Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

Before the member for Eden-Monaro leaves the chamber, I refer to her last contribution. In the past, with disasters in my area and in previous times, we have worked very closely together. Where credit is due, I will certainly give the member that credit. However, your last speech was rank with hypocrisy in saying we were looking at ourselves—looking backwards, not looking forward.

What was the last question in question time about? Was it about the interest rate rise that will cause the majority of households to pay another $1,300 a year? No, it wasn't about that. Was it about the housing crisis? No, it wasn't about that. Was it about the fact that electricity prices have gone up 38 per cent? No. Was it about gas going up 42 per cent? No? What was the question about? Was it about the economy? Was it about how people are suffering? No. It was about why standing orders were suspended. All they wanted to do was talk about what's happening in this bubble. They didn't want to talk about what's happening to people on the ground. The point of that is that it was completely political. The last question in question time—the show people want to watch to hear answers to questions from those across this side—was deliberate and political and had nothing to do with people because you don't care. The government doesn't care. It was complete spin. It was a very deliberate question, to take the shine and the spotlight away from a failing Treasurer and a failing government and a failing economy.

What we see is that that will continue. We see the unlucky No. 13. This is the 13th rate rise since this government came into power—$1,300 a year. These are normal people who are being affected. In my electorate, we don't have the highest mortgages. But with this interest rate rise—and I've already spoken to people in my electorate—people are now deciding whether they pay for food or whether they pay for pharmaceuticals. These are business owners. These are farmers, pensioners, students and people going to university who are deciding whether to buy food or going-back-to-school supplies.

It's no wonder that we have the highest insolvency rate of businesses in 35 years—35 years! But it's 'business as usual, and we'll ask a political question for the last question of question time.' We are going to see over the next decade a sea of red, of deficits, because of the policies and ideology of this government. They will continue along with net zero, and damn the cost for ideology. That is why you have seen the increases in the price of electricity. That is why you've seen the increases in the supermarket—because of input costs. That is why you have seen the biggest insolvencies in 35 years. And that is a shame. That is a shame for Australia, but it is shame on this government.

You talk about the policies, but you don't go out and consult. You make the decisions in your backrooms and then you turn around and point at us when we say we can't agree with that, because it's not our ideology and, from what our people are telling us, it doesn't work. You say you represent rural people. Well, I certainly don't see you representing them in here.

The government needs to take stock, the Treasurer needs to take responsibility and this Prime Minister needs to own up to it.

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