Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australians, having listened to today's question time and the answers given to questions asked by coalition senators, would have the right to feel as though this is a building that's not really listening to them. I should know; I work in here. The only job for a government is to put Australia and Australians first, and 'Australia first' means that everything we do every single day in this building must serve Australia's interests first and foremost.

But what does that mean in real terms? It means that our government's duty is to its citizens—our workers, our farmers, our communities—not to foreign interests and not to the government's friends in the global elites that it's trying to cosy up to. This government is like the parent that takes their neighbour's kids to Dreamworld when their own kids need food and clothes. There's nothing these people love more than rubbing shoulders with the European elites and listening to their think tank speeches. By way of example, I give you the current energy policy and the reckless rush to net zero emissions, driven by the UN and their climate mandates, whose ideology has crippled our energy grid. While the swamp here in Canberra seems very concerned about climate change, climate targets, our UN obligations and so on, most Aussies just want to see their power bills reduced. Any government that puts Australia first would harness our abundant coal, gas and uranium to deliver cheap power, which would in turn ensure our industries thrive and households are not left in the dark.

The second limb to Australia first is our borders, which are, of course, the bedrock of a sovereign nation. This government's immigration policies have thrown the gates open. An Australia-first policy would cap migration at sustainable levels. It would prioritise skilled workers where they're needed—people who share our values. It would strengthen our borders to protect our sovereignty.

Third, we have the bloated foreign aid budget. The question has to be asked—and it's not asked often enough in this place. Why are we pumping money into other nations when there are upwards of 300,000 to 400,000 Australians living homeless on our streets? Why are we doing that? In 2025-26, Australians will deliver just over $5 billion in the Official Development Assistance fund, three-quarters of which is going to be spent in the Indo-Pacific, much of it on global climate initiatives, while Australia's regional hospitals and schools struggle for funding. An Australia-first government would redirect those funds to build our infrastructure, support our farmers and ensure that our defence focuses on simply protecting our shores.

Fourth, we actually need an economy that works for Australians. Our acquiescence to globalisation has gutted manufacturing in this country, leaving us dependent on foreign supply chains. The free trade obsession and failure to protect local industries has cost jobs. An Australia-first economy would incentivise local production, protect our sectors—steel, agriculture and the like—and bring back jobs for our workers, not just for the profits of multinational corporations.

Finally and often overlooked, an Australia-first government would be protecting free speech. It's the lifeblood of a free country and it's in a perilous position in 2025—I would say as perilous a position as it has ever been in this nation. The reality of this is that, without a proper set of protections for free speech in this country—and I'm not just talking about digital rights; I'm talking about across the board, with the incursions throughout all aspects. You name it; it's being clamped down on. Without it, there is no ability for Australians in this country to challenge what's going on in this building, to challenge the global elites and their friends in the mainstream media who continue to push these censorious policies.

An Australia-first movement would defend Australians' right to speak freely, ensuring that no-one is silenced, regardless their views. An Australia-first government which was grounded in these five principles would restore our sovereignty, protect our borders, prioritise our security, rebuild our economy and defend our free speech, because that is what it means to be Australia first.