Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you want to understand the human cost of Labor's policy failure, stand on the steps of the Neighbourhood Hub. This isn't just a community centre; it's a triage unit for a society in crisis. This amazing service provides emergency relief when the cupboard is bare, financial coaching when the debt becomes too much and a food program that puts good-quality, nutritious food into a hungry child's hand. Sadly, the harsh reality confronting the staff at the hub is that the number of people in need has doubled, and there is no end in sight. In 2022, total enquiries at the hub sat at 8,000. Last year, this surged to over 16,000. Already, in the opening weeks of 2026, more than 3,000 families have come through the door seeking help. The emergency relief statistics are equally confronting. In 2022, the hub averaged 21 requests a week. Today, that has escalated to 44—all happening on this government's watch. Shame, Labor. Shame.

The most haunting proof that we are in a national catastrophe is that the human face of the disaster has shifted. It is no longer just those in chronic hardship seeking help. The general manager reports that they are now seeing nurses, tradies and working parents standing in the charity line for the first time in their lives. For the average working family, the savings are exhausted because the cost of everything is going up. The conversation at the hub is singular and brutal: do I fill the tank, or do I feed my kids? When fuel prices climb, grocery prices follow, and our families are caught in the deadly crossfire. Then there is energy, and we know that energy is the economy. The Albanese government and Minister Bowen boast about cheaper renewables, but these hollow slogans are making electricity prices even more expensive. Every single person knows that electricity prices have gone through the roof. While this government protects its image, the Neighbourhood Hub protects lives.

When the average Aussie is forced into a charity queue, the promise of a great life in this lucky country is evaporating due to this inept government. Those struggling to make ends meet aren't asking for a miracle; they are asking for the basic dignity of a roof, a meal and a future they can afford. We need to push this Labor government to protect Australia's way of life and to restore the standard of living that Australians deserve.