Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This matter goes to the very heart of fairness—fairness for everyday Australians, fairness for families doing their best and fairness for the workers who quite literally keep this country moving. The Albanese government has been clear from day one. Our focus is simple—to build an economy that works for people, not the other way around. That means standing up when markets fail, stepping in when big corporations overreach and making sure Australians are never taken for granted. Across this country, from our major ports to the smallest rural towns, there is a workforce that never stops: transport workers, truckies, logistics operators—the people behind the wheel at all hours of the day and night, connecting communities, delivering goods and keeping shelves stocked. These workers are not just part of the economy; they are the backbone of it, and they deserve our protection. They deserve fairness in pricing, fairness in conditions and a system that does not allow them to be squeezed while others profit. When price gouging occurs in fuel markets, it does not just hurt motorists in the suburbs; it flows through the entire supply chain.

That is why legislation like this, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 and the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026, is important. Supply chains are the lifeblood of the nation, and when they come under pressure like this because of global uncertainty they need good government to step up. They ensure food reaches our tables, medicine reaches our hospitals and goods reach every corner of this country. When those chains are strained and when transport is not supported, everything slows, everything costs more and everything becomes harder. Let us be clear. If truckies cannot afford to keep moving, food does not get delivered. If fuel prices are manipulated, regional communities feel it first and worst. If supply chains stall, the economy does not just stumble; it risks grinding to a halt. I'm sure no-one in this House and no Australian out there wants to see that happen.

I've seen the impact on the transport workforce firsthand through my time working alongside the Transport Workers' Union of Australia and, more broadly, over more than 22 years in the transport industry. When you support truck drivers, warehouse workers and those on the frontline of our supply chains, you understand just how quickly things like unfair fuel prices and unfair market behaviour hit their livelihoods. These are workers already operating long hours, on tight margins and with immense responsibility. So legislation like this is practical protection, ensuring that people who keep Australia moving are not the ones paying the price for corporate misconduct, which should never be tolerated by any government that claims to stand for fairness. That is why we are putting petrol companies on notice. We will not cop big corporates treating Australian consumers like mugs. We will not accept behaviour that undermines trust, distorts markets and drives up the cost of living.

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 is a clear statement of intent. It doubles penalties for false or misleading conduct and for cartel behaviour to a maximum of $100 million per offence. Our job is to act in the best interests of Australians, and that is what we are doing here today. We know people are doing it tough. We know it's a hard slog. These bills are our work to improve the lives of everyone in this country.

I want to say to those opposite: when times are tough, when crises are on our shores, there is a time for real leadership in this place. That's why we've been elected. We need to stand up as one collective force in this place at this time for our country and ensure that our truckies are treated with respect and dignity and that our system is not taken advantage of. It is reprehensible that those opposite continue to politicise this crisis. It is time for the Leader of the Opposition to stand up and show some leadership on this very issue and stop politicising it. We need to act as one. We need to act in the best interests of every single Australian. It is time to support these bills.

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