Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Australians, we live in the greatest country in the world, and I'm lucky enough to live in the best place in this incredible country: South Australia. Last week I had the pleasure of visiting South Australia's Mid North, travelling to the regional towns of Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Clare. These towns are small, but they are the lifeblood of South Australia's economy and a critical cog in the engine of the national economy, with grain production, livestock, viticulture, mining, manufacturing, transport, logistics, tourism and so much more. Resilience often defines them but so does belief in a fair go, and that is not what they are feeling. The message to me, to this parliament and to the Albanese Labor government was clear: Labor's poor economic risk management is being felt deeply. People are reaching further into their pockets and working harder for less. Indeed, in question time today, the Labor Party told us today that wages had grown 3.4 per cent—noting that latest inflation figures hit 3.8 per cent. South Australia's gross state product for 2024-25 had grown only one per cent. The battle to get ahead, well, it's clear it's not for those Australians but it's not clear, clearly, for this government.

Along with the cost of everything going up under Labor, so too is the number of new insolvencies in South Australia. Insolvency increased year on year from 245 in 2022 to 691 in 2025. The numbers do not lie. It is an economic disgrace and the reality follows that fewer employers result in fewer employees, less competition, less choice for South Australians, so stop ignoring it. Large- and small-business owners said they worry about the ever-increasing costs, more red tape and challenges of fewer people wanting to work on terms that suit their operations yet they forge on under Labor's failing economic plan.

Labor talks about flexibility but the reality is that it is not always workable, with more employees working fewer hours to make up a full shift means higher costs and more administration, making profit less achievable and reward for hard work harder. Aged-care costs, access to services, ageing infrastructure in need of investment and workforce issues were raised so often that it leaves you wondering: 'Labor, who are you listening to?' South Australia now has the highest average hourly rate for personal care in the nation at $113, and it costs more under Labor.

Since Labor's aged-care reforms took effect in 2025, older Australians have faced price increases of up to 40 per cent for some basic services. Advertised fees have included $180 an hour for a shower, $290 for a gardening and $320 for a registered nurse. Older Australians are being forced to make unreasonable choices: Can I afford a shower? Can I afford nutritious food or that medical appointment or that allied health response? These are terrible choices for already vulnerable people.

Aged-care package provision is worse under Labor. As of 31 December 2025, more than 131,000 older Australians were waiting for a Support at Home package. That is resounding demand and unmet need for better services or, in some cases, any service at all. Instead, Labor—state and federally—is prioritising sporting events, high-speed rail and it is funding programs with little evidence or demonstration of outcomes that have improved.

At the other end of the live spectrum, one of the best visits I had on that trip was seeing a partnership between the Adelaide Crows and Workskill Australia through the Kuwa Circles Program, empowering young locals to pursue STEM through mentoring workshops and job-ready training. In Port Augusta there were 13 graduates, with some choosing not to go to graduation because they were at their new jobs. I applaud you for choosing work over welfare and I wish you well on your workforce journey. I thank workers at Iron Duke mine, aged-care providers right across the mid-north, Umeewarra Media, Bungala Aboriginal Corporation, regional business in Port Augusta and Regional Development Australia for taking the time to speak to me and for your honesty about where you are at.

The coalition is focused on protecting our way of life and restoring living standards. We will continue focusing on ensuring our regions get the investment, attention and respect they deserve because a stronger regional Australia means a stronger Australia.