that Australians expect us to deliver a strong robust opposition to hold this government to account, to ensure that it's delivering on what it says it will deliver and to ensure that we have a strong and enduring democracy. I choose the challenge. I choose to speak up for the people of Fadden and of all around Australia, for the young couple who are priced out of the market, for the pensioner who's, quite frankly, too afraid to open their power bill and for the small businesses who are just trying to stay afloat.

This is not just politics. It's personal. I've lived it. I've built a business, I've raised a family, I've served in local government, and now I serve here with one purpose: to defend the dignity of work, the value of aspiration, the hope of a better tomorrow and the inherent values that we have as Australians.

I will always oppose policies that entrench dependence. I will support policies that lift people up, and I will hold this government to account every step of the way, because Australians deserve better. They deserve a government that doesn't just promise but performs, one that doesn't just talk but actually delivers. I, as always, will be here on this side ready to serve, and we as a coalition will not remain silent.

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