Angie Bell
Moncrieff · Liberal National Party · Australia
“Twice the Prime Minister was directly asked whether he could guarantee that house prices wouldn't tank as a result of his government's housing policies; twice he refused to answer.”
“At the same time, the government's own budget papers show rents are set to rise. Do those opposite realise that cheaper house prices mean nothing when the cost of living makes it impossible to save for a deposit? We already see young Australians locked out of independence, forced to live at home longer as rental stress worsens.”
“Over 2½ thousand people experience homelessness on the Gold Coast on any given night, and the money raised from this event will go directly to supporting those locals getting back on their feet. I want to thank everyone who donated so generously to the CEO Sleepout.”
“Back to the bill in front of us, this is a bill that changes a process, to give more power to a minister—the same minister who had to pay back the debt—and a bill that nobody has asked for. The government has not justified the need for a change in process.”
“Labor is more interested in their bottom line than supporting grassroots sport and the communities—like the communities of everybody in this place—who rely on it. At a time when families are tightening their belts, affordable community sport has never been more important.”
“I want to start by talking about sport, the inspiration that is sport and what it can do for young lives. I was inspired, as the federal member for Moncrieff, just a few weeks ago when I attended the Benowa State School, where there was a boccia tournament for three primary schools across my electorate.”
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“Notably, appeals regarding payment calculations will now be determined by the secretary, providing a clearer decision-making pathway, and eligibility criteria are also being updated. Currently, eligibility is based on being a resident for taxation purposes. Under the new framework, eligibility will be based on citizenship or permanent residency status, providing a clearer and more contemporary definition. There are also changes to the remuneration arrangements for the advisory committee. The chair will move from an annual stipend to a per-meeting payment structure, which is expected to result in lower overall remuneration. Committee members' remuneration will remain unchanged and aligned with standard tribunal rates. Importantly, the number of committee members and the individuals serving will not change.”
“In preparing for this legislation, we met with representatives from the Australian Society of Authors, and they, of course, support the bill, as do we. However, it's no surprise that they and many others in the sector are calling for additional funding to support authors, and that is a conversation that should continue because, while governance changes are important, they do not, on their own, address the financial pressures facing authors. I now turn to some of the specific changes in this bill. One key reform is the incorporation of educational lending rights into the legislative framework, and this brings greater transparency and accountability to the scheme. The roles of the secretary and the advisory committee are also updated.”
“This legislation arises from the government's broader National Cultural Policy agenda. As part of that process, additional advisory bodies and committees were established, including the Writing Australia Council. This reform is one of the outputs of that process, aimed at modernising lending rights legislation. Again, modernisation is welcome, but it must be matched with meaningful support and delivery. The coalition indeed has a strong and consistent track record in this area. We have supported these schemes since their inception. Coalition governments have maintained and delivered payments to authors and publishers for decades, and it was a coalition government that established the Educational Lending Right scheme in the 2000-01 budget under Prime Minister Howard. Our support for Australian authors is longstanding and genuine.”
“So, while the government may seek to suggest in the title of this legislation that it delivers better income, the reality is that it primarily delivers structural and administrative change, not increased financial support as the public would think from the name of this bill. To be fair, bringing educational lending rights into legislation does provide greater certainty and security for that funding stream. That is a positive step. But we should not conflate certainty with expansion. The government may also point to funding announced in 2023, at $12.9 million over four years, associated with expanding eligibility to include ebooks and audiobooks. However, that funding has already been flowing since the 2024-25 financial year. It's not new funding associated with this bill, as the government would have you think from the title.”
“These are administrative and governance improvements. They indeed modernise the framework and provide greater consistency across the two schemes. But let me address what this bill actually does not do. Despite its title, 'better income for authors', this bill does not actually increase the amount of compensation paid to authors or publishers. There is no new funding attached to this legislation. The total pool of funding remains fixed, and the way payments are calculated remains simply unchanged. Payments are distributed from a capped annual allocation of around $28 million in recent years, with rates determined per book held in libraries as set out in ministerial instruments. In 2024-25, more than 17,600 payments were made, totalling $28.16 million. That system, in fact, continues under this bill. There is no change to that.”
“Ash Barty is also a beneficiary of the program, with My Dream Time and what a wonderful contribution Ash continues to make to our country. The program supports a range of authors, from those we are more familiar with to those who are emerging. The Public Lending Right scheme has been governed by legislation since, in fact, 1985. The Educational Lending Right, by contrast, has operated as a program administered within the department. What these bills do is pretty straightforward. They consolidate both schemes into a single legislative framework, bringing educational lending rights into legislation for the first time. They also transition the existing advisory committee to cover both schemes and provide the minister with the power to establish legislative instruments governing their operation.”
“While we rightly support free public access to books and knowledge, creators should not be financially disadvantaged as a result, and borrowing a book from a library, including the school library, means authors are supported. For example, Trent Dalton is able to benefit from this program as he's listed his many books, including Boy Swallows Universe , Lola in the Mirror and Love Stories . I note that he is from the great state of Queensland. Andy Griffiths is a beneficiary for his storied Treehouse series. Anyone who has read these books with children may agree that it's great that our library borrowers can experience the joy of Andy's 78-flavours ice cream parlour—serving every flavour imaginable, from chocolate to roasted ants—and that Andy is able to receive financial support for that and for that story.”
“I rise today to debate the Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Bill and the Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions Bill, and, at the outset, I want to make it clear that the coalition will be supporting these bills. They are sensible, non-controversial measures that update the governance and administration of important schemes that support Australian authors and publishers. Public Lending Right and Educational Lending Right are longstanding Australian government programs. They compensate authors and publishers for the free multiple use of their books in public and educational libraries. These schemes recognise a fundamental principle.”
“We're not just walking for a cause; we are walking for every woman, who deserves to feel safe; for every child, who deserves to grow up free from fear; and for a future where domestic and family violence is no longer a defining challenge of our society. We all have a role to play, and today we stand with all families, women and children who are forced to live with this scourge, this historic wrong in our nation, in our modern society that must be righted.”
“Every day they provide free legal advice, representation and support to women navigating some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. This is why events like the Epic Walk really matter because they do three things. They raise awareness, funds, and, most importantly a collective voice that says, 'Enough is enough; the violence in our homes, our communities and our country will not be tolerated.' To everyone who walked alongside us during that five-kilometre journey: thank you so very much. Thanks to my walking buddy Emily Jade O'Keefe for the fantastic conversation that we had around these very real issues.”
“Domestic and family violence now accounts for more than half of all assault offences—56.9 per cent, which is up from just 24 per cent a few short years ago. In 2024, alone, there were more than 61,000 victims of assault recorded in Queensland, with the majority knowing their offender. These are not just statistics. These are the lives of women, children and families living in fear, often behind their own closed doors. On the Gold Coast, we know the pressure is real and growing. Reports show increasing demand on police and services, with rising breaches of domestic violence orders and sexual offences placing enormous strain on those frontline responders, who we thank. This is why the work of organisations like Women's Legal Service Queensland is so critical.”
“Today I recognise the extraordinary work of the Women's Legal Service Queensland and wish to commend their powerful community initiative known as the Epic Walk for domestic and family violence. The Epic Walk brings Queenslanders together to walk five kilometres from North Burleigh Surf Club in my electorate to Burleigh Headland in the member for Macpherson's electorate and back, standing in solidarity with women experiencing domestic and family violence and raising vital support for the free legal services WLSQ provides. This walk is not just symbolic; it's necessary, because the reality is indeed confronting. In Australia, one in four women from the age of 15 has experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner. In Queensland the situation is equally alarming.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the Queensland LNP government is using its powers to fast-track drilling for oil in the Taroom Trough. Given our national fuel crisis, will Labor work with the coalition to fast-track approvals for Australian oil projects, including the Taroom Trough, so our country can build our own energy security?”
“May the relationship between Denmark and Australia continue to grow in strength and depth. May our countries stand together in working for peace, freedom and a sustainable future. Thank you very much to His Majesty King Frederik X, Her Majesty 'Our' Queen Mary, Minister, Secretaries of State, Ambassador, and the Danish delegation—so many of whom I enjoyed speaking to in Melbourne—for your wildly successful state visit, in the words of King Frederick, 'Down Under from Up Over'. It was hyggeligt.”
“At the same time, Australians have found inspiration in the Nordic countries—in community, welfare and sustainability. Today the cooperation continues to grow within trade, research, education, defence and the green transition. The world faces great challenges. Denmark and Australia possess strong capabilities—particularly within renewable energy, maritime technology, agriculture and innovation. Together, we can do more. Their Majesties' visit is not only a celebration of friendship—and of family—but a promise of continued partnership. A partnership built on mutual respect, open dialogue and the will to act for the benefit of our citizens and future generations. We thank you for choosing to visit our country, Uluru, Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart and hope you enjoyed our warm hospitality. It reflects our feelings for Denmark.”
“Every year I make a Danish Christmas Eve dinner for my family—roast park, red cabbage and caramelised potatoes, and rice pudding—but not red berry pudding with cream at Christmas! I decorate the Christmas tree with Danish ornaments from years past. Australians have much in common with Danes. We share humour and a way of life. Denmark and Australia lie far apart on the world map, but we stand close together in values. Both our countries are democracies that believe in freedom, the rule of law, equality and human dignity. The friendship between our countries has deep roots. For more than a century, Danes have travelled to Australia to work, study and settle—only to take a piece of Australia back home, some even with royal spouses.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rotary International and the Kingdom of Denmark for an absolutely extraordinary experience. I also acknowledge Her Majesty Queen Margrethe's remarkable 52-year reign, together with Prince Henrik. Four host families, classmates from Herning Gymnasium and the Rotary community showed kindness, patience and belief in a young woman from Australia. They invested in me and took me into their lives. I returned home after a year much wiser, more experienced—and twelve kilos heavier! It was far too many cream buns and slices of chocolate. Today I carry Denmark with me wherever I go, in my famous Danish design—a Georg Jensen watch.”
“Må vores lande stå sammen i arbejdet for fred, frihed og en baere-dygtig fremtid. Tusind tak til Hans Majestaet Kong Frederik, Hendes Majestaet 'vores' Dronning Mary, Minister Aagaard, Statssekretaerer, Ambassadør, Den Danske delegation (hvem må jeg have lyst til at tale til i Melbourne) for dit voldsomt succesfulde statesbesg med Kong Frederik's ord "Down Under fra Up Over''. Og endelig ... hilsen til alle dem i lille Vildbjerg ae osse! Det var hyggeligt! English translation The experience I had as a 17-year-old girl, when I represented my country as a Rotary exchange student to Denmark, truly changed my life. I believe that if I had not been the recipient of the generosity of Rotary and Denmark in 1986, I would not be standing here today as a member of the Australian Parliament.”
“I dag vokser sam-arbejdet fortsat inden for handel, forskning, ud-dannelse, forsvar og den grønne omstilling. Verden står overfor store ud-fordringer. Danmark og Australien besidder staerke kompetencer—saerligt inden for ved-varende energi, maritim teknologi, landbrug og innovation. Sammen kan vi gøre mere. Deres Majestaeters besøg er ikke blot en fejring af venskab—og af familie—men et løfte om fortsat partnerskab. Et partnerskab bygget på-gen-sid-ig respekt, åben dialog og viljen til handling til gavn for vores borgere og kommende gene-rationer. Vi takker Dem for at vaelge at besøge vores land, Uluru, Canberra, Melbourne og Hobart og håber, De nød vores varme gaest-frihed. Den af-spejler vores følel-ser for Danmark. Må forholdet mellem Danmark og Australien fort-saette med at vokse i styrke og dybde.”
“Hvert år laver jeg en dansk jule-aftens-middag for min familie—-flaeskesteg, rødkål og brune kartofler, og risalamande—men ikke rødgrød med fløde på til Jul! Jeg pynter juletraeet med danske dekorationer fra år tilbage. Australiere har meget til faelles med danskere. Vi deler humor og livssyn. Danmark og Australien ligger langt fra hinanden på verdenskortet, men vi står hinanden naer i vaer-dier. Begge vores lande er demokratier, der tror på frihed, ret-stats-principper, lighed og menneskelig vaerdighed. Venskabet mellem vores lande har dybe rødder. I mere end et århundrede er danskere rejst til Australien for at arbejde, studere og bosaette sig—kun for at tage et stykke Australien med hjem..(nogle end-da med kongelige aegtefaeller.) Samtid-ig har australiere fundet inspiration i Norden—i faellesskab, velfaerd og baere-dygtighed.”
“Jeg tror, at hvis jeg ikke havde vaeret modtager af Rotarys og Danmarks generøsitet i 1986, ville jeg ikke stå her i dag som medlem af det australske parlament. Jeg vil gerne benytte denne lejlighed til at takke Rotary International og Kongeriget Danmark for en helt-dinaer oplevelse. Jeg anerkender også Hendes Majestaet Dronning Margrethes enestående re-ger-ing-stid på 52 år, sammen med Prins Henrik. Fire vaertsfamilier, skolekammerater fra Herning Gymnasium og Rotary-faellesskabet viste venlighed, tålmodighed og tro på en ung kvinde fra Australien. De investerede i mig og tog mig til sig. Jeg vendte hjem efter et år meget klogere , mere erfaren-og tolv kilo tung-ere! Det var for meget chokolade og for mange fastelavnsboller, tror jeg. I dag baerer jeg Danmark med mig, hvor end jeg går, i mit berømte danske design—et Georg Jensen-ur.”
“I do so again as a mark of respect for the enduring relationship between Australia and Denmark; for the Royal Danish Court, Kongehuset; and for the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. I say in advance that my accent is neither the King's Copenhagen Danish nor the Odense Danish of Funen, the home of Hans Christian Andersen, but rather Jutland's less sophisticated dialect, fondly known as jysk. I tell my story with fondness, and I table the English translation for the House. Ms Bell then proceeded to speak in Danish . Og defor fortaeller jeg min historie med kaerlighed. Den oplevelse, jeg fik som 17-årig pige, da jeg re-praesenterede mit land som Rotary-udvekslings-student til det yndige land, som hedder gamle Danmark, aendrede virkelig mit liv.”
“I thank Her Excellency Ingrid Dahl-Madsen for her great deal of work on Denmark-Australia relations and of course on the state visit; Mr Lars Aagaard Moller, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities; Mr Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Mr Lars Frelle-Petersen, Permanent Secretary of State at the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities; and the delegation of around 50 Danish companies involved in sectors with a focus on agriculture and renewables. It was indeed a great honour to acknowledge and welcome Their Majesties to Parliament House. I said, in my speech to the parliamentary friendship group, that I could never compete with Queen Mary's impeccable Danish, but, as a grateful Rotary exchange student to Denmark in 1986, I gave it an Aussie red-hot go.”
“I rise to pay tribute to Their Majesties King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark on their recent state visit to Australia. Thank you to the member for Cunningham, as co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Denmark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, members and senators for attending the event held in Their Majesties honour at Parliament House on Monday 16 March.”
“This government has shown no urgency in strengthening fuel security and no leadership to address the pressures in distribution that are already being felt in communities. When supply is tight, prices rise, and that means any benefit from a tax cut can, and will, quickly disappear. Australians deserve more than a headline announcement. They deserve a government that understands the reality. This is not just about price. It's about access, it's about reliability and it's about leadership, Prime Minister. Australians deserve better.”
“Australians have been under enormous pressure every time they pull up to the bowser, and, after months of delay, the Prime Minister has finally acted to halve the fuel tax. But—let's be clear—this announcement, while welcome, has come far too late and has only done half the job, because cutting the tax means very little if Australians can't access affordable fuel in the first place. Right now, the real concern is supply. Families, tradies and small businesses don't just need cheaper fuel; they need certainty that, when they turn up to the servo, the fuel will actually be there. This is where the government is still falling short. There has been no clear plan to ensure fuel supply or to ensure that supply gets where it needs to go, Prime Minister.”
“We will continue to advocate for practical, efficient and effective regulation and will continue to hold the government to account for delays, for lack of detail and for any failure to deliver on its commitments. Australia has a proud record when it comes to managing our oceans. That record was strengthened under the coalition, and we intend to ensure that it's not diminished under this government.”
“At this stage the detail remains unclear. We understand that some of the government's plans to meet this target are currently under review. We welcome that review and we look forward to seeing the detail of that review because, if this target is to be meaningful, it must be backed by a clear, credible and achievable plan. In closing, the coalition supports this bill. We support it because it gives effect to a treaty that Australia helped negotiate. We support it because it provides a framework for protecting biodiversity in the high seas, and we support it because it aligns with Australia's longstanding commitment to responsible ocean stewardship, but that does not mean a blank cheque. We will continue to scrutinise the implementation of this treaty.”
“On its face, it's a noble ambition, and the coalition recognises the importance of protecting marine biodiversity. But we also recognise a pattern from this government—a pattern of announcing big targets without credible plans to deliver them. We've seen it in housing, where the government's target of 1.2 million homes is already falling short. We've seen it in other policy areas, where rhetoric has outpaced reality. So, when it comes to this 30 per cent marine protection target, the question is not whether it sounds good. There are several questions that remain: How will it be achieved? What are the practical steps? What are the timelines? What are the impacts on industries and regional communities and on Australia's economic interests? These are not unreasonable questions; they are necessary questions.”
“Similarly, area based management tools and environmental impact assessments are critical mechanisms for protecting biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The coalition supports these objectives, but we are equally clear on this point: implementation must be practical, efficient and coherent. These new rules should complement existing global and regional frameworks, not duplicate them. We already have a range of international agreements and regional bodies governing ocean management. The last thing we need is a patchwork of overlapping regulations that create confusion, increase costs and undermine effectiveness. Good policy is not just about ambition; it is about execution. The government has also pointed to the global target of protecting 30 per cent of the world's marine areas by 2030.”
“It seeks to establish new regulatory frameworks to give effect to the treaty's provisions, particularly in areas such as marine genetic resources and digital sequence information, area based management tools and environmental impact assessments. These are complex and evolving areas. Marine genetic resources, for example, represent a growing field of scientific and commercial interests. They have the potential to unlock new medicines, new technologies and new economic opportunities. But with that potential comes responsibility—responsibility to ensure that access is fair, responsibility to ensure that benefits are shared appropriately and responsibility to ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of environmental integrity.”
“There was no progress and then, all of a sudden, there was this urgency to get it done. Our understanding is that this sudden urgency was not driven by domestic priorities but by international optics, because of the first ever Ocean COP slated for late 2026 and the government seeking to save face on the global stage, no doubt. It's disappointing because the parliament should not be driven by appearances; it should be driven by outcomes. It's especially disappointing given that the coalition has offered bipartisan support for this legislation throughout the process. We've been clear, we've been consistent and we've been constructive. We recognise the importance of this treaty and we recognise the importance of getting the implementation right. This bill does more than simply ratify an international agreement.”
“The negotiations that delivered this treaty did not happen overnight. They were complex, they were detailed and they were led in large part under the previous coalition government right up until 2023. The current government became a signatory to the treaty in 2024, yet here we are two years later only now dealing with ratification—two years! What has the government been doing for the last two years? Not much it seems, because in that time more than 80 countries—around 85 in fact—have already ratified the treaty. So again, I ask: why the delay? Our government that says it can walk and chew gum at the same time; it seems it can't. Why has Australia fallen behind when it comes to formalising an agreement that we helped shape? This process, as I outlined, started under the coalition.”
“Critically, those negotiations ensure that Australia's exclusive economic zone, also known as the EEZ—one of the largest in the world; in fact, the third largest—was properly recognised in international law. That matters. It matters because our EEZ underpins our sovereign rights over vast marine resources, it matters because it allows us to manage those resources sustainably and it matters because it ensures that Australia retains control over how we protect and utilise our marine environment. As a nation, we have benefited enormously from that outcome. We have benefited in environmental terms through strong protections and careful stewardship of our oceans, and we have benefited economically through the responsible management of fisheries, energy resources and emerging marine industries.”
“I rise today to speak on the High Seas Biodiversity Bill and to outline the coalition's position on this important legislation. The coalition supports this bill. It's necessary legislation and it's legislation that will finally put in place the high seas treaty negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations, a treaty that has been a long time in the making and one that, frankly, has been unnecessarily delayed by the current government. This is not a new conversation. This is not a new issue. Under the previous coalition government, Australia played a constructive and engaged role in the international negotiations that led to this treaty. We understood what was at stake, not just environmentally but economically and strategically.”
“I just want to add to the record in Endometriosis Awareness Month that the Australian coalition, when in government, has historically driven significant policy initiatives regarding endometriosis, setting the foundation for national action, which the current Labor government has indeed expanded. I commend them for moving forward on a coalition government policies, including our policies—the National Action Plan for Endometriosis, the endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, research and clinical funding for endo, and education and advocacy support for endometriosis. House adjourned at 20:00”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, and I note his previous answer about the almost 500 service stations that have run dry. This morning Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said: 'All we're after is a national plan to make sure that there's visibility of where fuel is flowing because it's a crisis and it does need action.' When will the minister take action to ensure fuel gets to where it's needed?”
“I would like to associate the coalition with the Prime Minister's comments on endometriosis month. There are so many women in our country who suffer great pain in silence, and I would like to highlight to those opposite and to the nation the great work that Minister Greg Hunt did in this space while he was the minister for health and the ongoing advocacy that the coalition has delivered for women suffering with endometriosis.”
“I am thrilled and proud about the IMPACT Gold Coast Youth Summit, and I'll have more to say about that as we roll into our fourth one this year. The Sea World Foundation is the big sponsor of the Gold Coast youth impact summit, bringing together over 220 young people to inspire them, uplift them, give them new opportunities and make sure that they have great aspirations for the future. To all the young people across Moncrieff: you really do make me proud to be your federal member, and I wish you all the best, across all of the 33 schools on the central Gold Coast. You are the heart of the Gold Coast. You are in my heart, and I hope that I'm in yours.”
“I'll just list a few: Merrimac State High School, Southport State School and Southport State High School, Bellevue Park State School, the Southport School, St Michael's College, Broadbeach State School, Worongary State School, St Kevin's Catholic School, Benowa State School and Benowa State High School, William Duncan State School and Nerang State High School. They're just some of the schools in Moncrieff. Young people, especially, cannot be what they cannot see, and the examples that we set are the showcase for the leadership skills of the future. I really enjoy interacting with my schools and the young people of Moncrieff. We've also spoken in depth about the ABCs of life—that is, the attitudes that affect your behaviour. And your behaviour of course affects the consequences.”
“Our young people continue to inspire me, and all students have presented informed questions about Canberra, my role as their federal member and leadership more broadly, and it's been a pleasure to answer their questions, any questions; be present in their lives; and share more information on Australia's democratic process. The school leaders, be they year 6 or year 12 students, are very inquisitive, and our interactions are very candid. Not much is off limits for young people, and many students also ask about my favourite part of the job, which for me is a very easy answer—that is, being here with you, the students—the future—and the Gold Coast community. Thank you to all the schools that have hosted me so far this term.”
“I've been visiting schools in Moncrieff to present students with leadership certificates and engage in very rich discussion about what leadership is and means. The electorate of Moncrieff, the heart of the Gold Coast, is home to 33 schools, almost half of which I've already had the privilege to visit this year. When visiting schools, I present each of the leaders with their congratulatory leadership certificates. I've been delighted to sit down with senior class cohorts to discuss all things leadership and goal setting, along with of course their aspirations for life after school.”
“There's no clear plan to strengthen fuel security, no serious effort to bring down costs and no urgency to address the economic fragility that's becoming impossible to ignore. A strong economy doesn't happen by accident; it requires leadership, discipline and foresight, qualities that are severely lacking under this Albanese Labor government. Australians deserve better than this. They deserve a government that understands the pressure they're under, takes responsibility and acts decisively to secure our energy future, restore economic strength and ease the cost-of-living burden. Right now the message from households across the country is loud and clear: Aussies are hurting, and they're not being heard by this woeful Labor Albanese government.”
“Australians don't need spin. We need honesty. And right now the reality is the economy is weak. Fuel supplies aren't guaranteed, and Australian families are hurting. Households are being squeezed from every direction. Grocery bills are climbing, energy prices are biting, and now uncertainty around fuel supply is adding yet another layer of pressure. For families already struggling to make ends meet, this isn't abstract economics. It's real. It's daily stress. And where is the government? They're missing in action—MIA. Instead of getting ahead of these challenges, they've been reactive, slow and out of touch. At a time when Australians need confidence and certainty, we're getting confusion and excuses.”
“It's being driven right here at home by reckless spending and a government that refuses to take responsibility, Prime Minister. This week we have heard disturbing reports about fuel supply. The government insists there is plenty of fuel in this country, but wholesalers are reportedly rationing petrol and diesel. Transport companies are being cut off from bulk supplies, and some regional service stations are running dry. If fuel stocks are as strong as those opposite claim, then why is fuel not getting to those who depend on it? That's a supply chain failure and that is an Albanese Labor government failure.”
“It is a sad state of affairs when, every time I step up to this dispatch box, it's to talk about how much Australians are struggling. Why? Because of those opposite. Australians are being hit from every direction in this government's homegrown cost-of-living crisis. Insurance is up 39 per cent, energy has increased by 38 per cent, rents are up 22 per cent, health is up 18 per cent, education is up 17 per cent, food has increased by 16 per cent and now the government's mismanagement of inflation and fuel security is making things much, much worse. Inflation was 3.8 per cent in January. That sends a clear message: this crisis is not just global, and it's not because of the war, as the Minister for Climate Change and Energy claims.”
“Nearly 1.9 million people have been added to the population in just four years, without the homes or the infrastructure or services to match. But Labor will blame increasing inflation on whatever it can. The conflict involving Iran is going to add further instability to global markets, for sure. But, even before that conflict began, inflation was rising, interest rates were rising and living standards were failing. Labor will make all kinds of excuses. They'll make any excuse under the sun. They'll blame anybody but themselves for their bad economic management. Over here on this side we stand for lower, simpler, fairer taxes and tax reform that rewards work and hard effort. We stand for restoring control of our migration program, protecting our way of life and restoring our standard of living. (Time expired)”
“Independent economists have made it clear that, when the government take up more room in the economy, which is what they're doing—remember those jobs numbers are bigger in the government—it leaves less space for families and small businesses, it pushes up inflation, it keeps interest rates higher for longer and it makes it harder for Australians to get ahead. Inflation has risen again, to 3.8 per cent. But Labor says inflation has turned the corner. Labor says Australians are better off and life's never been better. Labor say they are not coming after more of your money. Australians know that, when Labor run out of money, they come after more of their money. Taxes are 37.3 per cent higher than when Labor came to office. Real household disposable income per capita is down 3.4 per cent.”
“The latest national accounts show public sector demand growing twice as fast as the private sector—0.9 per cent versus 0.4 per cent in the December quarter. It's the second quarter in a row that government spending has outpaced the private economy. It's that spending into the economy that the government keep doing because they're addicted to spending your money that's pushing inflation up and making it hard for every Australian. Public demand is now at a record 29 per cent of GDP. The Treasurer says inflation has been driven by private demand. That claim is in tatters.”
“We have gone backwards under this government, and Australians know that. They feel it. They know it when they come out of a supermarket and they've only got half the amount in their bag that they had the last time they went shopping as inflation keeps pushing up prices. Real wages today are more than two per cent lower than when Labor took office. No wonder Australians are feeling poorer—because they simply are. The Reserve Bank expects real wages to continue falling through this year. Productivity, as I said, is down 4.7 per cent since Labor came to office. That's in four short years. This is our economic potential in freefall. But what has grown? What is it that has grown? The government has grown.”