Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) | Hansard source

Well, today it's seven years since I first started in the Senate—seven-year anniversary. It is an enormous privilege to come and represent the great state of Queensland and, of course, be in the Senate for all Australians. I came here because I wanted to make Australia, Queensland and my community a better place. I wanted to ensure that my children had the same quality of life that I did—the ability to get a well-paid job, to start a business, to take a risk and to do well. And yet here I stand, after seven years, horrified to tell you that, after four years of an Albanese Labor government, we are worse off. The Australian standard of living is back to 2011 levels. Indeed, the wage increases that have been promised for today will not outstrip inflation. That is the direct result of this government's out-of-control spending.

In our budget in reply, we talked through what we would do differently, but, unfortunately, the Albanese Labor government is the government, and whether it be the attacks on capital gains and negative gearing, which the Prime Minister on 50 occasions promised he wouldn't touch, whether it be the result of inflation and higher costs of living or whether it be the direct response by the RBA to increase interest rates—because that's their mandate,—at every turn Australians are worse off and doing it tougher under this Labor government.

I'm ashamed because I came here to make Australia a better place and not be a part of what's happening under Labor. I stand here firmly believing that our mission is more important today than it was seven years ago, and I'll continue to fight for Australia.