Madonna Jarrett (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The No. 1 priority of this Labor government is cost of living, which is why, since being elected, we have taken significant steps to help people out. From tax cuts to $25 scripts to energy bill relief to seeing a GP for free, we're helping ease cost of living. Now, while a war rages overseas, we are seeing prices at the petrol pump go up, and, if we listened to the other side during question time, you would swear that this government was completely oblivious to that and doing nothing. But nothing could be further from the truth. Again, we, this Labor government, are stepping in to help with unexpected hip-pocket hits.

Today we halved the fuel excise for three months. We're cracking down on grifters who are trying to rip people off by price gouging. We're legislating higher penalties for petrol companies that do the wrong thing, up to a maximum of $100 million per offence. And we've given the ACCC more powers in terms of price monitoring and the ability to issue on-the-spot fines. No-one wants to see consumers hit in the hip pocket by someone who thinks they can make a quick buck, because who loses out when that happens? Everyone—every person who might be dropping their kids off at school or running a business and trying to keep the door open. The conflict overseas shouldn't be seen as an excuse to profit off Australians. The new laws are for the people of Brisbane and beyond, and my message to the servos is: don't take advantage. Don't treat my community and other Australians like mugs. Do the right thing. It is so un-Australian to price-gouge.

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