Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

That was an interesting contribution. I probably have a slightly different perspective on some of those areas, but let's just look at the core areas that were raised during question time by those opposite. They started off with housing and housing supply, with a series of questions from Senator Bragg. Then we went to energy policy, to industry development and to environment laws. What I find quite interesting is that these are four core areas that the government and our good colleagues opposite have been arguing about for many a decade.

Casting my mind back to 2021, we were building up towards the 2022 election. Everyone was putting forward offerings to the people of Australia: Who should you vote for? What is the kind of country you want to live in? What is it that you believe? How are you going to cast your vote here? I think the people of Australia looked at that.

Let's just take the four areas raised today in question time. On housing supply, quite clearly the coalition were in government for 10 years, and, for those 10 years, they neglected housing. You can't turn around the supply of housing in a year or even one term. You're talking about significant structural change to get the housing supply that we need in this country to ensure that people have choices, that we protect renters, that we provide opportunities and support for people to purchase their own homes and that supply is there for people in need, people who need social housing and supports. But, no, a decade of neglect has meant that we are where we are now, and we saw that the Labor government was elected in 2022 by the people who had a look back over 10 years and went, 'Hell, no!' That's where we stand now. When we came to 2025 and the same propositions were put, the people of this country had a long, hard look at the coalition and their offerings and, once again, said, 'Hell, no!' And who could blame them?

It's not just housing. Other issues were raised today, such as energy policies. They had 23 different energy policies over that period over time. They couldn't decide which way they were going and what they were going to do, and now all we see on our televisions at night and on the front page of every newspaper around the country is how divided, confused and uncertain they really are. They have no clue where they're going and no clue what they're offering the country. It's no wonder nobody wants to vote for you.

Then we move on to industry development. Since the Albanese Labor government have come to this side of the chamber and have been in charge, we have made huge strides in industry, bringing back a sense of pride in our country to build things here, build jobs, support people and improve our training and education system so that our young people have opportunities for good jobs and can see a rosy future. When those opposite were in charge, what happened to industry? What about the car industry, anybody? Has anybody ever heard of the car industry? We used to have one—but not anymore.

Then we go on to the other area that was raised today in question time, and that's environmental law. There are those of us who have been engaged on that issue for some considerable time. What we saw, as in each of those other areas that we've been talking about today, was absolutely shocking and woeful neglect. And now we stand here with a bill that has been introduced, the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, which will turn around the neglect of the environment, actually help business and the environment and give clarity to those wishing to build housing et cetera, while also making sure we draw a hard line about what our environment should look like and what we will not tolerate.

I would say to you that today's question time was entertaining. Absolutely not those over there— (Time expired)