Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to all questions asked by coalition senators.

The government is presiding over a cost-of-living crisis and the largest decline in living standards across the developed world over the past three years, but you wouldn't know it from listening to those opposite. We had the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher, claim there has been substantial progress made in Australia's economy and the cost of living over the past three years, but the evidence indicates quite the opposite. Just this week, we had Homelessness Australia say that they have seen a 33 per cent increase in the number of Australians who have had to sleep rough over the past two years. We've had the Foodbank hunger report highlight that one-third of Australian households have experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, with one in five households skipping meals or entire days of eating all because of the cost-of-living crisis that this government has presided over.

Unfortunately, the news is not getting any better. Last week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics issued the quarterly inflation figures, which show inflation surging from an annualised rate of 2.1 per cent to 3.2 per cent—outside the Reserve Bank's band. Underpinning that, we've seen electricity prices rise by almost 24 per cent over the past year. We've seen utility prices rise by 14 per cent. We've seen the price of coffee and tea and eggs rise by between 13 and 14 per cent. We've seen rates go up by six per cent. The cost of everything is getting higher.

The consequence of this inflation that is out of control under this government is what we saw from the Reserve Bank just yesterday: the Reserve Bank's decision to hold rates as they are, noting that inflation is 'materially higher than expected' and outside the Reserve Bank's band.

Remember that, just a few months ago, analysts, commentators and forecasters were all expecting there would be further cuts in the cash rate in Australia. The Reserve Bank has now indicated that further interest rate cuts are off the cards. Indeed, many commentators now expect the next move in interest rates to be up. If you're an average mortgage holder in Australia, you are already paying $1,800 more per month, on average, then you did before the Albanese Labor government came to office, and there is no relief in sight.

Before becoming elected, Anthony Albanese promised, 'Life would be cheaper under me.' But the lived experience, the evidence and all the figures since show the exact opposite. We have seen, in Australia, the largest decline in living standards across the developed world. Look at the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which is the club of advanced, developed economies like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Italy, France, Germany and Spain; these are all members of the OECD. Over the past three years, since 2022, their economies have not been great, but their living standards have improved by somewhere in the order of five to seven per cent. Over the past three years in Australia they have gone backwards, the largest decline in the developed world. Why is that? It's because people are paying more taxes under this government because they are being pushed into higher income tax brackets, they are paying more for life essentials because inflation is running so high and they are being hit by higher interest payments. Other central banks around the world have been able to cut interest rates in response to an easing of inflationary pressures, but inflationary pressures here in Australia have not eased, and the Reserve Bank is trying to counteract expansionary government fiscal policy.

I wanted to touch on that because, ultimately, what is causing all this is the government's own prolific spending. In the government's own budget papers, we see that government spending is increasing at a rate four times that of the economy. That is an unsustainable rate of growth. We have government spending at the highest level, as a share of the economy, in 40 years—outside the emergency conditions of the pandemic. Last week we saw gross government reach $970 billion; it is forecast to hit $1 trillion this financial year, a record for Australia. Interest repayments on that debt are running at $50,000 per minute and are now one of the most rapidly growing items in the budget.

What we have got here is government spending fuelling inflationary pressures and starving the private sector of resources, meaning that people are paying more for life's essentials and that interest rates are being held higher than they need to be by the Reserve Bank. Australia's living standards are going backwards, and everyone is feeling it.

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to 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)

Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to 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.

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, it takes a lot of gall to come in here and make the day about homelessness and cost of living by those opposite, and that hollowness was reflected in the answers given by the minister today. That gall is based on hypocrisy. We have a real homelessness problem in this country. It's been growing and it's something that the government is focused on addressing. Five thousand social and affordable homes have been built since 2022. In nine years in government, the opposition built 373. So, when you talk about who's left Australians behind on homelessness, who's left Australians out in the cold, it's those opposite.

We have invested 20 times more than the coalition in social and affordable housing, and that's in spite of the impediments put in this place by the Liberals and the Greens last year, when they blocked our housing policies again and again until we finally got them through. Twenty-five thousand social and affordable homes are now in construction and planning, so don't tell us we've left Australians behind. We are working very hard to get Australians off the streets, and any help would be much appreciated.

Then we had a lecture on interest rates and inflation, and it's interesting to see, whenever the RBA delivers a report, the two styles the coalition adopt in this particular chamber. When the RBA does something like holding the interest rate steady, they come in here like storm crows and lecture us about the problems of inflation. When the RBA reduces interest rates, as it has done a number of times since we've taken office, there is a deafening silence from those opposite.

In March 2022, interest rates were at 5.1 per cent and rising. They peaked in December 2022 at 7.8 per cent, and since then the trajectory has been downwards. It's at 3.2 per cent today. That trajectory has not necessarily been perfectly linear, but its overall trend is down, and what that does is it takes one piece of pressure off household budgets—because we know the cost of living in this country is informed by three things. It's informed by the prices people pay for goods and services, it's informed by the wages that they earn and it's informed by the support government provides.

We've not only reduced inflationary pressure in this country but also increased the wages that Australians are earning. We've increased the minimum wage in this country multiple times, so people on the minimum wage are tens of thousands of dollars a year better off. These are the people on the downside of advantage. We've finally had not large but some real wage growth, which means wages outpace inflation. It means the actual money in people's pockets is going up, and that's vital to take pressure off household budgets.

Finally, the government has shown a consistent willingness to invest in support for people through government measures, and they're measures that those opposite always criticise. They describe it as profligate spending when it's to help people who are doing it tough in Australia, and then they come in here and lecture us about people being left behind. We're talking about energy bill relief, which they opposed before they supported. We're talking about lifting bulk-billing availability across the country. We're talking about Medicare urgent care clinics so you can get in to see a doctor without having any out-of-pocket expenses. We're also talking about the longer term measures to improve the financial position of Australians in retirement. We're talking about increasing the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent. We've expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks, and now super is being paid on all government paid parental leave. These are things that have been opposed by the coalition. We cut student debt by 20 per cent, and we've kept the price of medicines at $25 or less per script.

When you take a big step back on all of this, and you look at the picture of those three things, this is a government that has made advancements in each of those areas. It's not to say there isn't more work to do; of course there is, and the government's got an ambitious agenda in that regard. But it would be easier to get that work done if those measures were not opposed in this chamber. It would be easier to get that work done if those opposite didn't come in here and take points against the government, while opposing the very measures they purport to support. This is a government that has reduced inflation, increased real wages and provided cost-of-living relief. That is something that supports all Australians.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What have we seen here at question time? What has been revealed to us in this chamber, to the Australian public, once again is that the Albanese government has a problem with the truth. But the one truth is this: Labor lies. Whatever the topic, be it the cost of living, housing, energy or the economy, we don't hear facts from Labor; we only hear falsehoods. Beware of catchphrases like 'cost-of-living relief' when they throw a dixer at themselves: 'What are we doing to deliver cost-of-living relief?' They're always in delivery mode because they never seem to get there. What we don't get is honesty from this government. Instead, we get fantasy, we get evasion and we get obfuscation from this government. But Australians aren't mugs. Australians have got a pretty good radar for BS. Let me touch on a few of the issues and cut through Labor's spin and sensationalism—through their deceit and distortion.

On cost-of-living relief, today we've heard Senator Wong talk about tax cuts and bulk-billing, and how this is supposed to contribute towards cost-of-living relief. Perhaps the government should have a read of the Foodbankhunger report 2025. Perhaps, when it comes to homelessness, they'd want to understand that homelessness has in fact increased 33 per cent over the last two years. While they claim they might be delivering in terms of homelessness, in fact it's on the increase on the watch of this Albanese Labor government. We are experiencing severe food insecurity in our country. Listen to what Foodbank Darwin manager, Jack Barrett had to say in an ABC online article:

"Food insecurity comes in all shapes and forms," he said.

"Often, it means making different nutritional choices to suit your budget—or skipping meals even, from time to time."

"In many cases, it's parents that will sacrifice for their children."

He said the Darwin hub had been kept busy, especially over the past year, as families struggled to make ends meet and keep food on the table.

"Interestingly—

This is the kicker—

60 per cent of all households that utilise a Foodbank do have some kind of employment," Mr Barrett said.

I don't know if the government has bothered to read this report, but it also suggests that their so-called cost-of-living relief measures are failing, because what the data is telling us is really concerning. The cost-of-living measures that the federal government tried to provide didn't affect what people were putting on the table. It may have helped to offset other costs, but the truth of the matter is that it didn't translate to food on the table.

This idea that they're providing housing for the Australian people is more falsehood. I'll go to the Northern Territory. Every Australian, especially young Australians, deserves a fair shot at owning a home, not to be shut out by terrible policy and soaring costs. In the Territory, it's terrible. Labor's supposed to support first home buyers, but they're locking them out of the Northern Territory under their home guarantee scheme. There are no guarantees. It's not making housing cheaper, especially when they'll push up prices and dump $60 billion of burden on the taxpayer.

They've capped homes in Darwin at $600,000, despite the fact that median prices are now topping $660,000. This is the fastest-growing rate in the nation. The Northern Territory treasurer, the Property Council and local builders all say the cap needs to be raised, but is this government listening? No. The cost-of-living pressures in the Northern Territory are, of course, getting worse and worse. This government is not really interested in addressing these problems, just as they're not interested in being transparent. It is our job as the coalition and as the opposition to call out their failures and hold them to account for the fact they are making the lives of Australians harder, not easier, in this country, and we will not stop calling them out over this.

Question agreed to.