Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Hansard source

Labor is failing. Labor is failing Australians. It's failing on energy. It's failing on the economy and it's failing our next generation. Energy prices are up 32 per cent. We were told that, when the wind blew and then the sun shone, everything was going to be for free. You're paying 32 per cent more. When it comes to the economy, government spending is growing four times the rate of the growth of the economy. That means that, for each of you in the gallery today, by the time question time concludes, you'll owe more money by the time you walk out than when you walked in.

For the next generation, when we left office, there were 428,000 apprentices and trainees in the system. Today there are a hundred thousand less. Shame! The coalition is united and fighting for all Australians. It's united in fighting Labor. It's united, and, under the coalition, we will deliver cheaper energy, a stronger economy and a brighter future for the next generation of all Australians.

In conclusion I want to acknowledge my mother, who's sitting in the gallery today, Veronica. She's 82, has travelled all the way down from Boonah and just had a cup of tea with the Speaker. I love you, Mum. Thank you for making the effort to come down.

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