Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to raise my community's voice in our nation's parliament, and I have the honour to serve my community, the community my family has lived in since 1953, and to ensure that I am a strong local voice fighting for our region, from the suburbs to the valley, the hills and all of the outer east. When I'm out speaking with locals, visiting community groups and hearing from small business owners, I know and they know that we live in a beautiful part of Australia. Just like them, I want our region to remain the best place to live, to work, to invest in a local business, to raise a family and to enjoy your retirement. But I know the past few years haven't been easy. Household budgets are being stretched to cover rising housing costs, insurance, child care and groceries. Families and small businesses are paying more for electricity and gas, and local roads and telecommunications are not keeping up. As we move forward into 2026, my focus remains on being a strong local voice for our region. I'll continue to advocate for cost-of-living relief, cheaper power bills, safer local roads, stronger emergency resilience and reliable telecommunications. Together, we'll keep working to make our community stronger.

A strong economy is a key pillar for a strong community. In the economics committee recently, I asked a question on behalf of a local directly to the Reserve Bank governor, Michele Bullock, as part of the hearing. The Lilydale local was Matt, and he wanted to know: how is the government spending affecting the economy, and has it contributed to the rate rise? The RBA governor said:

Government spending is part of total spending and total aggregate demand in the economy. … that's contributing to inflationary pressures. That's why we've decided to raise interest rates …

This statement by the RBA governor completely contradicts the spin from Treasurer Chalmers. For our local community, it's not just economic theory. It's about real people, real families and real small businesses who are seeing their cost of living rising because the government refuses to show spending restraint. The RBA confirmed that the Albanese Labor government spending is contributing to interest rate rises, and, while local families and small businesses are having to manage their own household and business budgets, the Treasurer and Labor cannot manage their own budget, and it's Australians that pay the price. Local residents like Matt from Lilydale deserve to know why their interest rates have gone up, why they are paying more on their mortgage and why cost-of-living pressures continue to worsen. The Treasurer thinks he can spin his way out of inflation, but the reality is that he cannot, and it's the Australian people who continue to pay for his failures.

It's not only mortgages that are up; rents are up by 22 per cent, insurance premiums have risen by 39 per cent, food is 16 per cent more expensive, healthcare costs are up 17 per cent and families are paying up to 40 per cent more just to keep the lights on. The increasing cost of living is by far the single biggest challenge facing families. What we're going to see now is a Treasurer trying to spin his way out of this and blaming overseas factors, but the community in Casey and all across the country know that the pressure they are under happened well before conflict in the Middle East and the failures sit squarely with the Prime Minister and Treasurer of this country.

Australians have suffered the largest decline in living standards compared to any other nation in the developed world. It's because of the poor decisions of Prime Minister Albanese and his Labor government that Australian families are left paying the price for his cost-of-living crisis. The truth is that Australians are working harder, paying more and getting less under this government. I want to hear directly from Casey locals about how they're going and the relief that they need here in Canberra. That's why I've launched my household budget survey. I want them to let me know how the cost of living is impacting them—is it higher interest rates, higher childcare costs or higher electricity bills?—to best represent them and our community. It's so important that I hear about the issues that matter to them.

Every Australian deserves access to affordable housing, whether it be buying a home or being able to rent a place of your own. When I speak to young Australians, it is devastating to see that so many have almost given up on the idea of buying a home. They see that not enough houses are being built and prices for existing stock keep climbing, and renters are paying 22 per cent more. Interest rates have increased, and mortgage holders are paying more as well. House prices increased by around $23,000 in the September 2025 quarter alone. Labor is failing to hit its own housing target, with recent data showing the government fell 15,000 homes short of its own goal. I know that affordable housing is a challenge for so many in our community, and I'll continue to advocate for real action on housing to ease the pressure on renters and homebuyers and increase supply of housing in our community. If you listen to the minister for housing, it feels like she thinks that the job's done and she's solved the challenge. But that's not what the Australian people are feeling.

Not only do locals in Casey want to own a home; they also want to access health care when they need it. I was proud that our local campaign for a Medicare urgent care clinic to be established in the Yarra Ranges was successful. A new bulk-billing Medicare urgent care clinic opened in December, located at Access Health and Inspiro, at 17 Clarke Street in Lilydale. The clinic is open for extended hours. I'd like to thank the many local residents who signed my petition and joined our campaign for better local health care. I was proud to be your voice here in parliament and advocate for better access to health in our community and make a commitment at the election for an urgent care clinic in my community. I'm glad the government chose to follow the lead and match my commitment. It is good to see that we can make a difference as good local members. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so I'm glad the minister for health chose to copy my announcement.

The clinic in Lilydale will help residents of the Yarra Ranges receive urgent care close to home and help to reduce pressure on our closest emergency departments. While a clinic in Lilydale is a step forward, families in the rural parts of our community are still left travelling long distances to access health care. Together, we'll keep pushing for better local health care, and I'll keep being a strong local voice for all in our region.

Unfortunately, our community has one of the highest rates of youth mental health challenges in Victoria, and more needs to be done, especially since the government heartlessly shut down the Lilydale Youth Hub. We need to increase the capacity at Lilydale headspace and make it a full-time service for the Yarra Ranges. Please add your voice to our local campaign for better youth mental health support, and I won't stop working until our community receives the healthcare services that it needs and deserves.

It is crucial that we have reliable phone and internet communications, particularly during emergencies. I have lived firsthand our local telecommunications challenges during weather events, like the June storms and the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. I'm proud that the Liberals improved local network capabilities by investing in phone towers in East Warburton, in Steels Creek, in Reefton, in Mount Evelyn, in McMahons Creek, in Silvan, in Menzies Creek and two in Chum Creek. I'm focused on advocating for a reliable communications network that keeps us safe and keeps us connected every day, including in times of emergency.

Where we live, emergency preparedness is not optional; it is essential. We know that prepared communities recover faster and stay stronger, and I am proud that I helped to deliver $10 million to Yarra Ranges Council to implement the Resilient Yarra Ranges program, which has improved our local disaster resilience by upgrading community buildings with solar, generators and plug-in points. This includes resilience upgrades on facilities in Monbulk, Olinda, Healesville, Montrose, Dixons Creek, Warburton, Mooroolbark, Mount Evelyn, Upwey and Kilsyth. I will continue to advocate for stronger emergency resilience right across our community to ensure that we are prepared for natural disasters.

A key part of emergency preparedness is first-class road infrastructure. It is 2026, and my community is rightly asking what is happening with the Maroondah Highway and Killara Road upgrade. The former federal Liberal government secured $20 million to upgrade this busy intersection back in 2019, and we've been waiting on the Victorian state Labor government to deliver the project ever since. I have continuously followed up this project with both the federal and state Labor ministers for infrastructure and the Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety—to no avail. Our community was told pre-works and community consultation would occur in 2024, with construction to follow in 2025. I stand here now, in March 2026, and demand that the government step in until their Victorian colleagues to get on with the job at Killara Road. Residents in my community who use this intersection daily, including local CFA brigades turning out to emergencies, are fed up with being stuck in traffic and seeing near misses at this dangerous intersection. With the new estate now complete in Coldstream, the added traffic has increased the urgency for this upgrade. It's time that federal Labor told Victorian Labor to get on with it and upgrade this intersection.

One of the reasons upgraded roads are needed is to prevent accidents; however, when accidents happen, we need to support those impacted. This government talk a big game when it comes to supporting people; however, the reality is very different from their spin. Recent funding cuts to community based and peer-led support models are impacting disability advocacy networks. Brain Injury Matters is an advocacy and community education organisation run by and for people with acquired brain injury. I recently met with Casey local Ross Greenhorn, someone I was lucky enough to grow up with in Yarra Glen. Ross explained how these cuts are impacting him. Disability advocacy networks and groups have reported that there are significant delays with new supports, which means that organisations like Brain Injury Matters are facing the possibility of closure or a reduction in supports available for the community. This is causing an uncomfortable level of uncertainty for participants like Ross, impacting social, mental and physical health outcomes. These are vital supports to help individuals and families after traumatic events have changed their lives, and they must be supported. And thank you, Ross, for having the courage to share your story. It was great to see you, and I look forward to continuing to support you on your journey.

The federal government has a core responsibility to keep Australians safe. It is disappointing to see cuts to our defence capability in one of the most globally uncertain times our nation has seen. I'm proud that the coalition has committed to increasing defence spending to three per cent of GDP, up from two per cent under the current government. The government's two per cent does not meet the strategic environment that we face. We have been warned that what we are currently spending to keep our nation safe is not adequate, and it is time those opposite heed those warnings.

On the topic of defence and veterans, I wish to take the opportunity to publicly condemn recent comments by US president Donald Trump about our service men and women who served overseas with US forces. Many constituents in Casey, including Deane, have contacted me to express their disappointment. This was deeply offensive to our Aussie diggers and all allied troops who fought overseas, many paying the ultimate sacrifice. Those who pull on a uniform to serve their country and allies deserve our respect and gratitude, and I'll always stand up for and support our veterans.

As we're seeing right now, we live in dangerous times, and we need to support the ADF and make sure they have the equipment that they need to keep our country safe.

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