Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australians don't need to be told something is wrong with the economy. They feel it every single day. The reality is simple: the economy is weak, fuel supplies aren't guaranteed, and families across this country are hurting. Energy security, once something Australians could rely on, is now a growing concern. When fuel supplies are uncertain, it doesn't just affect transport; it hits agriculture, freight and the very backbone of our economy. Without reliable and affordable energy, productivity suffers, and prices go up. It's that simple.

Let me give a real world example from a pineapple farm in Yeppoon. Normally, this farm relies on 1,500 litres of fuel each week. Right now, it has been rationed to just 1,000 litres—only 60 per cent of what it needs. In the short term, there's a small buffer, but, if this rationing continues for two weeks, pineapple-farming operations will stop. The farm will still pick fruit, but it won't plant new crops, and that means, in two years time, there will be no fruit to harvest. That's not just a supply issue; that's an economic warning sign. While these pressures mount, Australians are asking where the plan is and where the leadership to strengthen our economy, secure our energy future and provide real relief is. We need practical solutions that support households, back small businesses and ensure that essential supplies like fuel are stable and affordable, because, right now, too many Australians feel like they're being left behind. Our focus must be on delivering for the people we represent, not ignoring the reality they face. Australians deserve better. They deserve an economy that works for them not against them.