Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Herbert's speech in this place was interesting. This morning the opposition got up, they got out of bed and they decided that they'd try and be a little bit tricky. They decided that they would try on some more politics in this place—and they've got form. The last time we were in this chamber, we saw them talking to the Australian people irresponsibly and using a crisis in the Middle East for their own political advantage.

All that the opposition found out today is that this government, the Albanese Labor government, is dead serious. We are dead serious about tackling the cost of living. We are dead serious about making sure that the Australian people get the relief that they need not just at the bowser but also on their grocery bills and on their medical costs. That is what we focus on every single day in this place. This House is here to act in the best interests of everyday Australians. This House is here to act in the national interest. This House is here to step in when people need that help. We take that responsibility incredibly seriously.

Right now, people are doing it tough. Right now, when people pull up to that bowser they're worried about the impact it will have on their hip pocket. We need to do something about that, and we need to do something about that now. That is what the government is focused on. That is what the government is doing when it comes to these two bills before us here today. What Australians need now is not talk. What Australians need now is not politicking from those across the chamber. What Australians need now is action, and that is what the Albanese Labor government is doing.

There are two key pieces of legislation that we are talking about today. The first bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026, is about doubling penalties. No-one should be taking advantage, on a commercial basis, of people who are struggling to put fuel in their cars. The first bill gives effect to what the Treasurer and the assistant minister announced on 11 March—to double the ACCC's enforcement penalties, including for false and misleading conduct and for cartel behaviour, to a maximum of $100 million per offence. The second bill, the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026, gives truckies a fair go and makes sure that our truck drivers aren't disadvantaged by a significant issue in our community. Our road transport industry is vital to keeping our nation moving and to keeping our economy running—and that's what the second bill does. Without trucks and without their drivers, the movement of essential supplies across Australia stops—and we can't have that. We need to look after our drivers. We need to give them a fair go.

Both these bills take the next step in our laser-like focus on the cost of living. They take the next step in making sure we are taking action so that mums and dads and families are not taken down by a crisis in the Middle East. We've already increased supply by releasing 20 per cent of our reserves—reserves that are now held in this country because of a Labor government and reserves that couldn't have been released if we were under a coalition government, with their reserves being kept in Texas. We've temporarily amended the fuel standards to release more supply, and we are leading a taskforce bringing together people from across the country, bringing together experts and bringing together leaders so that there can be a coordinated response to give Australians the relief they need.

A crisis in the Middle East should never be exploited for commercial gain and should never be exploited for political gain. The Albanese Labor government is acting for Australians.

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