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

It is the first State of Origin game tonight, and I am a true Queenslander. It's a clash of the game's greatest. Like any good game, you need a game plan and courage if you're the one that's going to come out on top. It's a bit like this place. On this side of the House you have the mighty Maroons focused and ready to win, while on that side you've got the Blues with most of their bench out injured and still looking for a decent coach. But the Maroons have their game plan: the Prime Minister will have the first carry, with a breakthrough on tax cuts, cheaper fuel and cheaper medicines; the Treasurer will do a cut-out pass and find some savings on the wings; and then it's going back to the PM, who will score under the posts with a fairer deal for first home buyers.

On the other hand, the Blues went into the season opener with higher taxes and then tackled every cost-of-living measure the Maroons could push forward with. The captain of the Blues even said he'd repeal the tax changes, which was ruled a knock-on by the Australian people. We're not even at the end of the first half, and the Maroons are up by 52 seats. The weather's come in, the crowds want more action and they can't get into a home of their own. So what does the captain do? What does the Prime Minister do? He does the left-foot step and scores a try on housing, and in the post-match interview he said he saw the weather, he heard the crowds and he did what any good captain would do—while the Blues ignored the rules, leaving holes in their defence. The Blues are now back in the shed and we'll see if they've got a better— (Time expired)

Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The self-starters of Australia have been betrayed by the Albanese government. We have record small-business insolvencies—eight small-business insolvencies every business hour—a decline in the self-employed and families struggling to make ends meet. Real wages have fallen backwards by three per cent and costs have risen by an average income of $32,000.

Australians are already financially drowning under the Treasurer's active inflation agenda. Any budget tax cut will be wiped out by Christmas. Their business model is 'stoke inflation, tax inflation, then let's just spend the inflation'—wash, rinse, repeat. Young families who have invested their first home deposit are going to experience a double hit. And, of course, the Prime Minister has taken half the ownership of small businesses.

There is a better way. We can build a future where Australians work to create and build a future, and where this country backs them. A coalition government will back the self-starters of Australia. We're committed to a $50,000 instant asset write-off and making it permanent. Our tax-back guarantee will index tax brackets so the silent inflation agenda of this government doesn't steal your salary. And we'll have a small-business act to protect small business in this country from the Prime Minister and this government. We want your help. Go to standwithsmall.org and fight for a better future. (Time expired)