Jamie Chaffey (Parkes, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After last night's budget debacle, hardworking Australians are waking up to the realisation that the harder they work the more this Albanese Labor government takes from them. In this misguided attempt to address intergenerational inequity, they have achieved the complete opposite, and they have managed to do this while delivering another kick to the older generations, who've worked hard, done without, saved, paid off their homes under high interest rates and then been able to invest. This generation has been taxed on its wages, taxed on its savings, taxed on its super, and now it's being absolutely gouged on its investments. This might have been the legacy that they left for the next generation. Now this has all become more difficult, more expensive and less possible.

This budget is kicking Australians when they're down, and no-one knows more or better than the people who represent Australians in local government. Some of my mayors are here today in the gallery—and I'd like to acknowledge Darrell from Narrabri, Marg from Parkes, Kathryn from Warrumbungle shire and Doug from Gilgandra. They are here to try and move past the chaos that is the axing of the Inland Rail north of Parkes in this budget. It's another day, another blow and another absolutely devastating budget from a Labor government.