Aaron Violi
Casey · Liberal Party · Australia
“I think it's really important when we have this discussion, that we separate the intent versus the outcome. Now, it's clear the intent is to make sure all those under 16 do not have access to social media.”
“CFA volunteers give back so much to our community, and today I want to pay tribute to a good friend of mine, someone I've known for 20 years: Tim Mitchelson, better known to all of us as Loaf. He's stepping back from the BMT at the Wandin Fire Brigade, but he has served our community with distinction.”
“We see time and time again that the backbench has to follow orders. They can't get what they want on gambling reform. They have to take the sandwich from those. They have to follow the Prime Minister's lead on a bad budget, and they have to continue to follow the minister that is failing when it comes to social media.”
“You spend a lot of time rushing legislation through this House for political means, but doing your job is getting the legislation right. This legislation is not working. Young— A government member: How? How is it not working? I will explain to you if you stop interjecting and listen. Young children are still on social media.”
“The coalition is saying, 'Let's take the time to have an inquiry, to do the work, to understand why it has failed and why we can get it right the second time.' As the member for Berowra said, we don't want to be back here in six months' time having to amend it again. The detail was wrong the first time.”
“They weren't prepared to look at the detail and understand. Let's look at history. This legislation was introduced on Monday this week. This government wants to ram it through the house on Thursday. But let's look at December when the first legislation was brought in.”
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“This bill establishes the legislative mechanism to change the way a person is assessed but provides no detail of what that new assessment will look like. This hasn't been developed yet. This in and of itself has caused a level of fear and anxiety amongst the community. As the shadow treasurer would know, this government is big on making announcements but providing no detail. Whether it is the NDIS, capital gains or negative gearing—so many things about this government are big headlines with no detail and more damage done. But when it's impacting people on the NDIS—”
“While the NDIS has to be sustainable and spending needs to be reduced, this cannot be because the government and this Treasurer cannot manage the budget. This Prime Minister cannot punish those on the NDIS and their families because of his failures and his Treasurer's failures. Labor's bill makes a number of changes to the scheme. The bill will restrict a person's ability to ask for an unscheduled reassessment of their plan. It will establish a framework to assess a person's eligibility for full support through the NDIS. Until now, eligibility has been based primarily on a person's diagnosis. This bill will change that to be based on a person's reduced functional capacity as a result of the diagnosis.”
“Right now, growth in the NDIS is sitting at 10.3 per cent, meaning this government is failing on every metric. They've banked savings previously that they've failed to hit, and they've banked more savings into the future. That's what makes those on the system so nervous right now. Without a clear implementation strategy, policy guidelines and consultation with the disability community to get these significant changes right, the government's growth targets will be nothing more than an aspirational target to fix their bottom line and there will be significant damage done to those on the system as they rush to get this number banked. As I said, the government has already banked the number. They've spent the savings from the NDIS in this budget.”
“Originally estimated to cost $13.6 billion, the NDIS now costs around $50 billion, and this is expected to reach $70 billion by the end of the decade. Clearly, this isn't sustainable and changes are needed; however, how the changes happen also matter. The fact is that one of the reasons this is the first piece of legislation the government introduced after the budget is that they need to rush this through the parliament so they can start to bank the savings that they've already spent in other areas of their budget. This is now the Albanese government's third attempt to slow the growth of the scheme. They set a target of eight per cent in 2023. In January this year, that was reduced to five to six per cent. In April this year it was revised down again to two per cent.”
“Our state health systems are already at capacity, and people are being turned away from daily services. We have a situation where NDIS participants are too scared to ask for a plan to be reviewed for fear that it will be cut, like the family that I just spoke about—and this from a prime minister who said that no-one would be left behind. At the moment, those on the NDIS are feeling left behind and forgotten by this prime minister. Let's chalk that up as another example of the Prime Minister saying one thing before an election and delivering another after it. There is no doubt that the NDIS has rapidly grown since its establishment. Originally intended to support around 410,000 Australians, the NDIS now supports 760,000 participants, and the number continues to grow.”
“Not only were they unsuccessful in getting further support; the NDIS reduced the supports the family already had, severely reducing the son's plan at the time they needed it most. This included the removal of support coordination and reductions in behaviour support, including spreading funding that was initially intended for a 12-month period over a three-year period, as well as almost halving the therapy supports available. Despite clear risks, these critical supports have been cut at a time of worsening behaviours and financial distress for the family. There are a lot of people right now who are exceptionally worried about whether they themselves or their child, family member or loved one will still be eligible for support through the NDIS. The answer isn't clear, and where do they go?”
“The NDIS was intended to be a participant-friendly system, yet I continue to hear from families within our community that they are struggling to navigate the system and are living in fear of funding cuts and what that means to their loved ones. I want to share the story of a family in the upper Yarra who reached out to my office this week. This is a single-parent family already experiencing severe financial and social hardship. They are currently living without permanent secure housing. This family relies on the NDIS support for their son and recently applied for a review, given the son's escalating aggressive behaviours and difficulty attending a mainstream school.”
“When I first met with them—I've engaged with them quite a lot—they brought a photo of Jackson to make sure that I knew there was a person behind the conversation, because Jackson wasn't able to attend. Then they invited me to, and I had the honour of attending, Jackson's work to see him working with his carer, and to meet Jackson and talk to him about the football that he plays at the Montrose football club in the all abilities team and really see firsthand the life that Jackson is building and how important it is to him and his family, and that is because of the NDIS. We need to make sure that people like Jackson can get the support that they need, and part of that, clearly, is making sure that the NDIS is sustainable. It's clear that the status quo isn't working. Fraud and rorting have infiltrated the scheme, and it's broken.”
“At the moment, too many of these families feel like that hope is slipping away. They've seen their supports reduced and their funding cut. What is just a line item in the budget in Canberra is the difference between hope and despair for the families impacted. We need to remember that behind every number and every budget saving the government talks about, we are talking about people. We are talking about people like Jackson in my electorate of Casey. For Jackson, the NDIS has changed his life and changed his family's life. It's provided him with the supports that allow him to work and get back into our community, and that give his parents the support they need and the break that they need. I had the opportunity to meet with Jackson's parents and hear firsthand from them about Jackson's story.”
“As I stand here today and speak on this bill, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, I want those Australians to know that I hear their concerns loud and clear. For Australians navigating significant and permanent disability, the NDIS is much more than a safety net. It is the bridge between isolation and community. It brings independence, the ability to work and the supports to thrive and live a life of dignity rather than limitation. For families and loved ones, it gives them a support network and it gives them hope and certainty for the future. For so many families, the NDIS is a lifeline. It provides people with disabilities and their families with hope, structure, support and guidance. In some cases, the support of the NDIS is what holds families together.”
“He announced that every person with a disability who receives support through the NDIS would face being reassessed to get vital and often life-saving supports. Since that announcement and that bombshell, my office and, I know, every office across our community has been inundated with calls and emails from distressed locals and their support workers, uncertain of what the future holds. In my electorate of Casey, there are 5,459 individuals who rely on the NDIS, and that's just the individual participants. Beyond that number are their families, their communities, their loved ones, their support networks. These changes will impact tens of thousands in my community and millions of Australians all across the country, which is why it's so important that we get it right.”
“Firstly, I want to commend the member for Clark for bringing Clare's voice to Canberra. I echo his sentiment, and I let Clare know that we are listening and we have heard that, so thank you. We have an important role to speak, as members of parliament, but the most powerful role we can play, particularly in this conversation, is in bringing the voices of participants and those involved. So thank you, Member for Clark, and please let Clare know that people have listened. This is an important conversation that we are having. We need to get this right. Last month, the Minister for Health and Ageing dropped a bombshell on every single person who relies on the NDIS during a speech at the Press Club.”
“Now, they don't really have a choice, because you're not allowed to speak out in the Labor Party ,or you get kicked out. But that broken promise will haunt them. Every time they speak to a community member, they'll have to know that they've broken faith with their community. (Time expired)”
“The real thing is, as my mum used to say to me, watch out because, if they lie about the little things, they'll lie about the big things. In looking back at the Prime Minister who didn't fall off the stage, despite the video footage, and then denied it, that was an insight into this prime minister. The Prime Minister had the gall to look at the Australian people and say, 'My word is my bond.' He made that commitment to the Australian people and then, time and time again, this prime minister has broken his word. He's forced every member of this government to break their word with the Australian community. I feel a little bit sorry for the first termers. It is fewer than 12 months into their careers, and they have broken faith and broken their word with their community.”
“Like so many things that he does, he broke his word and ripped that funding from my community. But I'll keep fighting because my community deserves safe roads. They deserve promises being met. When we're talking about roads, we need to talk about Maroondah Highway and Killara Road, another example of failure by Labor governments. In 2019 the coalition committed $20 million to upgrade the Maroondah Highway-Killara Road intersection. The money was given to the Labor state government in 2019. In 2024 I wrote to the minister, and they committed to starting the works and having it delivered in 2025. Here we are in 2026, and nothing has started. I genuinely struggle to find one thing that this prime minister has done to keep his word.”
“Reefton, Warburton, Healesville, Lilydale, Chirnside Park—so many rely on this hospital, and this Labor government federally and this Labor government in Victoria led by Jacinta Allan continue to mislead my community by talking about announcements and failing to deliver. When we're talking about failure to deliver and broken promises, my community remembers the broken promise from this prime minister when it comes to dirt roads. The coalition committed in 2019 to seal 150 kilometres of dirt roads in my community, because we are a periurban community and we have natural disasters. It keeps residents safe. It allows emergency services to get in. Prime Minister Albanese, when he was the shadow infrastructure minister, committed to that 10-year program. He gave his word to my community that he would fund it.”
“I've been inundated with older Australians on fixed incomes who cannot absorb this cost and who will have to remove their private health insurance at a time that they need it more than ever. They will go to the public health system, putting more pressure on the public health system and impacting every Australian. But we know in Victoria and the seat of Casey that these governments, whether it's the Albanese Labor government or the Allan Labor government, don't care about the Australian people and that they are all about spin and announcements. That is epitomised locally by the Maroondah Hospital. Twice the Allan Labor government have promised to upgrade Maroondah Hospital but failed to include the money in the budget. This is the closest hospital for many in my community.”
“This is why the Liberals have said we will repeal these taxes and put in our tax-back guarantee. We will support all Australians. We will support you to build a future for you and your family. We will support wage earners. We will support business owners because we know that they are stronger together. But not only does this budget destroy hope and aspiration for young Australians; it's an attack on every older Australian that is over 65. This government have ripped out private health insurance support for three million older Australians, costing singles up to $800 a year and couples over $1,600 a year. This will not only impact those Australians that will have this cut on them; it will put more pressure on public housing.”
“The reality is that, despite the spin from this government, it's not about housing; it's about taxing you more. If you're trying to save for a deposit and build your future by investing in shares, ETFs, crypto and other assets, as so many young people and so many other Australians are, Labor want to take a bigger share of your gain. To make it worse, older Australians have had the benefit of a capital gains discount while they build their wealth, including the Prime Minister and 20 of 23 cabinet ministers. But younger Australians are now being whacked from every angle and not given the same opportunities by this government. This isn't reform; it's an assault on aspiration. It's shutting the door on young Australians, who have already been locked out of too much opportunity.”
“That's a cover for increased taxes from this Prime Minister and this Treasurer. We do know that getting in the housing market is one of the biggest challenges that's raised with all of us by young people. They expect their government to make it easier. But, as I said, these changes will not. They're going to make it harder. These tax changes will reduce supply in housing. Twelve months ago, this Treasurer was defending the current negative gearing and capital gains tax system because he said it wouldn't help supply. Suddenly, today, he won't talk about his own budget papers that show supply will be reduced by 35,000 houses because of their changes. He won't talk about how rents will go up for the Australian people because of his changes.”
“That's what the coalition is doing—supporting workers and supporting business owners. When business owners are doing well and business is strong, the workers are strong as well and our community is strong. Labor promised that this budget was about intergenerational reform. Instead, they've handed down a budget of intergenerational fraud. The government is pulling up the ladder on every young Australian who is trying to get ahead. Labor's toxic new taxes make it even harder to get ahead in this country—to save, to invest and to buy a home. Not one Labor member, from the Prime Minister down, has been able to explain to the Australian people how taxing shares, stock options and ETFs will help reduce housing prices for the Australian people. The reality is that it's actually not about helping people with housing.”
“By 2031-32, we will index the top two tax thresholds as well, and this will fully protect all income earners from inflation. This is generational tax reform that will put more money back into the pockets of the hardworking Australians who earn it. Labor will try—and we already saw it with the member for Forde—and run class warfare about working people and those that own businesses. The reality is that this supports every Australian that earns a wage and every Australian that risks it all to start a small business. What this government doesn't understand is that it is not a competition. It is not a competition between those that own businesses and those that work in those businesses and earn a salary. It's about business owners and workers working together to help those businesses grow and share more of what they earn, growing the pie.”
“Put simply, Labor is taking more of what you earn, and every time you get a pay rise and every time you work that overtime shift and earn more, Labor takes more—through their little secret called bracket creep. Labor talk about being for workers, but they don't talk to the Australian worker about bracket creep and how, when you work that extra overtime, you pay more tax. If they really wanted to support the Australian people, they would support the Liberal Party's tax-back guarantee, because the coalition's tax-back guarantee will index tax thresholds to inflation. By indexing the bottom two income tax thresholds to inflation, we will fully protect 85 per cent of income earners, year on year. It will start with relief of around $250 in year 1, and it will grow to more than $1,000 a year in year 4 and continue to grow, year on year.”
“It shows the true colours of this government, which is comfortable breaking promises to the Australian people who put them in this place. The Prime Minister said this would be a budget about Labor values. Well, I guess it's a budget about Labor values in tribute to Julia Gillard and 'No carbon tax under my government.' It is in their DNA to lie to the Australian people. The papers also show that we are dealing with the highest taxing government in our nation's history. We all know—and you feel it at home—that this government can't manage the budget and can't manage money. We're facing a decade of deficits, and the Australian taxpayers will foot the bill for Labor's decisions to increase taxes. The budget sees our economy burdened with $50 billion in higher taxes, and that includes $15 billion in higher personal income taxes.”
“The Treasurer and the Prime Minister will try to spin the inflation crisis by blaming the Middle East. And the Middle East has absolutely had an impact on inflation, but let's be clear—and every Australian knows this—interest rates increased before the conflict in the Middle East and before the Strait of Hormuz was closed. As the Governor of the Reserve Bank herself said, 'This government is spending.' So they made an already tough situation with issues in the Middle East even worse for the Australian people, with no economic buffer for the government, for the RBA governor or for the Australian people at home. This budget centres around three key themes for this government: broken promises and lies, higher taxes and rising debt. It's a budget that does what Labor promised they wouldn't do.”
“When I'm out listening to locals in my community, many express that they don't feel this government has their backs and that this government doesn't understand the challenges they have. The reality is that it's getting harder and harder to get ahead. It's getting harder to pay the mortgage, to pay the rent, to keep the lights on and to put food on the table. For example, Australians with an average mortgage are $32,000 a year worse off under Labor. When interest rates go up, mortgage holders and renters will be worse off. Rent goes up as the cost to the landlord goes up. Australians have seen their living standards erode under this government. Inflation in Australia is at 4.6 per cent. It's forecast to hit five per cent—and that's greater than France, Japan, Italy, Canada, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom.”
“I'll also look forward to him talking to the minister for energy and telling the minister for energy that he's wrong in supporting the energy system as it is and that he wants to nationalise it. I thought that was an interesting contribution from the member for Forde. But this is really about this budget. There are lots of failures in this budget. It is important that we talk about it because the Australian people are struggling on so many fronts. They're worried about their future, their children's future and the state of the country. Disappointingly, Labor's budget only makes those worries worse. It does not help Australians today. This budget provides zero cost-of-living relief for the Australian people today.”
“On the one hand, you get the Minister for Housing standing up in question time today and this week telling everyone how great this government is and how they're fixing housing for the Australian people, and then, in exactly the same question time, you've got the government saying: 'Housing is a disaster. We failed. That's why we've had to break our word to the Australian people.' They can't have it each way. Either the minister is doing a good job and they're fixing housing or the minister is failing and they cannot deliver. I understand that the member for Forde wants to be out of order and interject on the way out, because I, too, would be embarrassed to sit there and be a nodding head as their own leaders contradict each other in question time. But I'll look forward to him speaking out against the EU free trade agreement.”
“I must say, I look forward to the member for Forde speaking out against the EU free trade agreement that his government just signed, given that he is such an advocate against free trade! It's also interesting that the member for Forde talked about the challenges that have been there for 40 years for the Australian people. It is staggering. Where was this passion from those opposite, 12 months ago, when they went to the election, committing to not changing negative gearing or capital gains tax? Their commitment wasn't there, the passion wasn't there, 12 months ago. And then there's this other confusion.”
“There's a nice little group of Ruddites there building a claim for the member for Parramatta. We can all see it. You know it's that bad when those opposite are prepared to talk out about it. This budget has exposed this treasurer as big on talking points and low on economic literacy or detail. He's big on taxes, but he does not understand the detail. Now the question is: are the backbench going to blame the Prime Minister, or are they going to blame the Treasurer? We know the member for Parramatta is very much hoping they're going to blame the Treasurer.”
“Well, you know it's a bad budget when the government are taking credit for results on the weekend and they haven't even introduced the legislation into parliament. Gosh! And the member for Bennelong did criticise the legislation, because this is a budget that fails all Australians. It's full of broken promises and it's going to make the situation worse. Their own budget papers show that the tax changes are going to increase rents and they're going to decrease supply. It's so bad that unnamed backbenchers have spoken out against the policy. A few brave souls dared criticise the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, including the member for Bennelong, the member for Chifley, Senator Ananda-Rajah and also the member for Parramatta, the Cabinet Secretary, who was very happy to criticise the Treasurer and throw him under the bus.”
“This is at a time when Foodbank in Victoria are talking about how they were providing 69,000 meals a day and that has gone up to 76,000 meals a day, just in Victoria alone, just Foodbank—one organisation. Australians are struggling to put food on the table. There are stories shared by Foodbank about parents themselves not being able to eat. There's a heartbreaking story of a mother who drives her children to school, walks home and then walks back to pick them up because she can't afford the fuel and she doesn't want her children to know how tough it is. For that mum and for so many Australians, this budget provides them nothing—no support, just more spin from an out-of-touch Prime Minister, an out-of-touch Treasurer who break their word with the Australian people.”
“And the little secret of this mirage, which they will all claim when they say they're making a difference, is that it's not going to make a difference today for the Australian people. Those opposite are also waiting until inflation catches your pay increase, because, if you're lucky enough to get a pay increase, which you deserve and work hard for, this government will collect more tax on it. It's called bracket creep. That's why the coalition said, 'We won't do that anymore; we're going to index bracket creep,' but this government has come out and said it will oppose it. So they want to pat on the back for saying that they'll give you back $250—about $5 a week in two years' time, once your wages have gone up and they've taxed you for it anyway—pretending they're making a difference today.”
“Graham's right—many older Australians rely on health services as they age, which makes this decision so galling, but, even if not directly impacted by these changes, everyone will be impacted. It will put additional pressure on the public health system, making it harder, and every Victorian knows that the public health system in Victoria is already under pressure because of the Allan Labor government's failure to fund it. In this budget there was nothing to help Australians when it comes to the cost of living in 2026. When so many Australians are struggling to put food on the table, the best this treasurer and this prime minister could offer is a mirage, and that mirage is $250 in two years time. That is literally the only support they have offered for the Australian people.”
“He summed it up quite well: 'I would like to register my concern not only for my wife and I but for the hundreds of pensioners who will be affected by the proposed changes to the rebates announced by the government. This issue has barely had a mention in the media, but it is nothing but another tax grab by them. We have paid gold for many years. It's currently costing us $611 a month. An increase such as the one proposed is totally unfair for the senior citizens who have tried to resist adding to the public hospital numbers. It may be the last straw for many of us. I've been using my cover frequently in the last couple of years due to bouts of surgery.' Thank you, Graham, for sharing your story.”
“It didn't help in any way with the cost of living, and if you're over 65 and you're relying on private health insurance, that rebate has been ripped away from you, with no warning, no notice and no consultation. That's going to impact three million Australians across the country. It's going to increase the costs—about $800 per year for a single and $1,600 per year for a couple. So many older Australians are on fixed incomes. This is money, which they cannot afford and do not have, that they will lose because of the heartless and callous broken promise from this prime minister. I've had many constituents contact me, upset, concerned and worried about these changes, and I want to share Graham from Belgrave South's concerns.”
“What's clear is that this budget contained many broken promises from a prime minister who said that his word was his bond and that the Australian people could trust him. Well, the Australian people now clearly know that, when it comes to tax, they cannot trust this prime minister. Everything, moving forward, that this prime minister says will be tainted by those broken promises and those solemn commitments he made—in his own words, over 50 times—to the Australian people before the last election. No investor, no business operator and no worker in this country can have any confidence in investing and wanting to get ahead, because this government can change the rules just like that, at the drop of a hat. They've done it twice, and they'll do it again. There's even more pain in this budget for the Australian people.”
“This milestone is a credit to everyone who has been involved in the Athenaeum over the past 50 years, the volunteers who give their time so generously and the vibrant arts community we have in the Yarra Ranges. Congratulations to the board of directors, the production committee, the volunteers and all involved. Here's to another 50 years of theatre, art, community and creativity. I also need to pay tribute to Angela Glennie, a volunteer at the Athenaeum but also a recently retired primary schoolteacher at St Mary's. She has served our community in so many ways and educated so many young children, including my own. She has made a difference to people's lives and given a lot to the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre. Thank you, Angela.”
“Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining the 50th anniversary of the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre. The milestone was celebrated with the unveiling of a new portrait honouring the Athenaeum founders, Geoffrey Page and Russell Johnson. The portrait was painted by local artist Lou Primavera and will hang proudly in the foyer for years to come. The Lilydale Athenaeum building was established in 1888 as a Mechanics Institute, and throughout the years it survived a fire and was refurbished to continue standing today as an important pillar of the Yarra Ranges art scene. The founders, Geoff and Russell, together with many dedicated volunteers, took an almost derelict building and made the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre the special place that it is today.”
“They like to put a lot of motions forward that have merit in the sense that we do need to work together with our partners. We do need to continue to back defence industry, and technology research and development. But their actions don't match their words, and that's before we even talk about the disgraceful broken promise on the capital gains tax, which will punish tech companies in defence industry and every tech company that wants to invest and get ahead in Australia. (Time expired)”
“You get a press release, you get a statement with some warm fuzzy words, but you get no certainty for business to invest in AI, in cybersecurity, in quantum. In fact, when it comes to quantum, this government under the Future Made in Australia strategy spent $1 billion of taxpayer money to back a US Silicon Valley company—PsiQuantum—and that project is behind, delayed. It was supposed to be at the Brisbane Airport. But just last week quietly, conveniently at the same time as the budget and all those conversations, it was announced that the Brisbane site is no longer viable; they're now moving to another site. There is no accountability from this government about the billion dollars that goes to an American company. Again, this government is big on talk.”
“So we have a government that moves a motion about how they're going to do something, but, at the same time, their actions take away one of the crucial pillars of our science, technology, research and innovation communities. The community lobbied the government, explained to them the importance of this funding but, like with so many things, this government didn't listen. Australian defence industry, Australian technology, and Australian research and development will be worse off because of this decision by the Albanese Labor government. Again, the government talk a big word. They talk about AI and the importance of artificial intelligence yet there are no follow-up actions from this government to strengthen AI partnerships with the European Union, with any business at all.”
“Let's look at point 3: 'affirms the government's commitment to continue to provide new international opportunities for Australian businesses at the cutting edge of defence technology and innovation, in parallel with a Future Made in Australia.' While this motion talks about backing international opportunities, this government made a decision to no longer fund our partnership with the European Southern Observatory, an agreement signed in 2017 by the coalition. Australian astronomers use this observatory to make new technological discoveries. It's helping when it comes to defence. Defence applications include things like directed energy and laser weapons, antimissile warning systems, improved laser communication—so many technologies that are crucial in the modern world.”
“My family proudly became Australians and joined the Australian story but still kept a bit of their heart at home. Every migrant does that journey of loving their new country while always remembering their homeland, and the European Union partnership is so important when it comes to that. While this is an important signing, action speaks louder than words. Unfortunately, like so many of the government's announcements, the words sound good but the actions don't deliver.”
“It's important to rise on this motion because the reality is that we have to meet the world as it is, not as we'd like it to be. At the moment there is conflict all through the world. The rules based order is not stacking up; it's not providing the roles that it has previously. Australia needs to step up, and we need to work with our partners all across the globe. Middle powers have a crucial role to play to make sure that they are at the table and looking after Australia's best interests first, democracy's best interests and fellow allies. Australia has had a long partnership with the European Union and with Europe; there's a strong connection. Many Australians, my family included, have a family connection. My family came from Italy in 1953 and established a farm in Silvan in my community of Casey.”
“But, surprisingly, Member for Riverina, there have been some members in this House that have criticised that policy. Surely not, in a crisis where fuel prices are above $2.50 and diesel is above $3.”
“At best, he looks to manage the situation and spin it to his own advantage, and we've seen that this week. They do say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Well, the Prime Minister paid the coalition a great form of flattery—working proactively, offering policies to solve the challenges that we face—by imitating and copying our policy on Monday to cut the fuel excise and reduce the road user charge to take pressure off the Australian people. It was announced on Friday by the coalition. The opposition leader wrote to the Prime Minister. Three days later, on Monday, it became government policy. That is about leadership by the opposition leader—working constructively, bringing forward a policy that will take pressure off the Australian people. It was such a good idea that the Prime Minister took it, so well done, Prime Minister.”
“'The Prime Minister has no plan, just more confusion and blame shifting.' That's two. It was opposition leader at the time, Anthony Albanese. Let's go with three. 'This government will blame any weakness on crisis, but that is disingenuous at best.' Who was that? Opposition leader Anthony Albanese. I've got a whole page. I'm not going to read them. I hope the member for Reid takes these to the Prime Minister and holds him to account for his commentary during COVID, because, let's be honest, we are sick of the sanctimony from this prime minister. His own words show the hypocrisy of this prime minister and show a complete failure in leadership. Let's talk about this failure in leadership. This prime minister is not a leader. At best, he's a manager.”
“The member for Reid did just go there! Although I would remind her that two of those refineries were announced as closures under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government, so those opposite should be very careful about criticising. The member for Reid talked about commentary in crises, and I was prepared because I thought this might come up today. I'm going to read out a few quotes from someone that gave commentary during a crisis—COVID, when we all needed to band together. We've heard from those opposite that you shouldn't be criticising leaders during COVID—that it's a failure of leadership if you criticised during COVID. Let's play bingo. Who said this? 'At this moment of crisis, the Prime Minister has failed to lead.' That was the then opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, during COVID. That's one.”
“From photos to uniforms to equipment and medals, each piece and document told a story that made up the last 100 years of the Selby Fire Brigade. It was a privilege to share in and help preserve the history of one of our local brigades, and it was an honour to be involved in the celebration of the centenary of the Selby Fire Brigade. Thank you to all those brigade members for the ongoing dedication that each and every firefighter has to protecting the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, the Yarra Valley, our wider community across Casey, all of Victoria and, when needed, any community across Australia that needs help. Thank you to our CFA. You are there when we need you the most. ( Time expired )”