Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to 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?

Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's right—$275; we're still waiting.

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

We're still waiting, after being promised that bill relief nearly 100 times. Well, I can tell you, Member for Casey, families in my electorate—from Drouin to Warragul, Moe to Leongatha and Wonthaggi to Phillip Island—are telling me that they're having to make some really hard choices right now, between buying food to put on the table and being able to pay a bill on time.

Patrick Gorman (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wait until you see what Angus Taylor did to energy prices.

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

I appreciate the minister's interjection, because I'll take it. Under this government that he is a part of, energy bills are going up and belts are being tightened but this government is spending $500,000 a minute in repaying debt the rest of us are having to foot.

I want to give a shout-out to educational support staff, who, on very modest wages, are doing an extraordinary job in many schools across my electorate. They are really stepping up. Under the Victorian Labor government we've got overcrowded classrooms. There are many challenges that young people and students are facing. Those educational support staff are passionate about their jobs, and they are committed to helping the young people that they work with.

On that note, I want to acknowledge the joint winners of the South Gippsland Shire Young Citizen of the Year award, Erica Begg and Rhiannon Rawlins, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few weeks back in Meeniyan. They've shown outstanding leadership, dedication and community spirit right across the South Gippsland Shire. They are both known for their volunteering spirit and their outstanding leadership. Rhiannon is at Korumburra Secondary College. They're both doing incredibly important work. I think they're leaders of the future. I am so impressed and so proud to represent them and all young people across the Monash electorate, who I will continue to work my heart out for because we live in the best region in the best country on earth.