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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“As my uncle, who is a farmer, likes to say, 'For three years you'll make money, for three years you'll lose money, for three years you'll break-even, and if you get really lucky you'll make a dollar in that 10th year, and it makes it all worth while.' But this government said to every Australian and every Australian farmer: 'We think it's reasonable that we take money off you for the value of that land. Even if you're not looking to sell it and even if you're not looking to do anything with it, we're going to make you pay money to us on land that you're not looking to realise, on land you are not looking to sell and on land in which you have no cash to use.' Every Australian should be concerned that every member opposite thought that was reasonable. Day after day, they defended the principle of taxing unrealised capital gains.”
“It means, if you're a farmer in my electorate of Casey or anywhere across the country and you happen to have land that you own and grow crops on, if that land happens to be worth more than $3 million—let's call it $4 million in land—and you put that land into superannuation as part of an arrangement because your children are now working the land and they pay rent on that land to you—let us be clear. The rent was so you could feed yourself and pay your bills; you're not making a big profit on that. Many in my community undertake this. It's not looking to dodge tax; it's looking to pass it to the next generation and make sure that it's sustainable for those families that have worked that land for 50 to 60 years if not longer and are now looking to retire. So it can be transitioned generationally to their children. Those farmers do it tough.”
“And that's why this government needs to continue to increase taxes on the Australian people. There are some really concerning elements to this bill that we should look at, which are the changes that they've made and what they've taken out. The Australian people should be really concerned about that broken promise, but they should also be concerned that this government, this prime minister and this treasurer thought that taxing unrealised capital gains would be an acceptable way to change the tax system. This government put forward a system that would tax unrealised capital gains. What does that mean in simple terms?”
“The reason this government needs higher taxes is to pay for their tax-and-spend agenda and to pay for the significant increases in government spending that are driving higher inflation and driving higher interest rates for the Australian people. That is the reality that is being lived in so many communities across Casey and across the country. Although, if you had the opportunity to listen to the Prime Minister today, he said that living standards are up today and the Australian people have never had it better. I thought I'd heard some disconnected Canberra-bubble statements in my time in this House, but I think that takes the cake. With a straight face, the Prime Minister told everyone in the country that their standard of living today has improved and they're doing better. Could you be more out of touch?”
“It's a day ending in Y, and we've got another ALP special. We have a bill that has a very impressive-sounding name, but it's actually hiding what it really does. Building a stronger and fairer super system sounds good. It sounds reasonable. It sounds fair. It's very much Labor. The first point they have to do is name the bill well. That's about the only thing they generally get right: an impressive name. What this bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026, really is is a broken promise and higher taxes for the Australian people. When you break it down, that is what this bill is about: a broken promise and higher taxes for the Australian people.”
“We have a treasurer and his mentor, the former treasurer Wayne Swan, telling us how great the economy is and that we've never had it better. We have a treasurer who has no answers to the economic challenges the Australian people face. For four years, he has failed to treat the symptoms of the challenges that we face. He has not treated the symptoms. He has not treated the causes. He has made the situation worse. We have been abandoned by this treasurer. Watch him in question time; he will go personal. He will attack the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow Treasurer because he has no answers to the economic challenges that the Australian people face today.”
“We've seen Labor this week focus on cheap political stunts and scoring political points when they should be focused on the Australian people and the economic and national security challenges they face. As a coalition, we're focused on restoring Australians' standard of living and protecting their way of life, because Australians know and many in my community know that it is tough economically. I could spend hours sharing stories, but I just want to share one story about how tough it is for the community today. Pat from Coldstream wrote to me about how she had to cancel her car insurance to afford rent and then ended up moving, for reduced rental cost, to a house with no air conditioning—at a time when we've seen 35- to 40-degree days in Victoria. But what do we have?”
“I want to also commend the Millgrove Residents Action Group, Seville Community House and the Friends of the Creek and Mt Toolebewong & District Landcare Group for organising Clean Up Australia Day events, as well as those who helped to clean up Melba Park in Lilydale, Brushy Creek Trail in Mooroolbark, Manchester Primary School in Mooroolbark, Brushy Creek in Chirnside Park, Elizabeth Bridge Reserve and Japara Neighbourhood House in Kilsyth, and many others I'm sure I missed. I'd also like to give a shout-out to Daniel and Jeremy from the Victoria Road Primary School. I visited the school last Friday and they were cleaning up on Friday at the school. The real message of Clean Up Australia Day isn't what we do on 1 March; it's what we do the remaining 364 days of the year.”
“Last Sunday was Clean Up Australia Day and it was wonderful to join the Montrose scouts to clean up the Montrose township. Thanks to the Montrose Environmental Group and the Montrose Township Group for bringing this event together. Together, we removed over 500 kilograms of rubbish, including car tyres, old road signs, doors, boxes and fake grass. These events are a fantastic way to show younger generations the importance of protecting our environment and keeping our community safe and clean. It was wonderful to see so many young people there from the Montrose scouts.”
“This must be fixed urgently, and I stand here today to ask the government to prioritise the establishment of a proton therapy unit in Australia to help families and give Aussie kids like Charlie and Bonnie the best chance of the bright future that they so richly deserve.”
“These local families aren't just fighting the devastating diagnosis; they are fighting a geography that says their child's best chance of life exists 15,000 kilometres away. It's simply because we haven't prioritised the technology here in Australia. The most devastating part is that Australia was on track to have a proton beam therapy centre in Adelaide, and it has become abundantly clear that the federal government has lost confidence that the South Australian Labor government can deliver this critical project, which would treat 2,000 patients a year. Health Minister Mark Butler told a press conference last November that he was 'working through the issue'. I note the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre has handed the government a proposal to buy and operate a proton therapy unit.”
“She was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of brain cancer—just the third case in Australia in 15 years. The good news is that it is curable, but only with a specialised radiation therapy that is only available in Florida, America. I was proud to support her parents, Daniel and Kate, and the family by playing in the T20 fundraising match between the Mount Evelyn Cricket Club and the Powelltown Cricket Club to help raise funds for Charlie's trip. It was a heartwarming display of community spirit, raising much-needed funds and providing a morale boost for the family. Bonnie has also undergone many treatments in a short number of years, with varying degrees of success. Bonnie's latest round of chemotherapy has not achieved desired results, and her specialist has recommended the proton beam therapy in Florida.”
“In my first speech in this parliament, I spoke about the most precious gifts we all have: life and time. For two families in my community, this statement rings true. Bonnie and Charlie are two young girls from my electorate who live entirely separate lives but who have both been diagnosed with rare brain tumours. At age four, Charlie's routine eye test changed the Fraser family's life forever when it uncovered a brain tumour larger than a tennis ball pressing on young Charlie's brain. In her short lifetime, Charlie has undergone two major surgeries, including a 21-hour operation. Our incredible surgeons managed to remove just over half of the tumour, but Charlie needed multiple blood transfusions and spent three days in ICU in an induced coma to let her little body recover.”
“According to the 2025 report by Wine Australia, grape growing, winemaking and wine related tourism contribute $51.3 billion to the Australian economy and support more than 200,000 jobs each year. By strengthening the financial viability of these wineries through this rebate increase, we are securing the future of regional towns in my community and in many communities across the country. This measure will help play a role to ensure that the Yarra Valley remains a vibrant, competitive and world renowned destination for generations to come, and I'm proud to always support my communities and always support programs and incentives that will allow them to continue to grow and flourish within our community.”
“By raising the cap, these wineries will be supported and encouraged to continue scaling and succeeding, allowing them to retain an additional $50,000 in cash flow to reinvest in their wineries and, so importantly, in local jobs and the local community. We must recognise that every bottle of locally grown wine that is sold at a Yarra Valley cellar door supports a network of regional and rural local jobs, from the winery hands and the winemakers to the hospitality staff to the chefs and the local tour operators. I was lucky enough to work in the hospitality industry in my community. Unfortunately, that was about 20 to 25 years ago, but so many young people get their first opportunities in hospitality because of our wineries.”
“From 1 July this year, the rebate cap will be increased from $350,000 to $400,000 per financial year. I'm going to shock the minister opposite and congratulate the Albanese government on that move. When the government has good policy—which is very rare—I will support it, and I'll put it on the record. Congratulations on increasing the wine equalisation tax from $350,000 to $400,000. The Yarra Valley is home to over 80 cellar doors, many of which are small to medium family owned enterprises. I know, from speaking with local viticulturists, that many of these businesses have been squeezed in recent years by the bracket creep and the pressure of rising production costs compounded with the lack of demand in wines.”
“I want to talk specifically about the wine equalisation tax and make it clear for the record and for my community that we do support the government's proposal to increase the WET producer rebate. However, we do not support the moves to limit comparison of super funds and reduce consumer choice—as I said, driving those funds to the ALP, to the union movement and back again. We don't have a choice on how we vote. We have to vote collectively on this bill, so we will be opposing the bill in its full measure. But I absolutely support that. As I said, as the member representing Australia's finest wine region, I'm proud to stand here in support of the increase of the wine equalisation tax producer rebate. It's such an important initiative, particularly for those smaller wineries and cellar doors that need that tax to survive.”
“I'm not sure of the connection to superannuation, the Rugby World Cup or wineries. Those are all completely different issues that could be and should be individual bills that are dealt with on their own merit. Each schedule stands alone as a bill that is worthy of debate and that should be discussed, voted on and passed as individual measures so we can represent our communities fairly and make sure that we support what we can and oppose what we must as well, because there are some really terrible elements to this bill. As I talked about, it's that circle of convenience in super at the start. But this is what Labor does. They like to put all these measures together to force us as the opposition to vote on a whole bill. You don't have a choice to separate it out.”
“We're looking at wineries, which I will talk about in a moment. As the member for Casey, I'm lucky to represent the best wine region in the country. Some, myself included, would argue that it is the best wine region in the world, but I don't want to be that bold, so I'll stay with the best wine region in Australia. I know the member for Fadden agrees with me, because there are no wineries on the Gold Coast, so I've got at least one supporter there. The member for Riverina might have a disagreement with me. We'll take that up out of the chamber, but he will be very happy that he got a mention in this speech. But we go from wineries to then the Rugby World Cup tax exemptions. I'm not sure of the link from wineries to Rugby World Cup tax exemptions. We're then looking at deductible gift recipient listings—charities with very important work.”
“It's all just a coincidence that this money cycles around, and the super supports the unions, and the unions bring members in and support the government, and then the government coincidentally does legislation that supports just those industry super funds. What did they say? Oh my God, what a coincidence! Was it Deidre Chambers, potentially? Anyway, we know how that one plays out. We see it all the time. It goes to the next level of a name, and they've just had to sneak in—because you have to be a level of honest in these things—other measures. They just added other measures—very benign, very plain other measures that could be anything. And that is exactly what this bill does. There are no links and connections at all between anything in this bill. There are six schedules. We have talk about super.”
“The Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025 is another treasury laws amendment bill, and we have Labor Party government 101—make sure that it has a very impressive-sounding name. That has to be the first thing you get right. If they don't get the name right, there's actually nothing they can talk about, because the detail within the bill never lines up with what it says. We've got a bill that is about supporting choice in superannuation—sounds impressive. Everyone loves choice, except a bill like this narrows choice, and it conveniently narrows choice to those super funds that are industry funds that, purely by coincidence, happen to be connected to the union movement. Then the union movement happens to be connected to the ALP and the government and pulls the strings.”
“If you know someone who volunteers with Rotary, the guides, the RSL, Probus, the men's shed or Inner Wheel, or perhaps someone who coaches a team, mentors students or otherwise volunteers in our community, I encourage you to nominate them for a Casey Community Award. These people deserve to be recognised and celebrated for the service they provide to our community. They are great examples of the true Australian spirit that deserves to be celebrated.”
“I'm looking forward to seeing this flag fly in my local community as a fitting tribute to our beautiful nation and the many selfless veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. I'm proud to say that nominations are open for the 2026 Casey Community Awards. These awards were established as a way to give back and say thank you to the incredible volunteers who make our community stronger. Our region is made up of volunteers who go above and beyond to help others, through protecting our community, running food banks and op shops, protecting our environment, keeping local sporting organisations running, and bringing our community together.”
“That's why I was honoured on Sunday to present Lilydale RSL President Bill Dobson and the members at the AGM—and I'm a member of the Lilydale RSL as well—with an Australian flag that has flown here at the heart of the democracy that is Parliament House. The flag will now proudly fly at Lilydale Cenotaph, which stands as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices of those who served our nation. It lists the names of those who once called our community home but left to defend freedoms that they never had the opportunity to enjoy. It symbolises local lives cut tragically short in the pursuit of a cause greater than themselves and a sense of courage and bravery that is difficult and impossible to comprehend.”
“Our veterans served and sacrificed for our national flag, our country and our democracy, and we stand here today in this House and look up at that same flag, which flies above this building. It is displayed proudly at the entrance of the House and is mounted in every corner of the floor of parliament. We have the privilege to stand here to debate laws and discuss the ways forward for our future as a free nation. And we must never forget that we stand in this building in peace to debate our future because our veterans stood on the front line to protect it. And to our veterans our flag represents the promise of a future they fought for, a future that thousands of service men and women never got to experience.”
“And it's why we love this country. We go through devastation, we support each other during the devastation, and we work together as a country—as Victorians, as locals and as Australians—to keep each other safe and help through those terrible times.”
“That was evident when a 300-strong crowd recently gathered in Seville to cheer on a convoy of trucks and utes donating hay to farmers affected by the Longwood bushfires. A group of locals who call themselves the Cute Ute Crew have been working hard alongside Aussie Hay Runners to deliver hay and stockfeed where it's needed. It was heartwarming to see the convoy of five semi-trailers and 157 utes make its way through the Yarra Valley up to northern Victoria, fuelled by coffees provided by the team at Branded Burgers. These are locals, some with memories of Black Saturday and others with the drive to help out, and they're making a real difference to Victorian farmers, giving up their time after working on weekends to support others. It's this community spirit that makes our regions the best place to call home.”
“They helped protect the township of Alexandra from the oncoming fire. What was amazing about the conversation and what we talked about is that they left Badger Creek to go north to Alexandra. They were going to the danger while others, rightly, were leaving that danger zone. The incredible courage that they showed to protect that community, stationed in front of an aged-care facility, is something we struggle to comprehend. They kept Alexandra safe. CFA volunteers all across the state put themselves in front of the fire front, in towns across our communities, to keep them safe. That is the community spirit at heart. The sight of those local trucks provides support to so many people. It has also been wonderful to see the community spirit of finding ways to help.”
“As part of this motion, I want to pay respect to all who were impacted by the fires recently, and I want to pay tribute to cattle farmer Max Hobson, who tragically lost his life in the Longwood fire near Seymour in central Victoria, just north of my home and my communities across Casey. My thoughts remain with the Victorians who have been impacted by these fires, which destroyed more than 400 homes and caused mass devastation to livestock, farmland and agricultural livelihoods. While towns evacuated, adhering to emergency warnings, CFA crews from across our regions turned out in force to support their fellow community members and Victorians. I've since visited local CFA brigades and spoken to many volunteers and captains across the community who were on the fire front. I had a particular conversation recently with the Badger Creek CFA.”
“We remember the brave men and women who met the call to protect our communities that day and in the weeks and months that followed. I'll never forget the way that our community came together in the weeks and months after the fires. As the ferocity of the fire finally extinguished, our community spirit and resilience rose, and that spirit of looking out for one another is something that lives on to this day. It makes our region the best place to call home. For me, as a survivor, Black Saturday's anniversary is a day when I take a moment to stop, pause, reflect and recommit every year to make sure I live my life in honour of those who didn't get the opportunity to continue their lives. The dangers that we saw in 2009 are still with us today.”
“It's a day that I remember vividly and lived through, like so many in my community. It was after a fortnight of a long heatwave that our worst fears eventuated, when fires ripped through parts of our community, killing 173 people, injuring 414 and destroying 2,029 homes. That was the physical damage, but the ongoing trauma and mental anguish lives to this day and will continue to live with all of those, including me, who were impacted. There were over 400 fires recorded across our state that day. Each one was met with courage by the men and women of the CFA, the SES, Forest Fire Management and so many community members, as well as the police and ambulance services. More than 450,000 hectares were burnt that day, and almost 80 Victorian townships were left completely unrecognisable.”
“I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) Saturday, 7 February 2026, marks the 17th anniversary of the tragic 2009 Black Saturday bushfires; and (b) the recent and ongoing bushfires across Victoria have devastated the state, including the heartbreaking loss of one life, the destruction of homes, farmland, livestock and agricultural livelihoods; and (2) acknowledges the bravery and tireless dedication of local Country Fire Authority crews, emergency services and volunteers who continue to work under extreme conditions to defend Victorian lives and property, including those who met the call and travelled long distances to help support fire-threatened communities. On this Saturday just gone, 7 February, we recognised the 17th anniversary of the tragic 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.”
“The answer we will never know and can never know, but a question which many people have is, if those cries had been listened to in 2022, three years before the IRGC-coordinated attacks in our country on the Jewish community, could those attacks have been prevented? Could they have been prevented if the IRGC had been listed in 2022—as so many in the community, including the coalition, had called for? This government does not get the right to rewrite history and pretend that they acted ahead of time. There were warnings. There was commentary. I can provide the Hansard showing me, Keith Wolahan, Senator Claire Chandler, the member for Berowra Julian Leeser and many others calling for action in 2022, and it took until November of 2025. The Iranian people in Australia and in Iran deserve better.”
“But the coalition have been calling for action on the IRGC and wanting them to be listed as a terrorist organisation since 2022 and before. Since I came into this parliament, I've been calling for that. So forgive me if it is galling to see the government pat themselves on the back for finally realising, in November 2025, that they should list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. After synagogues had been attacked and after the Lewis Continental Kitchen had been attacked by the IRGC, in November 2025, this government finally acted. But let's not pretend that that was a surprise. The Iranian community in Australia had been calling for that for years. The coalition had been calling for it for years. Security experts had been calling for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist organisation for years.”
“Yesterday he was in Melbourne joining the Iranian protesters to show his support and addressing the crowd—a man of conviction, who has strength in his beliefs, who didn't turn up to support the Iranian community in the last term of parliament because it was his responsibility as a parliamentarian, as he proved yesterday. He's there with the Iranian community through their journey because it is his responsibility as a human. It is his responsibility as the principled person that he is. I congratulate him for showing, not with words but with his actions, his strength. He's a great man, and I look forward to continuing to support and work with Keith as we support the Iranian community all across the country.”
“I want to send my support and solidarity to those in the Iranian community in Casey and in the outer east, and to their families, friends and loved ones at home in Iran. You are not alone. We stand with you. We support you. This journey has not just happened today. It has been going for over three years. I was proud, in the last term of parliament, to stand with my good friend the former member for Menzies, Keith Wolahan, to sponsor political prisoners. Some of those political prisoners paid the ultimate price—being murdered in prison for their beliefs. In politics, too often people do things because it's easy or because they have to do it as a member of parliament. I want to pay tribute right now to Keith Wolahan. He's no longer in this House, but he's still fighting for the Iranian community.”
“'Woman, life, freedom.' 'Say her name: Mahsa Amini.' These are just two of the protest movement slogans that have been chanted by Iranians, and Persians all around the world and here in Australia, since September 2022. And we can never forget Mahsa Amini, brutally murdered for wanting to live a life of freedom. How has this transpired, over three years? We now live with a situation where there are reports—and credible reports, from Iran International—that more than 36,500 Iranians were killed in a massacre. Thirty-six thousand, five hundred Iranians killed—for what? For protesting—for wanting to stand up for their rights and have freedom. This protest has been going for more than three years, and it continues to escalate.”
“My question is to the Treasurer. Last week, the RBA governor confirmed that government spending is part of aggregate demand and 'contributing to inflationary pressures'. She said: That's why we've decided to raise interest rates … Will the Treasurer now finally accept that his spending has contributed to inflationary pressures and the interest rate rise, or is the independent RBA governor wrong?”
“What it means for the Australian people is that you'll have less money in your pocket and that that money will buy you fewer goods at the supermarket. It will make it harder to get ahead every day. And we have a government that refuses to acknowledge the problems. We have a government that has made the problems worse. We have a government that continues to spin. They continue to tax and they continue to spend. In a high-inflation environment, we are seeing this government be the highest spending government in 40 years outside of COVID. In no way should you be the highest spending government in 40 years in a high-inflation environment. There are those opposite that know that. They understand the basic economics, but they also know they have nothing to say, because they can't. They've got to follow the Treasurer's talking points.”
“That's why we've decided to raise interest rates just a bit. Black and white—it is economics 101. It should not take the RBA governor to confirm what is basic economics. But, when you've got a Treasurer that does nothing but spin, you need the RBA governor to explain that. As I said, when you have an economy that is being run on fairy floss, it is going to make the Australian people sick. That is what we are seeing today: interest rates are up, inflation is up. The RBA are not predicting that we will hit the band until 2027 if we're lucky, which means interest rates are going to go up even further. Real wages are forecast to be backwards this full year. What does 'real wages' mean? We always talk a lot about economic terms.”
“Well, I had the opportunity on Friday in the economics committee to speak to the RBA governor and asked the RBA governor a question from Matt from Lilydale—a member of my community because that's what we're here to do, represent our communities. He had two questions. His questions were: How is the government spending affecting the economy? Has it contributed to the rate rise? Those are very simple questions that all Australians want answered. What did the RBA governor say? She said: … I could summarise. Government spending is part of total spending and total aggregate demand in the economy. So it, along with private spending, contributes to aggregate demand. And so, to the extent that aggregate demand is above aggregate supply, which we think it is, that's contributing to inflationary pressures.”
“But the problem with giving fairy floss to a young person as a parent—or anyone else—is it feels good for a moment, but, if they keep eating it, it makes them feel worse and it actually makes the situation worse for them. And that's what this government has done over four years. Either this treasurer has deliberately misled the Australian people by not understanding what is happening—with basic economics 101—or this treasurer does not understand what's happening and is misleading people. Either one is unacceptable. We have a situation where he is misleading this House and the Australian people. On Tuesday 3 February, the Treasurer was talking about government spending, saying, 'It was not a factor in the decision that the RBA took today.' Not a factor at all, the Treasurer said.”
“Take responsibility for your actions. This economic cost-of-living crisis we face today sits directly with this government. It sits directly with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer. The scary part for the Australian people is they're doing it so tough right now. It feels like they are on an economic treadmill. They are running harder and harder every day. The speed on that treadmill is going up because of this government. It is getting harder to stay on that treadmill, and it gets worse. The solution over the four years that this government has had for the Australian people on that economic treadmill is to feed them fairy floss. This government has fed the community economic fairy floss and sold it to them like a solution.”
“I know members opposite, particularly on the backbench, are required to do one thing: read out the talking points. That's all they're allowed to do. But, gosh, that was extraordinary! I think we had five minutes there, and in the last 15 seconds the member for Forde decided to finally talk about the government and what they had achieved. He rattled off a quick list. If you speak to anyone in the community, they're not feeling that. They've never had it tougher. They are struggling to put food on the table, and we have a government that is full of spin—which we just saw from the member for Forde; I have no doubt we'll see it from those opposite—talking about the opposition. They were talking about the opposition being in government for 10 years. Well, newsflash, you've been in government for four years now and counting.”
“But just remember, small business owners, that if you go out of business this year it's not the government's fault. Maybe you were dodgy. What a disgrace by this minister that doesn't— (Time expired)”
“The reason it's going to get worse is that input costs are up, led by energy. Inflation is up, and interest rates are up. Rule No. 1 with any addiction and any problem is to recognise that you have an addiction and that you have a problem. And we have seen this week that this prime minister and this treasurer refuse to acknowledge the spending addiction that they have when it comes to public spending, which is going to make the situation worse for every Australian and every small business. It is going to send costs up. Their borrowing costs are going to go up. The cost of their raw materials is going to go up. That means they have two choices: put their prices up and make it more expensive for consumers, or they are going to have to go out of business. It is not their fault. It is the failure of this government.”
“The secret given by the minister who has such disrespect for small businesses is that there is a compact between big business in Australia and the union movement, and the union movement then supports the ALP. The small businesses of Australia cannot be unionised, so the ALP and this government do not want to support them. They want to run them out of business so they can centralise it with unions. We know this and we see this, and, as the minister herself said, the proof is in the pudding. The proof in the pudding is 15,000 small businesses becoming insolvent in the last year alone. Australians have suffered. The real question and the real fear for the Australian people is that it was bad in 2025. We saw an interest rate rise this week. It's going to get a lot worse for small businesses across the country.”
“Why is the Minister for Small Business even the minister if she does not care about Australian small businesses? Small businesses give so much back to our community. I'm very lucky to have so many sporting clubs in the electorate of Casey. On the side of all those sporting club fields are sponsorships, and they're not sponsors from big business. They are sponsored by small businesses right across the country that are the heart of the community. They give back. So, if small business is not strong, our communities will not be strong. And, if our communities cannot be strong, then our country will not be strong. But this government does not care about that. Let's be clear. There is a reason that this government does not care about small businesses in Australia. Exactly right! They cannot unionise a small business.”
“And what is the comfort that the Minister for Small Business just gave to those business owners that lost it all in the last 12 months? 'Maybe they were dodgy'! So, if you were one of those small businesses in Casey that took a risk and gave it all and unfortunately it didn't succeed in the last 12 months, the Minister for Small Business in the Albanese Labor government wants you to know that maybe you were dodgy. Maybe it was your fault. There's no-one to blame in the Albanese Labor government. It couldn't have possibly been this minister. It had to be you. What does that really say about this government? This is a minister that is supposed to be responsible for helping the Australian people, for helping small businesses that risk it all to get ahead. And her answer to you is that you're dodgy. It's your fault.”
“'The proof is in the pudding,' as the Minister for Small Business said just then. Let me give the minister some proof: nearly 15,000 small businesses were insolvent across the country last year. The proof is in the pudding. That's up 33 per cent on the previous 12 months. That's a big statistic; it's a big number. But behind those 15,000 proof-is-in-the-pudding failures of this minister is a family. It is a husband and a wife who have risked it all to chase their dream. They've put it all on the line to provide a better life for their family, for their children. They have taken risks, they have risked it all, and 15,000 small businesses have become insolvent. They've had to go broke and potentially lose their house.”