Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australians are struggling to afford Easter this year under this Labor government. We enter this fuel crisis in the worst economic position when compared to our peers. Australians have suffered the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world. This is not the Australia that I know and love. Inflation is higher than in every other major advanced economy, and the Labor Treasurer has stated that a five per cent rise in inflation would now be a conservative estimate.

We are, according to economists, also staring down the barrel of stagflation—stagnant economic growth and high inflation leading to high unemployment. Fourteen interest rate rises have happened under Prime Minister Albanese. That's more than under Rudd, under Gillard, under Abbott, under Turnbull and under Morrison combined. That's five PMs. That is a gross failure of this Albanese Labor government. Debt is racing towards a trillion dollars while government spending is it at its highest rate in history and getting higher. Australians are paying more and getting less.

The coalition is fighting for all Australians, not just those in a union. This week, we forced this Labor government to axe the fuel tax. It is welcome relief for Australians struggling to afford Easter this year, but now Labor needs to work out how they will pay for it. We in the coalition offered solutions, but this is a government without a plan. And I tell you what, they're looking like characters of The Hollowmen right now, looking for the headline to the title of their next big announcement, but they're all totally hollow within. Only the coalition will restore Australians' standard of living and protect our way of life.