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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“Economists across the country—people with decades of experience, formal qualifications and real-world economic expertise—have been absolutely clear that the government must rein in spending to bring inflation under control. But what has been the Albanese Labor government's response? It's been to ignore the advice, the good advice, that would get this country back on track. According to the Albanese Labor government, every qualified economist who has worked in the field for years and years is wrong and the only person to listen to is the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, who has no formal qualifications in finance and has never worked a day in the field. This is the type of arrogance that is costing Australians deeply.”
“For many, the great Australian aspiration, that great Australian dream, of owning a home feels increasingly out of reach and out of step with the harsh reality that is facing them. Small businesses are under extraordinary pressure. Rising energy costs, higher rents, increased insurance premiums and reduced consumer spending are forcing business owners to make difficult choices, and this goes right across the spectrum. You can walk down High Street in Penrith and speak to a cafe owner, and they say the same thing as a manufacturer in heavy industry manufacturing: whether it's high power prices, the cost of having staff or higher rents, it is putting so many good long-term businesses out of business. They're shutting their doors. These pressures demand disciplined economic management.”
“The prospect of another interest rate rise—we're merely hours away now—will fall hardest on working families who are already dedicating a significant share of their income to keeping a roof over their heads. They are not reckless borrowers; they are everyday Australians. They're teachers, they're health workers, they're tradies, and they're small-business owners. They are people who are contributing to our economy and to our community. Renters are also facing this grim reality. Rents have increased, vacancy rates remain extremely low, and families are being pushed further from their workplaces, schools and home towns. Young Australians are losing confidence that homeownership will be within reach.”
“People are being forced to make decisions that they did not anticipate. The choice of whether to put food on the table or to put the lights or heating on is real. It's not just politicians saying these things, because that's what's happening in our communities. My community was told by this Labor government that the increases would be temporary, and they're seeing it now. They were also promised many things, including that their electricity bills would go down. The hard work of my community to manage their budgets has successfully been undone by a Labor government that has consistently overspent. Around one in three households in the electorate of Lindsay are mortgage holders.”
“We talk about how much things have increased—whether it's housing, electricity, rent, new dwellings, meat and seafood or fruit and vegetables—and, when we talk about food, the increase in food prices is something that really concerns me, particularly when it comes to food security. I think every community across the country has people lining up at food banks like they never have before. This is putting pressure on not only people experiencing homelessness but double-income families. They just can't afford the increases in food prices. You can't skip eating, you can't skip paying your power bill, and you can't skip your mortgage repayments. This is exactly why inflation is hitting people in my community so hard, and, by the looks of it, if interest rates go up today, it's going to hit people even more.”
“Every day, the people of Lindsay, in my community, are feeling the very real, growing impact of the failure of the Albanese Labor government to get the cost of living under control. I hear from families, small businesses—sadly, too many small businesses are closing—and renters and mortgage holders across my electorate who tell me they don't know how much more they can take. For the community of Lindsay, the cost-of-living crisis is no longer something that's temporary. It's not just a phase; it is relentless and it is entrenched. The latest inflation figures tell the story. Australia's annual CPI rose 3.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2025, which is higher than expected. It's broad based and it's hitting the essentials people in Lindsay simply cannot do without.”
“At the same time, we will continue to scrutinise implementation details carefully to ensure patient safety, system efficiency and workforce sustainability are maintained. We look forward to further clarity arising through the committee process, and to ensuring that reforms genuinely improve access to health care for Australians wherever they live. The opposition will not oppose the passage of this bill, and we will continue working to ensure Australia's healthcare system delivers timely, affordable access to health care for all Australians.”
“Empowering the workforce is one of the most practical ways to relieve pressure on the health system. But reviews alone do not deliver reform; action does. The government must now respond to the final report as a matter of priority. This review must not join others commissioned by the health minister that ultimately result in delay—we know this; it's a fact—inaction or simply more reviews instead of real reform. Healthcare workers and patients alike deserve clarity and progress. In closing, the opposition supports measures that responsibly improve access to health care for all Australians, particularly in rural and regional Australia, where this remains a significant challenge. We recognise the important role nurses play in our healthcare system, and the potential benefits of sensibly expanding scope of practice.”
“That opportunity must not be wasted. While we support enabling nurse prescribers to prescribe PBS medicines, we also condemn the government's broader failure to ensure Australians can have timely and affordable access to life-saving and life-changing medicines. This bill also intersects with a broader discussion across the health sector regarding scope of practice reform. There is significant interest in the government's response to the scope of practice review and what it means for workforce reform across the healthcare system. We view this process as an opportunity for the government to provide a clear roadmap for reform. When health professionals are enabled to work to the full extent of their training and capability, patients benefit through improved access and more efficient care.”
“Meanwhile, Australians are waiting longer than ever for new medicines to become available under the PBS. On average, it now takes around 466 days after registration for a medicine to be listed. That is more than a year's delay. Behind those numbers are real people waiting for treatments that could change or even save lives. Patients, clinicians and industry stakeholders consistently tell us that Australia's system for approving and funding medicines is slow, outdated and overly complex. The health technology assessment review was commissioned to fix precisely this problem, yet, more than 600 days later, many of its recommendations are still sitting unanswered. This review represents a critical opportunity to modernise our processes so they remain world class, responsive to innovation and genuinely patient centred.”
“Supporting appropriately qualified registered nurses to prescribe PBS medicines is consistent with that commitment to improving access and affordability. But access is not just about who can write the prescription; it is also about whether medicines are available to Australians on the PBS in the first place, and, on this measure, Australia is falling behind. Despite growing healthcare needs, investment in the PBS fell in real terms in the 2024-25 financial year under the Albanese government—a decline of almost $200 million compared to the previous year. This stands in contrast to the record of the former Liberal-National government, which approved more than 2,900 new or amended PBS listings, with investment totalling around $16.5 billion.”
“For many Australians, especially families and those managing chronic conditions, healthcare costs are becoming harder to absorb, particularly amongst the broader cost-of-living challenges impacting household budgets right across this country. Labor's mismanagement is forcing Australians to make difficult decisions about their health—decisions no Australian should ever have to make. We're seeing more Australians delaying doctor visits or putting off refilling their scripts because they simply cannot afford it. The coalition and, of course, the opposition have always supported affordable access to medicines through a strong and sustainable PBS. Our record shows consistent investment and reform to ensure Australians have access to the medicines they need at prices they can afford.”
“We will be carefully examining the implementation of these arrangements through the upcoming Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee process and considering any issues or amendments that arise once the committee reports later this month. While this bill deals with prescribing arrangements, it sits within a broader challenge facing Australians—the rising costs and challenge of accessing healthcare. Australians relying on prescription medicines are facing increasing healthcare costs under this government, including the highest out-of-pocket GP fees on record. Patients are now paying, on average, more than $50 out of pocket simply to visit a GP.”
“Expanding scope of practice in a safe and regulated way has the potential to improve access to medicines, particularly for Australians living outside metropolitan centres. The introduction of nurse prescribing follows extensive consultation and regulatory development through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. An agreement among health ministers and the first cohort of nurses is expected to begin prescribing from mid-2026. The opposition won't stand in the way of this bill passing the House. On its face, the bill is broadly consistent with the objective of ensuring Australians have timely and affordable access to essential health care, particularly in rural and remote communities. However, as always, the details matter.”
“I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This bill enables eligible registered nurses to prescribe certain medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It establishes a framework for approving authorised nurse prescribers, including safeguards that allow approvals to be suspended or revoked where necessary. It also formally recognises authorised nurse prescribers as a new category of PBS prescriber, ensuring that patients receiving care from authorised nurses can access medicines under the PBS. Registered nurses make up around half of Australia's health workforce. They serve communities right across the country, including in rural, regional and remote areas, where access to doctors can be limited and where healthcare workforce shortages are most acute.”
“Antisemitism today is often transnational in nature, spread through digital platforms, imported through overseas networks and amplified by individuals who have no permanent stake in Australia. The coalition supports clearer grounds for refusing or cancelling visas where a noncitizen has demonstrated that they promote racial or ethnic hatred. We have pushed for additional safeguards to address the risks, and we have worked to ensure that there are additional protections contained in the legislation. We need to remember why we're here: to tackle extremist groups, to better protect Jewish Australians—and all Australians—and to ensure that terrorism does not continue. We must ensure that the integrity of this bill is strong and that Australians can have confidence in it.”
“The revised legislation no longer includes the provisions that sparked free-speech concerns across the parliament—although, even with the changes, we must ensure that it does not impinge on freedom of expression or freedom of association. Instead, it must focus on the tougher penalties for existing hate crimes, expanded powers to list hate organisations, and stronger visa cancellation and refusal powers in relation to noncitizens engaged in extremist activity and online extremist views and ideology. The migration amendments in this bill sharpen the focus of existing character powers so that they clearly capture extremist advocacy and antisemitic behaviour, including where that conduct occurs online offshore.”
“Decisions that affect people's lives must be lawful, proportionate and subject to proper scrutiny. The rule of law is not optional, and it must apply to government just as much as it applies to everyone else. This parliament has a duty to get it right. With very little time, the coalition has been focused, working hard to ensure that this legislation targets genuine threats. We are working through what's left of the bill to make sure that it works and that it deals with hate and extremist groups. This means enabling the immigration minister to deal with Islamic extremists, who we want to stop coming into this country. These groups are a genuine threat to our safety and to our way of life.”
“Immigration in Australia is a failed experiment that has led to high crime rates, lower standards of living and lower social cohesion.' Our communities deserve a migration system built on integrity at its core. That means clear rules, consistent enforcement and decisions that are made in Australia's national interest. Measures that strengthen the government's ability to deal with serious criminal conduct, protect the community and enforce visa conditions are necessary. Australians should not be asked to accept a system that allows dangerous individuals to enter and remain in our country because of weak laws or administrative failure. Integrity cuts both ways. Strong powers must come with strong safeguards. Ministerial discretion must be exercised transparently and responsibly.”
“Ninety per cent want us to decrease the level of immigration. It's not just about the pressures. Migration concerns are also about the safety of our citizens. Today, I received hundreds of emails from concerned people in my electorate, as well as hundreds more from across Australia, who are deeply concerned about this bill. I say this to them: I have heard you; I have read your emails and your opinions matter. Shane from Orchard Hill shares that immigration is having a negative impact on the community. Housing, infrastructure and schools are his biggest concerns. Louise from Claremont Meadows says: 'Successful societies are based on social cohesion.”
“It affects real people—families trying to find housing, workers competing for jobs, communities relying on already stretched services and migrants who have followed the rules and played by the book. Views on immigration are strong in outer metro electorates such as mine, where infrastructure is under pressure. Western Sydney has a wonderful multicultural community and concerns around immigration levels are not about race but about services and quality of life. In late 2025, results from a local survey showed that many of my constituents believe immigration is too high and impacts roads, hospitals, schools and housing. Eighty-two per cent said that immigration is important to them. Ninety-one per cent said it was placing significant pressure on our services and infrastructure, such as our roads, our schools and our hospitals.”
“Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world, and that success rests on a simple foundation: a strong, fair and orderly immigration system. Australians are generous people. We welcome migrants. We value their contribution and we are rightly proud of our multicultural society. But Australians also expect their government to manage migration responsibly, to uphold the law and to put community safety first. That is the standard against which the migration section of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026 must be judged. Immigration is not just an abstract policy debate.”
“Hope is the belief that we can rise from this moment stronger, more unified and more determined to defend the values that bind us together. And hope is found in the youngest voice in this tragedy: the voice of a child—of little Matilda B, as her family called her. It's a reminder that even the smallest among us can bring the light and bring the purpose—an extraordinary impact; a tiny ray of sunshine with the power to touch a nation. She will not be known only as the youngest victim of an act of terror that has devastated our country; she will be known as the light, the hope and the love that will inspire change for the better. May her memory be a blessing, may her light guide us and may we honour her by choosing love over fear, unity over division and hope that carries us forward in peace.”
“Australia expects this, and it is what is required to restore safety, restore confidence in our nation's future and safeguard the values that define us and the belief that public spaces belong to all of us and that Australians should be able to walk along the beach, gather in worship or enjoy a family outing without fear. This is what democratic freedom brings. But leadership also requires something more: the ability to offer hope when the country is hurting—hope that we can build a safer Australia; hope that we can strengthen the bonds between communities; hope that we can protect our children and preserve the freedoms that define us; hope that love, not hatred, will shape the future of our nation. Hope is not naive. Hope is the work of rebuilding. Hope is the discipline of refusing to let terror write our story.”
“That tattered Australian flag found in the rubble of the Twin Towers nearly 25 years ago in New York has never been restored, and now, in Bondi, it has been torn again, this time on our own soil. We cannot allow ourselves to drift back into the comfort of believing Australia is somehow insulated from terror, because terror has found us and it is looking for war. On the front line are our Jewish Australians—peaceful, good people who, over generations, have given so much to our nation, in the military, in politics, in sport and in every walk of life. Terror will not disappear without strong leadership, clear resolve and decisive action.”
“Where there is darkness we look for light, and it was in the darkness of this attack in Bondi where we saw the brightest lights of our national character: first responders who ran towards danger; paramedics, doctors and nurses who fought to save lives; lifeguards who sheltered hundreds, triaged the injured on the sand and carried the wounded to safety; ordinary people throwing themselves at the attackers to protect others. Their actions reflected the courage, decency and instinctive solidarity that define the Australian spirit. The antisemitic attack in Bondi has shaken our country awake to what has been building for years: radical Islamic extremism has spewed its hate onto our whole Australian community. The world realised the threat of Islamic extremism on 11 September 2001, a day when 10 Australians also lost their lives.”
“Among them were parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, volunteers who delivered meals to the vulnerable, musicians whose creativity enriched their communities, people of deep faith and service and ordinary Australians simply walking along the beach with those they loved. Some died shielding their families. Some died trying to stop the gunmen. Some died protecting strangers. They were people who gave, people who created, people who served. They were, all in all, good, everyday Australians.”
“Her name is a song as poignant and stirring as our national anthem. She was her parents' first Australian. She's the little girl in every home across our country. She is the heartbreak in all our hearts. She is 10-year-old Matilda. She is one of 15 innocent people murdered in the terror attack in Bondi, an act of senseless, unimaginable violence. In a place known for openness, beauty and belonging, lives were stolen in moments of terror, leaving families shattered, communities grieving and a nation struggling to comprehend how radical Islamic terrorism could erupt in the heart of everyday Australian life. Behind every one of the 15 lives lost was a person whose story mattered deeply.”
“Finally Clover Fields was awarded Aussie Made Business of the Year. It is a family owned company leading the way in sustainable Australian manufacturing. It's not just about a single night. It's about recognising people who make our community stronger every day. Lindsay is defined by action, leadership and heart, and this year's winners prove that again. It is my honour to serve and to celebrate the best community in the country.”
“I particularly acknowledge all of our doctors and nurses at Nepean Hospital. Education remains a pillar of our community, and Supinder Bains received Educator of the Year for intergenerational programs in early childhood learning, bringing generations together through teaching and care. In sport, Hayley Muir was awarded Sportsperson of the Year for her outstanding achievements in national and international football. Accessibility in sport was also recognised, with Allen Thorpe receiving Club Member of the Year. In community service, Mark Geerin received the Individual Community Service Award for his programs, while Cancer Wellness Support received the Organisation Community Service Award. Our business sector was also celebrated. Western Sydney Publishing Group was awarded Small Business of the Year.”
“The Woman in Leadership award went to Danielle Schwarzer for her work leading all-abilities programs in basketball, making inclusion a standard and not an exception. Our Youth in Leadership winner, Seamus McCauley, has already made his mark through leadership in the hospitality sector—proof that age is not a barrier to creating influence and having an impact on your community. In our emergency services, Stephen Payne was acknowledged for his longstanding service with Fire and Rescue New South Wales—a steady presence when our community needs it most. Our Health Advocates of the Year award, presented jointly to Professor Sam Orde and Professor Ian Seppelt, recognised world-leading innovations in intensive care, research that is saving lives well beyond our electorate.”
“It's a real privilege to represent the best constituents in the country. A testament to this was my 2025 Lindsay Awards last Friday evening. Attended by more than 200 people, the evening showcased the strength, leadership and generosity that drive our community forward. This is the Lindsay Awards' second year, with 91 finalists recognised across 12 categories. It's a remarkable achievement and reflection of the depth of talent in, and commitment to, our region. Each winner represented something unique in not just the success in their field but the impact that their work makes in the lives of others. In leadership, Adam Fletcher was recognised for his work building local rugby across the Penrith region, strengthening sport from the grassroots up.”
“In Western Sydney, when we're looking to the future, we are talking about the data centres of the future. People in this country want to store our data at home, not offshore. But we need power right now. That power is drawn from our local energy grids. My community recognises the need for nuclear energy in the future. That's why, in the results from my survey, it came across strongly—with percentages in the 70s—that people wanted the ban on nuclear energy to be lifted. It's time that Labor fesses up. Their renewables-only tirade must come to an end, for the sake of Australians—everyday Australians, in my electorate of Lindsay in Western Sydney and right across this country. Labor, listen to the sensible calls. The sensible calls of the Lindsay electorate put cheaper, reliable, 24/7 baseload power before your ideological obsessions.”
“We need to be keeping it for our own domestic consumption. This will lower power prices right now for families and businesses right across Australia. More than half of my community said affordable energy is their top priority. Gas will help with this. For the sake of Australian industry, we need a sensible, pragmatic energy policy that puts more gas into the system and ensures reliability and affordability. A third of Lindsay residents said 24/7 baseload power was important, with almost 11 per cent saying reducing emissions was their priority—only 11 per cent. The best solution to these two wants is nuclear energy. Scores of countries use nuclear energy or are in the process of creating nuclear power stations. How else will we power the data centres of the future that we can use?”
“I've been on many manufacturing floors across Western Sydney, and they all tell me the same thing. Energy prices have increased so much under the Albanese Labor government that they just don't know what to do. For Mascot Steel in Penrith, their energy costs are up more than 40 per cent. Local small businesses have told me their costs have doubled since 2022. Austral Bricks said they're trying to play their part in reducing emissions, but the solar they produce only powers the office, not their manufacturing that we so need in the building of homes across this country. Do you know what fires Austral Bricks' kilns to create thousands of bricks per day for new homes across Western Sydney? It's gas. They need a lot of it. They need more gas, and we need to be pumping more gas into the system.”
“Almost 90 per cent of Lindsay people said their energy bills have increased, with nearly half saying this has actually severely impacted their standard of living. Energy prices have soared 40 per cent. How does the government think its renewables-only approach to energy production in this country will keep our manufacturers here? A future made in Australia—that's what the Prime Minister is saying when he runs across the country, putting on a hard hat for a few pictures before he heads off overseas. A future made in Australia under this Labor government's ideological obsession for renewables is contempt for Australian industry. Manufacturers are being suffocated by their bills piling up because of Labor's abandonment of the 24/7 baseload power that they need to power manufacturing in this country.”
“So many people across the country right now are picking up a second job just to make sure they can cook dinner for their kids and keep the lights on. Seniors are struggling under cost-of-living pressures. As I walk down the high street of Penrith, I can see people living on the streets and double-income families lining up at food banks. I'm particularly worried about seniors in these hot summer days ahead when they're having to make that choice about turning on the air conditioning or not. I'll tell you who needed the $275 reduction in power prices by 2025 from 2022 levels—it's these Australians, the ones I proudly fight for every single day in this place and in my community. In my most recent community survey, Lindsay residents said they overwhelmingly reject net zero by 2050, with less than a quarter supporting it.”
“Every day, when I am speaking to constituents in my community of Lindsay and Western Sydney, one of their top concerns is the astronomical cost of power. In my community and right across Western Sydney—in fact, right across the country—we're paying $1,300 more for energy this year compared to when the Albanese Labor government took office in 2022. It is a shame. Shame on them! Shame on you for doing that! Thirteen hundred dollars in three years—it shouldn't be a joke, but it is. This government is treating everyday Australians as jokes and taking them for granted. It's no small sum of money for many hardworking everyday Australians who live in Lindsay, from Penrith to St Marys and Londonderry down to Luddenham.”
“There are a plethora of ideas for the standing committee to investigate, and today I stand here to present just one of them for you to take up. The committee can thank me for this.”
“The Chair of the Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport has been sitting idle, with not a single referral from the Minister for Communications and no proactive measures that they wish to investigate. I note the member for Macquarie is the chair of this committee and recently stated the committee had been receiving private briefings from departments to prepare for an inquiry. The member for Macquarie further stated: The committee is considering options for inquiries, and we expect those inquiries to kick-off in the near term. Well, it has been six months since the election, and we have not seen a single scrap of fruit from the efforts of those very important briefings and preparatory work.”
“House standing committees in this place play an important role in our democracy. They are a way for the communities, stakeholders and experts to have their say, to challenge ideas and approaches and to test legislative and regulatory changes that impact Australians. House standing committees not only investigate any matter referred to them by the relevant minister but also propose their own topics of inquiry. Committee chairs are appointed by the Prime Minister and receive an 11 per cent salary increase, equivalent to more than $26,000 a year. Since the 48th Parliament began, only three of the 10 House standing committees have launched inquiries.”
“Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Lindsay moving a motion to refer the following matter to the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, for inquiry and report: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's Draft Determination on Voice lnterconnection Services, with particular reference to: (1) the cost modelling inputs and assumptions used in the ACCC's modelling for declared voice interconnection services; (2) the discrepancy between fixed and mobile termination rates and the potential implications for market neutrality; (3) the financial and operational impact on fixed-only voice telecommunications providers; (4) the potential consequences for businesses and consumers in relation to end-user pricing, service availability, and quality—particularly in regional, rural, remote and isolated communities; (5) the implications of the proposed determination for regional, rural and remote communities, where fixed voice services remain essential due to limited mobile coverage; (6) the resilience and redundancy of national voice infrastructure in ensuring service continuity during mobile outages and emergencies; (7) the implementation and transition arrangements required; and (8) any other related matters.”
“I seek leave to move the following motion: That the following matter be referred to the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, for inquiry and report: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's Draft Determination on Voice lnterconnection Services, with particular reference to: (1) the cost modelling inputs and assumptions used in the ACCC's modelling for declared voice interconnection services; (2) the discrepancy between fixed and mobile termination rates and the potential implications for market neutrality; (3) the financial and operational impact on fixed-only voice telecommunications providers; (4) the potential consequences for businesses and consumers in relation to end-user pricing, service availability, and quality—particularly in regional, rural, remote and isolated communities; (5) the implications of the proposed determination for regional, rural and remote communities, where fixed voice services remain essential due to limited mobile coverage; (6) the resilience and redundancy of national voice infrastructure in ensuring service continuity during mobile outages and emergencies; (7) the implementation and transition arrangements required; and (8) any other related matters.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. The Western Sydney suburbs of Campbelltown, Mount Druitt and Liverpool have two things in common: (1) more than 90 per cent of mortgage holders are struggling to pay their mortgage and (2) they're represented by Labor MPs. Prime Minister, why do Australian households have to suffer because this government can't control its reckless spending and inflation? Does the Prime Minister have any plan to address mortgage stress in these Western Sydney suburbs?”
“These policies are driving up prices, destabilising supply and ignoring the voices of everyday Australians. The people of Lindsay, our everyday Australians, are speaking up.”
“Only four per cent of people who responded said emissions targets were the most important issue for Australia's energy future. The majority, at 52 per cent, said affordable energy was their top priority. The people of Lindsay are not antienvironment; they are pro-reality. They are a community that think for themselves on issues that matters. They are open to nuclear; 73 per cent of respondents support lifting the ban. People in my community want Australia prioritised when it comes to the gas, coal and uranium that we produce. Ninety-four per cent agree with putting our nation first. What I've heard in my survey is clear. The Albanese Labor government's renewables-only approach, with a 2035 emissions reduction target and net zero by 2050, is hurting families.”
“These are everyday Australians who are not being listened to by the Albanese Labor government, but they are certainly being listened to by their local member of parliament. A shocking 89 per cent of people said their energy bills have increased. It's concerning that, when respondents were asked how much their energy bills had increased by, many said 50 per cent, hundreds of dollars and that they had at least doubled. Again, 89 per cent say higher energy bills have impacted their standard of living. They're skipping meals to pay for power. They're afraid to turn on the heater and the air conditioner. They are doing everything that is right—they are installing solar; they're cutting back on their energy—and they are still falling behind.”
“There is nothing is more important for a member of parliament to do than listen to their community and be their strongest voice in the public sphere. I've listened, and, on Australia's energy future, my community's views are very clear. As of today 65 per cent of people who responded do not support net zero by 2050. When asked if they support net zero at any cost, the number who do not support net zero jumped to 87 per cent. Sixty-eight per cent of people oppose Labor's 2035 emissions reduction target. This isn't politics; it's the real-life struggles of everyday Australians who don't want a target that is destroying them and their families financially and our country economically.”
“The people of Lindsay are proud, everyday Australians. We love our country and care about our environment, from the Nepean River to the bushland on the urban fringe that frames our suburbs. We've embraced solar; we conserve energy. We want a future that our kids can thrive in. But we will not have our way of life sacrificed, in the name of energy ideology, to such a level where people can barely keep a roof over their heads. This has been made clear in a survey I put out to my community over the last month through emails, social media and every resident's letterbox. So far I've received over 1,500 responses from locals, and the surveys that hit letterboxes just over the last couple of weeks are pouring into my office in the hundreds per day.”
“There needs to be a thorough independent investigation, which is what we on this side, the coalition, have been calling for all along. More communication, not less, is required to ensure that every Australian is informed and can take appropriate steps to protect themselves. More needs to be done. What will it take for the Albanese Labor government and telcos to take this seriously and put the needs of all Australians first, protecting the triple 0 network from these outages? There is nothing more important, no other higher priority, for a government than to protect its own citizens.”