Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I'd like to thank the member for Kennedy for his assistance with this speech!

These places aren't just businesses. They're where our people come together—locals after work, tourists chasing a real taste of local life and mates catching up for a yarn. In the Whitsundays, hospitality is the lifeblood of our economy. People travel from all around the world to sip our fine Australian beer on a beach in paradise. And up in Townsville, our garrison city, there's no-one more deserving of a cold one than our fine men and women from our Australian Defence Force. They train, they serve, they protect our country, and they've earned a frothy at the end of the day.

That's why protecting the affordability of beer isn't just symbolic; it's cultural. It's the Aussie way. Behind every bar in North Queensland—from the Burdekin to Airlie Beach, Mackay to Townsville—there's a hardworking local doing their bit to keep the economy turning. Across Australia, around 176,000 people work in the alcohol and hospitality industries. They are students, parents, part-timers and full-timers, pouring beers, cleaning glasses and greeting guests. They're the heartbeat of our pubs and clubs. When we're talking about freezing the beer excise, we're not just talking about tax policy; we're talking about real people, real jobs and real communities. When a pub shuts down in a small town, it's not just a business that's lost. It's a meeting place, a fundraising venue and a social hub. It's where raffles raise money for the footy club and where stories are told. Pubs define who we are. But here's the rub: if Labor were serious about fixing the problem, they'd call for a comprehensive review of the alcohol excise system. The Nationals also believe this excise relief should be extended to include spirits on tap. It's hard to believe, I know, but not every Australian drinks beer.

We get patchwork fixes from this government that sound good on the news but barely make a dint in reality. This freeze is worth $90 million over the forward estimates—less than two per cent of what the government collects in alcohol taxes each year. Meanwhile, Labor's reckless spending has added $100 billion to our national debt in just three years. Debt is heading for $1.2 trillion by the next election. Every minute, Australians are paying $50,000 interest in debt. That money could be going into regional roads, hospitals and schools.

I don't want to sound like I'm frothing at the mouth here, but Labor's economic policy has gone flat. What we need isn't a quick pour from a tap; it's a full tap reset. We need leadership that's focused on growing the economic pie, not slicing it thinner, because a rising tide lifts all boats, and, in North Queensland, a lot of the ones that are moored are moored outside the pub. The Nationals' plan is simple: stop the spending spree and start growing the economic pie. That's how we will deliver lasting cost-of-living relief.

We believe in backing the people who are making things, growing things and employing Australians, not punishing them with higher taxes and endless red tape. When local businesses thrive, local communities grow. Whether it's a sugar mill, a farm or a small brewery, they all deserve a fair go. When I visit pubs and sporting clubs across Dawson, I see the hardworking people doing it tough, but they still show up with a smile. I see publicans who kept their doors open through COVID, cyclones, staff shortages and rising costs. I see bartenders who know every regular by name. I see families gathering for birthdays and mates catching up after a long week. That's who this bill should be helping, not in a token way but in a tangible, meaningful way, because, in places like Mackay and the Whitsundays, hospitality isn't just an industry. It's part of who we are.

I'll give this government some credit—at least they finally recognised that beer matters. But, when your idea of cost of living is shaving one cent off a pint while inflation eats your pay cheque, that's like offering a stubby cooler for a warm beer. Australians don't need a photo op at a pub by a politician. They need a plan—a plan to tackle inflation, a plan to grow the economy and a plan to back the industries that make this country tick. So, tonight, when we raise our glasses, whether it's Red Dog, Goanna or Great Northern, let's remember what we're really toasting. Let's toast our hospitality workers, the quiet heroes on the weekends. Let's raise a glass to our local brewers, who pour pride into every pint. Let's toast the soldiers, the farmers, the tradies, the nurses and the teachers—the Australians who have earned that knock-off beer the hard way. And let's toast to a better government, one that understands that cost-of-living relief can't be brewed overnight. In North Queensland, we don't just drink beer, we defend it. We know that, when the heat's up, mateship matters. When times are tough, communities rally, and, when there's work to be done, Australians roll up their sleeves and get it done, no excuses. So let's keep our pubs open, our breweries busy and our communities strong. Here's to common sense, and here's to a cold one that we can actually afford. Cheers!

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