Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am proud to represent a region that grows, makes and manufactures things—from the Latrobe Valley to West Gippsland and the Bass Coast through to South Gippsland and the southernmost point of mainland Australia. Our region contributes 23 per cent of the nation's milk output, 26 per cent of Victoria's beef production and over 60 per cent of Melbourne's water, and through the Latrobe Valley power stations we still produce well over 60 per cent of Victoria's baseload electricity. People in my electorate spend long hours on their feet, from retail shops through to manufacturing businesses, and they work with their hands in farms and shopfronts, making and producing things that the rest of our country relies on.

When my electorate of Monash does well, the rest of our state succeeds and our country thrives, but right now people in my community are telling me they've never done it tougher. Families tell me it's never been harder to raise a family. Businesses tell me they've never worked longer and faced more risk and red tape for less reward. Young people tell me it's just too hard to get ahead. That dream of homeownership is getting further and further away under this federal government. I want to talk about the cost of living because the economy is central to being able to maintain our standard of living, maintain our global competitiveness as a nation and give young people their best shot at a strong, secure and stable future.

Regional communities are facing structural challenges across many fronts, with greater distances between services. I've spoken a number of times over the last fortnight on digital connectivity and mobile blackspots in my electorate. Those difficulties are getting harder, more immense and less serviceable under this government. Housing is a huge issue for many people in my electorate, from families to young people. Rental vacancies remain tight. Young people who grew up locally are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing, let alone save for a deposit for their own home. When supply is limited, even modest increases in demand can push prices well beyond what local wages can sustain. Energy costs are a huge burden. Under this government we've seen—Member for Casey, is it $275 in bill relief?

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