Melissa McIntosh
Lindsay · Liberal Party · Australia
“The working homeless are one of our country's most worrying trends. When a working mother escapes violence only to trade fear inside her home for fear inside a parked car with her children, we should all be asking how Australia has come to this.”
“They told me they have women living in cars while waiting for transitional accommodation, women that are working jobs, women trying to keep their children safe and women doing everything right yet unable to secure a rental property because the market is simply too tight.”
“In my own electorate of Lindsay, the number of people sleeping rough in the Penrith local government area has increased by over 30 per cent in just one year. For every person counted sleeping rough, there are many more living in cars, couch surfing or remaining in unsafe situations because they simply have nowhere else to go.”
“More than four million Australians live in poverty, rents have soared, childcare costs continue to rise, and homeownership is slipping further out of reach. Mortgage arrears have risen by 6.8 per cent over the past year, while credit card arrears among Gen Z have surged by almost 29 per cent.”
“OzHarvest's latest frontline report reveals more than 350,000 people are seeking food relief every month, while more than 74,000 are being turned away because services cannot keep up with demand.”
“It cuts me to the core to hear the Penrith Women's Health Centre say that around 10 per cent of their clients are now working homeless. These are women fleeing violence, often with little more than the clothes on their back. Last year alone, the centre supported 750 women escaping violence in their homes.”
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“The coalition will always support measures that strengthen the integrity of the NDIS and protect participants. But what we see now is deeply concerning. A report by the ACCC earlier this year found that providers are advertising services clearly not covered by the NDIS—all-inclusive holidays, flights, cruises, dining out and even the cost of ingredients for meals. We are seeing participants being sold equipment that does not match what they were promised, with wheelchairs, beds and mobility aids arriving faulty or unsuitable to their needs, leaving participants fighting for refunds or repairs. Some contracts are stacked against participants from the start, with excessive exit fees, cancellation penalties and long lock-in periods. These practices cause real harm—financial harm, emotional harm.”
“That goes too far. A correspondence nominee is there to assist not decide. If that line is blurred, it risks removing agency from the very people the NDIS is meant to empower. People who put trusted supporters around them should not lose their voice because of unclear drafting. Decisions as fundamental as whether someone remains in the scheme must stay with the participant. That principle matters. That is why the coalition moved an amendment in the Senate to make it clear that these decisions must remain with a participant or their plan nominee. I thank the government for supporting this practical and important amendment to protect participants. At the end of the day, this is about a person's agency, dignity and choice, and that broader point goes to the heart of this debate.”
“We support giving the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission stronger powers, including banning powers, to act against providers delivering poor-quality or unsafe products, because participant safety must always come first. But powers on paper mean little without boots on the ground. The commission must be properly resourced so participants and workers are not left exposed while enforcement is delayed. We support the introduction of a 90-day cooling-off period, because participants should have greater choice and control. During the Senate inquiry into this bill, the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations pointed to a loophole in schedule 2 section 29A. In practice, this loophole would have allowed a correspondence nominee to withdraw a participant from the scheme or cancel a withdrawal, even against the participant's wishes.”
“Above all, they deserve a timeline that is realistic and holds up under the weight of practice. Let me be clear, the coalition supports the intent of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026. We support stronger protections for NDIS participants. We support tougher civil and criminal penalties for providers who do the wrong thing—including penalties of up to 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to around $3.3 million—because any provider who exploits a person with disability or misuses taxpayer funds must face serious consequences. There is no excuse for that kind of behaviour, and there is no place for it in the NDIS. We also support the introduction of antipromotion orders because providers should not be advertising or selling services outside the purpose of the scheme.”
“By August 2025, the Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme suggested even tighter limits, aiming for a range of five to six per cent. With current growth still sitting at around 10 per cent, a significant gap remains between the government's promises and reality on the ground. This brings us to the elephant in the room. How exactly does the government plan to bridge that gap? What we have seen is costs being shifted around, like with the Thriving Kids program. Shifting numbers on a page and in a spreadsheet is not the same as fixing the problem. For a scheme of this size, now approaching $50 billion a year and forecast to be $60 billion a year by 2028, Australians deserve more than just promises. They deserve a clear road map, evidence based policy and transparent reporting.”
“Built to support around 410,000 people, it is now supporting more than 760,000. This growth raises a serious question: how do we ensure the system keeps pace without falling over? For the NDIS to continue delivering support, it must be sustainable. If the scheme is not sustainable, it cannot be there for the people who rely on it most, not just today but into the future. All this points to the urgent need for a clear government plan to bring the exploding costs of the NDIS back under control before the system becomes entirely unsustainable. Despite this urgency, the government's own targets have remained elusive. In April 2023, the Albanese government pledged to bring annual growth down to eight per cent.”
“Every day, thousands of Australian families rely on the NDIS. For Australians living with significant and permanent disability, it provides not just support but opportunity. It is a therapy session that can change a child's trajectory. It is a support that keeps a loved one safe at home. It is the difference between coping and not. For these families, the NDIS is not a line item in a budget. It is deeply personal. It is what holds their world together. It is a lifeline. It is the difference between a life of isolation and a life of choice. That is exactly why the coalition's support for the NDIS remains steadfast. We understand that the NDIS is about more than service delivery. It is about dignity, independence and the right to choose. It is one of the most significant reforms in our nation's history. But the NDIS is now at a crossroads.”
“It's a wonderful reminder that our differences are often something to celebrate and not to hide. It's what makes communities richer, kinder and more vibrant. There was a lot of kindness on the day around the Nepean River, and it was particularly special because it was also in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day, understanding the importance of inclusion and opportunity and carrying on that very important message and ensuring that people right across our community, especially in times like this, feel loved and needed.”
“I rise to speak about something very positive, warm and wonderful in my community of Lindsay. The Nepean River gets used for many causes. We walk the six to seven kays around the river. The other week it was for the Get Down for Down Syndrome Walk, and it was beautiful. There was so much love and family atmosphere and cuddles. It was a fantastic splash of colour—blue and yellow socks. I tried to wear socks with my high heels. I didn't get very far, but it's a really great campaign. It's all about fun, but it's also about inclusion and ensuring that people across my community do feel included. The colourful socks have a simple, meaningful definition that socks come in all shapes and sizes and designs just like people, and each one is different. That's exactly what makes them special.”
“Australians are asking, 'Where is the government?' From where they're standing, it feels like no-one is in charge. This isn't just a fuel issue; it is a cost-of-living crisis and it is supercharged. The country is running on empty, literally. Labor's response, instead of fixing the problem, is to have a tsar, because apparently when the energy minister fails you don't solve the crisis; you rename it and move it on to someone else. You rebrand it and you outsource it. The appointment of this tsar is a glowing, flashing neon sign that says, 'The energy minister is not doing his job.' We have a government scrambling.”
“What do they call empty bowsers, soaring prices and Australians lining up just to get to work? Out in the real world, it looks very much like an emergency. Carol, who owns the historic Nepean Belle , told me her suppliers are now adding extra charges just to cover their fuel costs, while at the same time her own diesel bill has doubled. She's been hit twice—a double whammy, as she calls it. Shane, a hardworking local, told me he paid $150 just to fill up his car. Now he's questioning whether he can even get to work. Ricky, a truck driver, put it plainly: 'Diesel is over 319c per litre. If trucks stop then so will our nation.' Sam has been tracking prices day by day, watching them climb not weekly but daily, locking in one price only to see it jump dramatically within 24 hours and then again the next day.”
“E10 is averaging $2.47, 98 unleaded is higher, getting towards $3, and diesel is up over $3 a litre. These prices aren't stabilising; they are skyrocketing, rising by around 10c per litre every single day. This is not normal. This is not a cycle. This is an absolute crisis. It took the minister for energy kicking and screaming to declare this, to actually notice this. Last week, he was saying there was nothing to see here. While Australians are queuing for fuel, what is the government saying? Minister Catherine King says, 'We've got plenty of fuel in this country.' Minister Claire O'Neil insists we have the fuel circulating in the economy that we need. The energy minister, Chris Bowen, declared that a national fuel emergency is not really on the agenda. Not on the agenda? So what do they call this?”
“How do you create a fuel crisis in a country that exports energy? How do you take one of the most resource-rich nations and push it to the point where everyday Australians are wondering if they can get to work today, tomorrow and the next day? Well, the Albanese Labor government's managed to do that. They've managed to achieve what no Australian wants. As of yesterday, more than 500 petrol stations were dry, and I think there are more because I'm hearing multiple reports in my community alone of petrol stations have run out of fuel. They're not low. They're not limited. They're completely empty. Along Mulgoa Road, one of the busiest corridors in my electorate of Lindsay, nearly every single petrol station was either out of diesel or out of fuel altogether last night. What are they paying?”
“It is measured by how firmly you stand when families are breaking, and right now Australia needs leadership that understands not just what things cost but what those costs are doing to people's lives.”
“Leadership is about stepping into the storm we're facing now and saying, 'We will not let Australians face this alone.' Leadership is recognising that, when 3.7 million Australians, including 750,000 children, are living below the poverty line, this is not a tight month but a national emergency; leadership is understanding that, when people are cutting back not on luxuries but on movement, connection and opportunity, something deeper is going on; and leadership is acting with urgency equal to the scale of the crisis. When we are in a crisis, we feel powerless because the government isn't showing leadership. We can choose to act. We can choose to lead. The government's just not doing it. National leadership is not measured by how loudly you speak at the dispatch box, with all your theatrics, to push away the reality of the crisis.”
“Is it watching mortgage stress climb to levels we have not seen in decades, where families are cutting back just to afford the basics, including getting to work? Is it watching families fall into food insecurity in one of the wealthiest nations on earth while the cost of simply moving through daily life keeps rising? Is it watching parents choose between groceries and petrol, rent and medical bills and putting food on the table? No. No, that is not leadership.”
“This is where the pressure shifts from costs to something deeper. When the cost of fuel rises, life begins to contract. For many Australians, especially in Western Sydney, there is no alternative. Nearly half of people rely on a private vehicle to get to work. A car is not a convenience; it is a necessity. That means that when transport costs rise too far, too fast, families are pushed into what experts are calling 'transport poverty'—spending more than 10 per cent of their income just to move through daily life. When that happens, the consequences ripple outward: longer commutes, less-reliable access to work, greater risk of job instability. Opportunities narrow. Pressure builds. So I ask again: what is national leadership?”
“Drivers are pulling into servos to find empty bowsers, taped-off pumps, handwritten notes apologising for shortages. Behaviour is shifting. People are driving less, going out, less seeing family and friends less. Confidence is tightening. The national mood is under strain. These are people like Adam, who relies on petrol for workshop work and diesel to keep his delivery vehicles moving. If fuel rationing comes in, it won't just hurt; it will directly affect his ability to operate and serve his customers. And they are people like Carol from Glenmore Park, who told me: 'We are receiving emails from suppliers adding an extra 3½ per cent to cover their diesel. Our own diesel bill has also doubled, so it's a double whammy.' These are not outliers. These are not the exceptions. This is the lived reality of Australians right now.”
“And it isn't telling parliament we are a long way from a fuel emergency when, for many Australians, that emergency has arrived. Right now, across Australia, families are asking, 'Where is the leadership we were promised?' Parents are skipping meals so children don't have to. Workers are juggling two or three jobs and still falling behind. Families who once donated to food drives are now relying on them. Worried children are wondering whether their parents can keep a roof over their heads. This is not abstract. This is not theoretical. This is real. This is a lived reality that Australians are facing every single day. Across Australia, petrol is pushing well above $2.50 a litre and diesel even higher. But in some suburbs the price isn't even the worst part.”
“What is national leadership? It certainly isn't what the member opposite was just prescribing to this House. Is it the courage to confront a crisis before it becomes a catastrophe—what we're seeing right now? Is it the responsibility to act when families are breaking under pressures they did not create? Is it the willingness to see that Australians are barely holding on by their fingertips? Yes, that is leadership. Do you know what isn't leadership? It isn't saying, 'Fuel supply remains strong,' as the minister for energy, Chris Bowen, has said, while Australians are pulling into servos to find empty pumps. It isn't insisting that Australia's fuel supply is secure while families are driving from suburb to suburb just to find petrol.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Shane from Penrith told me: 'The way things are going, I won't be able to afford to go to work. It's either pay the bills and starve or eat and not pay the bills.' Minister, when will the government take action to ensure that fuel gets to where it needs to go so that Australians like Shane don't have to choose between eating and driving. And why won't the minister commit to daily updates of individual service stations that have run out of fuel?”
“For that reason, while the coalition will support this bill in the House we believe it must be subject to further scrutiny through a Senate inquiry. This inquiry must investigate the spiralling out-of-pocket healthcare costs being overseen by this government, which this bill will not address. It is time for the Prime Minister to stop waving around his Medicare card and start addressing the rising affordability issues facing Australian patients because of his government's economic mismanagement. Debate adjourned.”
“I paid for it by targeting private health insurance.' Whether it is stranding older Australians in hospital, allowing out-of-pocket costs to soar or standing by as private health insurance premiums surge, Labor has proven time and again it is determined to erode the choice, quality and affordability Australians deserve from their healthcare system. Australians deserve choice, quality and timely access to health care. The coalition support greater transparency and a strong private health system because we know that leads to better outcomes for our public hospitals and all Australian patients. However, changes to the regulation of private health insurance and specialists must be carefully examined to avoid unintended consequences for consumers, patients and the broader health system.”
“We delivered the lowest annual premium change in two decades and the increases were progressively getting smaller. Under Labor, that trend has reversed. Premiums are now rising at the fastest rate in almost a decade. This is incredibly disappointing but unsurprising when you look at Labor's record on private health. Australians remember that Labor cut the private health insurance rebate—a move that continues to hurt the affordability of private health insurance for millions of families. Who can forget former Labor health minister Tanya Plibersek proudly saying at a press conference: 'Every promise I made, I paid for. How did I pay for it?”
“These issues should be carefully examined through a Senate inquiry, because this doesn't just impact Australians' hip pockets. If Australians are forced to drop or downgrade their private health insurance or if they delay accessing health care, it will inevitably worsen already-rising hospital wait times. It will add further pressure to elective surgery waitlists, and it will place additional strain on hospitals already dealing with serious bed-block issues caused by the Albanese government. The coalition is proud of its record in ensuring we have a strong private health system working alongside our public hospitals. The former coalition government was successful in bringing private health insurance premium increases under control.”
“While this seems reasonable, and improving transparency is a worthwhile objective, several issues require careful examination through a committee process. These include: the concerns raised by specialists, colleges and peak medical bodies about unintended consequences; concerns raised by private health insurers about the government overreach and prevention of innovative new products from being launched; the lack of information about what data will be captured by the bill, how it will be displayed and the timeliness of that information; and the broader drivers of rising out-of-pocket costs. Most importantly, the government must recognise that, while increased transparency is a good thing, transparency alone will not address the spiralling out-of-pocket costs Australians are facing under Labor when they see a doctor.”
“Once again, we see the real impact of Labor's broken promises on Australian families. The Prime Minister waved around his Medicare card and told Australians it would be free to see a doctor. In reality, Australians are now facing the highest out-of-pocket costs to see a doctor on record, and those costs are only predicted to keep rising. Australians are seeing their cost-of-living, out-of-pocket healthcare costs and private health insurance premiums all rising under Labor. They are being forced to avoid accessing critical health care because of it, and this is a serious issue that the coalition is concerned will not be addressed by this bill. The proposed amendments will allow the government to publish fee information on the Medical Costs Finder by using Medicare, hospital, and insurer billing data already held by government.”
“Australian families are now having to choose between seeing a doctor and paying the bills. This is a choice that no family should ever be forced to make. On top of these pressures, the Albanese Labor government has now quietly imposed another cost increase on the 15 million Australians who rely on private health insurance, with premiums set to rise by 4.41 per cent during this cost-of-living crisis. This is the largest private health insurance premium rise in eight years and above the rate of inflation. At a time when household budgets are already under enormous pressure, this premium increase is another hit families simply cannot afford. At the worst possible time, Labor is slugging Australians with higher private health insurance premiums while families are already struggling to pay their bills.”
“Not only has the out-of-pocket cost to see a GP skyrocketed to more than $50 under this government—the highest level on record—but out-of-pocket costs for specialist appointments are also spiralling out of control. According to the government's own most recent Medicare data, for specialist attendances the bulk-billing rate is 28.2 per cent, with an average out-of-pocket cost of $123.48. For anaesthetists the bulk-billing rate is just 8.7 per cent, with an average out-of-pocket cost of $244.99. This is forcing Australians to make the difficult decision to avoid seeing a doctor, because they simply cannot afford it. Research conducted last year by Redbridge found that around 30 per cent of people who were referred to a medical specialist over the past three years did not attend because of concerns about cost.”
“Importantly, the private health system relieves pressure on our public hospitals, something that could not be more critical right now, when we are seeing record levels of ambulance ramping and increasing waiting times at hospitals right across the country. That is why reforms in this area must be approached carefully, to avoid unintended consequences. This debate is also occurring at a time when Australians are facing rising healthcare costs under Labor. The coalition recognises that high out-of-pocket costs for specialists are a major concern for many Australians, particularly as families struggle with the rising unaffordability of health care under this government. Labor's reckless spending and economic mismanagement are pushing up costs across the board, and health care is another victim of that.”
“This change seeks to address the risk of product phoenixing, where an existing insurance product can be closed and then an identical or similar new product opened at a higher premium, skirting the requirement for premium change approval. The coalition supports the concept of ensuring greater transparency in healthcare pricing and the need to help consumers make informed decisions about their health care. We also support sensible measures to ensure that Australians obtain better value from private health insurance. However, reforms in this area must be considered carefully. Australia's private health system plays a critical role in supporting our public hospitals. The two systems work hand in hand to ensure that all Australians have access to the health care they need.”
“First, it introduces transparency by default, with amendments to allow the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to publish information on the Medical Costs Finder about the medical fees charged by medical practitioners, including specialists and general practitioners, and the likely out-of-pocket costs patients will face through their private healthcare experience. The second change contained in this bill focuses on regulating private health insurance premiums. It requires insurers to seek ministerial premium approval for new products and existing products where certain changes are proposed. The change broadly aligns with the current process for premium changes for existing products, whilst expanding ministerial oversight of premium setting for new private health insurance products.”
“I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Improving Choice and Transparency for Private Health Consumers) Bill 2026. At the outset, I want to make the coalition's position clear. The coalition will not stand in the way of this bill passing the House. However, given the potential implications of these changes for our private health system, the coalition believes the legislation requires careful scrutiny through a Senate inquiry. This bill makes two key changes to Australia's private health system.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. New South Wales premier Chris Minns has just said in the New South Wales parliament in relation to fuel supply: … demand management procedures are required—that might be rationing … it should be a nationally consistent approach. Does the minister agree?”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. I refer to your previous answer where you said that shipments carrying vital fuel were cancelled over a period of time. When were you notified that the first shipment was cancelled?”
“We will also start to see another worrying consequence of soaring fuel prices: the rise of fuel theft. We will see this not just at petrol stations, where drivers fail to pay, but also from trucks and equipment at construction sites. For businesses already struggling with rising costs, this is yet another hit they simply can't afford. Right now, families are hurting. Small businesses are under pressure. Under this Albanese Labor government, the pain at the petrol pump and across the country is very real.”
“For years, Aaron offered free call-outs and investigations to help customers understand their plumbing issues before committing to a job, but he told me he can no longer afford to do that. The cost of simply getting a truck to a home has become too high. One of his suppliers has doubled their delivery fee overnight, from $15 to $30. Aaron now has no choice but to pass some of those costs on. And who ultimately pays the price? Hardworking mums and dads who are already struggling with their own rising household bills. A Western Sydney transport company has advised their fuel supplier has begun rationing fuel. If they need 10,000 litres they may only receive 2,000. Since last Sunday the cost of fuel has risen by 70c a litre, with another 16c added just yesterday.”
“When petrol prices surge, it hits household budgets immediately. But the impact of rising costs does not stop at the petrol pump. It flows through every part of the local economy, pushing up prices for everyday Australians. Local business NRS Security has told me that with fuel prices skyrocketing, the cost of running patrol vehicles is becoming unsustainable. If fuel prices keep rising, they'll be forced to scale back vehicle patrols simply to survive. That means increased risk for local businesses already doing it tough. It is another example of how rising costs ripple out and affect entire communities. Small trade businesses are feeling the same pressure. Local plumber Aaron has three service trucks on the road. Because of rising fuel prices and fuel shortages, he's already taken one off.”
“How much more can Australian families and small businesses take? Across my electorate of Lindsay and throughout Western Sydney, the message I hear every single day is that people are at breaking point. Families who work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules are watching the cost of living spiral further out of reach under this Albanese Labor government. Western Sydney is the engine room of our economy. It is home to millions of Australians, hundreds of thousands of families and nearly a third of businesses in New South Wales. Yet, it is also where the cost-of-living crisis is hitting hardest. Unlike in the inner city, people in Western Sydney rely on their cars. Parents drive to work, to school drop-offs, to sport on the weekend and to multiple jobs just to make ends meet.”
“They need a government that understands that fuel is not just about transport; it's about tradies getting to work, it's about trucks delivering materials and it's about families. It keeps our economy moving. And, right now, too many businesses in Lindsay feel like the government has left them completely stranded at the bowser.”
“When fuel costs surge businesses try to absorb the shock, but they can only absorb so much. Suppliers start passing on higher delivery costs. One local supplier doubled its delivery fee overnight from $15 to $30. Materials become more expensive. And, by day 10, the ending writes itself. You've lost another small business—not because they lacked grit, not because they lacked customers and not because they lacked determination, but because they were trying to operate in an environment where prices are so volatile, supply is uncertain and government leadership is missing. That is why fuel security matters. And it stops with the Albanese government. Western Sydney businesses do not need another disaster movie.”
“When fuel prices spike and supply becomes uncertain, the pressure compounds. Drivers spend longer on the road, navigating congestion, detouring between service stations and trying to secure fuel to keep their patrols running. What should be a quick response to an alarm call-out becomes a longer, more expensive trip. When you multiply that across 14 vehicles, operating night after night, the costs and the delays add up quickly. For businesses like Gina's, that lost time means higher operating costs, tighter margins and harder choices about how many vehicles can remain on the road. When fuel becomes expensive and difficult to secure, every extra hour on the road becomes another hit to the bottom line. Day seven: crush margins, until small businesses have nowhere left to turn.”
“Imagine trying to run a fleet of trucks when you don't know whether you'll have the fuel needed to keep them on the road. How can you run major infrastructure projects when there is so much uncertainty? No fuel means no deliveries, and no deliveries means no business, and no business means no jobs. Day five: add an hour to every job, because traffic is crawling and fuel stations are running dry. Time is money, and, for small businesses, every extra kilometre driven and every extra minute spent on the road adds to the cost of doing business. In my electorate of Lindsay, Gina runs Nepean Regional Security with a fleet of 14 patrol vehicles. Around 70 per cent of her services depend on those vehicles being on the road, responding to alarms, patrolling public amenities and recreational spaces, and protecting businesses across the community.”
“Fast-forward to day three: let fuel supply uncertainty creep into the system, because the problem isn't just price; it is supply. Despite claims that there is plenty of fuel in the country, we are hearing reports of wholesalers rationing petrol and diesel. Transport operators are being told they cannot access their normal bulk fuel supplies. Some have been forced to buy fuel at retail prices instead. Regional petrol stations, relied upon by transporters and farmers, have reportedly run dry in recent days. In Western Sydney, I've heard from a local transport company operating around 20 trucks, 12 hours per day, on major infrastructure projects right across Sydney. Their fuel supplier has introduced rationing. If they need 10,000 litres of diesel, they may be able to access only two.”
“Small businesses rely on it. Families rely on it. When fuel prices spike, everything else follows. The groceries on supermarket shelves cost more to transport. Building materials for homes become more expensive. The price of a plumber turning up at your door goes up. In my electorate of Lindsay I spoke with Aaron, a local plumber who runs three trucks across our region. Like many small trades, his business used to offer free call-outs and investigations, because he wants to help his customers. But he simply can't afford to do that anymore. Fuel costs have forced him to take one of those trucks off the road. When the price at the bowser rises, the service van disappears. When the service van disappears, the customer pays more. And that's just day one.”
“If Hollywood made a sequel to How to Lose a Guy in 10 D ays I love that movie—it wouldn't be a romantic comedy; it would be a disaster movie called 'How to Lose a Small Business in 10 Days', written and directed by and starring the Albanese Labor government. The hero up against it all would be Australian small businesses—hardworking tradies, transport operators, family businesses. They get up before dawn and keep our communities going. And the villain in this story? I'll give you a hint. He had the top billing in question time today. But, as with any good blockbuster, we need a story, so let's walk through the plot. Day one: make fuel so expensive that running a small business becomes a gamble. In Western Sydney, fuel isn't optional; it is the engine of the economy. Tradies rely on it. Transport companies rely on it.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Plumbers, transport and security businesses in my electorate of Lindsay say their businesses are being impacted by fuel shortages. Aaron of Penrith City Plumbing Services has a fleet of three trucks but has had to take one of those trucks off the road due to fuel shortages. Can the minister assure Aaron there are no fuel shortages in Western Sydney?”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. On Labor's cost-of-living crisis, my constituent Brett told me, 'There is no money left after our mortgage, bills and groceries are paid for,' while Russell told me: 'Things are out of control. Power, insurance and food have doubled. I can't keep up.' Does the Prime Minister accept responsibility for the impact his decisions are having on lowering the living standards of Australians?”
“When the Prime Minister stands here and says he's very positive when he insists his government is doing the lot while Australians endure the worst collapse in living standards in the developed world, that is speak no evil—refusing to speak the truth. This is not just a cost-of-living crisis; it is a crisis of confidence, of aspiration, of the Australian dream, and still nothing to see here. Edmund Burke warned that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. The opposition will not do nothing. We will not look away. We will not pretend Australians have never had it so good when they are going backwards. We see the pressure, we hear the warnings and we are standing up for Australians while the government does the lot in sending our great nation backwards.”
“The Prime Minister keeps telling Australians he's very positive about the economy and that his government is doing the lot on the cost of living. If doing the lot means delivering lower living standards, more debt and higher inflation then Labor would be telling the truth, but they aren't even doing that. It's all smoke and mirrors from this 'nothing to see here' Labor government—nothing to see in Australian families not being able to afford a home, nothing to see in Australian families being forced to the financial brink. This is a government that sees no evil. People are afraid. They are telling us they have nothing left and they feel trapped, but Labor hears no evil.”