Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

This is consistent with what we're seeing from ministers in this government. We've also seen the Treasurer ditch his responsibility to admit to the Australian people that he should be taking responsibility for this most recent interest rate rise. Labor have presided over the biggest collapse in living standards in the developed world. This government's inability to rein in its spending means that, now, Australian families and Australian small businesses have to. The government know that their spending was directly impacting inflation, but they don't care. This is not a global trend, because, while other countries are seeing inflation return to pre-COVID levels, we are the outlier. And we've seen, as I've said, the 13th rate rise under this government.

The member for Casey mentioned that the first step in fixing a problem is acknowledging that there is one, and that is what we are calling for today as the opposition. This government needs to sit up and acknowledge that it is the problem. Its reckless spending over the last 3½ years has contributed to the situation that we're in. I think that we in this place should be subject to the same levels of fiscal constraint that we expect of the people we govern. If this place can't do that and if this government can't do that, then we are disrespecting the people who have put us here. We're disrespecting the small businesses and disrespecting our constituents. This government should be stronger and better than that, because Australians deserve better and the people in my electorate of McPherson deserve better.

When I go and speak to small businesses across McPherson on the southern Gold Coast, they tell me about the real effects they are feeling of the decisions that are being made in this place. They're telling me about the increases in what they're spending to lease their venues. They're talking to me about the difficulties that they've got in the industrial relations space. They're talking to me about the impacts of interest rates on their family homes. These are real and genuine concerns. For those opposite to just sit there and call things out, not take note and listen, is disrespectful.

This is all because Labor can't show budget restraint. Those opposite may not share the values that we do, but what they should do is take into account where they are sending this country and where they are sending the people in this country. They need to stand up for them—for small businesses—rein in expenditure and get this economy back under control.

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