Madonna Jarrett
Brisbane · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Parents, teachers and mental health professionals have increasingly expressed concern that social media companies have prioritised engagement and profit over children's wellbeing.”
“Since the introduction of those reforms, we have seen over five million accounts belonging to under-16s deleted off social media. That's an outcome, Member for Casey. This is a very positive development.”
“Protecting big tech or protecting young children—easy choice. Those opposite have the wrong priorities for this country, and we see it time and time again, whether it's keeping Australians locked out of the housing market, not supporting wage increases, voting against higher taxes or not acting on climate change.”
“Fourth is greater protection from online predators, scams and harmful content. Finally, the reforms send a strong message to the technology companies that child safety should be built into platform design rather than treated as an afterthought.”
“Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X are all central to our modern lifestyle. But, while they're great opportunities to learn, to be creative, to connect, they also expose young people to significant risk. I'm going to make a point here: there is research behind this. There are facts that support this.”
“I'm pretty proud that the government is standing strong against big tech because that's what we need to do. We went out alone, but there are 16 more countries that are coming in behind us, which is pretty important. That's a pretty strong contrast to those opposite, who have chosen big tech over Australian kids.”
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“This bill requires businesses to disclose mandatory transaction-based charges at the same time as they display the base price. That means no last-minute surprises, no artificially low headline prices, increasing only after the consumer has invested the time and attention, and no business models that rely on consumers being reluctant to abandon a purchase late in the process. Just to be clear, this bill doesn't prohibit transaction fees; it prohibits hiding them. It ensures that businesses doing the right thing are not disadvantaged by competitors who conceal the true cost until the final step. The third element of this reform is ending subscription traps. Everyone across this country, I'm sure, can relate to this. You sign up to a subscription. You decide you don't need it any more.”
“Have you ever tried to book a hotel, a flight or a concert ticket and the price you thought you were paying suddenly changes when you go to the checkout and click that final button? You take a closer look and you see that the company has added a booking fee here and there or a service charge on top of that. That's called drip pricing, and we're cracking down on it. Australians should be able to see the real price upfront in order to make a properly informed purchase. In one example from my electorate, a concert ticket promoted for $109.90 rose to $117 once a compulsory charge of $7, plus a service fee, was added to the last stage of the process. By then the consumer had already invested the time and attention and felt locked in to completing the purchase.”
“This could be something as simple as a car dealer forgetting to tell a buyer that a car had been involved in a flood, or, in other examples, creating an environment—including by using design elements in digital interfaces, where these sorts of designs place unreasonable pressures on a consumer or obstruct the consumer from making or fulfilling their decision. A great example would be a travel website with a timer that says: 'Only five minutes to go. Book now to get this price.' The examples will help businesses understand where the line is drawn, without restricting ordinary, legitimate, commercial practices. The second main element of the bill is addressing drip pricing. We've heard a bit today in this chamber about what this means, but I think everyone can relate to what I'm about to say.”
“The test captures exploitative behaviour and biases that aim to overwhelm consumers with complexity or structures of choices in a way that leads people to decisions that they would not otherwise make. Think how many times you've been online and you've seen: 'Sale ends in five minutes,' or, 'Only three items left. Buy now!' To provide practical guidance, the bill includes a non-exhaustive, indicative list of examples of practices that may contravene the new prohibition. These include impeding a consumer's ability to exercise legal rights or seek legal remedies; failing to disclose material information to a consumer, or maybe even just disclosing material information to a consumer in a way that is complex, ineffective, unclear or unintelligible—maybe it's ambiguous, but ultimately it may be overwhelming.”
“It protects consumers not only from outright deception but also from subtle, cumulative influences that erode informed decision-making and, therefore, genuine choice. The bill does three things. The first is a general prohibition on unfair trading practices. The bill introduces a principles based test to address unfair trading practices. Practices that don't fall neatly within existing prohibitions on misleading conduct and which are unethical and unreasonable could fall within this principle. The bill sets out something fairly straightforward. It says that businesses must not manipulate consumers or unreasonably distort the environment in which consumers make, or are likely to make, decisions, in circumstances that cause or are likely to cause detriment.”
“In fact, more than half of reported consumer problems now occur from online purchases. One in 10 people say that online providers have manipulated their choices, while more than a quarter encountered unexpected charges added late in a transaction. Online, nothing is accidental: where the button sits, what the screen suggests and how hard it is to cancel—they can all nudge people into making decisions that they might not otherwise have made. This is all by design. As I said, nothing is accidental. This bill is designed to address these issues—issues that consumers have told the government that they are frustrated by. They're issues and challenges that people in my community come and see me about. The bill modernises the Australian Consumer Law to reflect how Australians buy today, how they compare prices and how they subscribe.”
“Increasingly, the experience of choosing, purchasing and managing services spans multiple channels, reflecting a more complex but interconnected marketplace. Now, these changes are positive; they've given Australians more choice and convenience. But they've also created conditions in which certain business practices can pressure, confuse or trap consumers. Australians are hardworking and fair-minded, and we expect businesses to be fair-minded too. We encourage businesses to compete and to innovate, and that's a good thing. But, when innovation is designed to deceive or trick consumers, governments must draw the line. In the lead-up to the bill, evidence was presented to the government that suggested that deception and trickery are not isolated incidents.”
“They're playing tricky games and trying to deceive their customers, all to drive up their own profits. The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 will crack down on this sort of dodgy behaviour by banning unfair trading practices, cracking down on drip pricing and putting an end to subscription traps. We're putting a stop to business tactics that rely on confusion, design tricks, needless friction or sheer consumer exhaustion. The way Australians buy and subscribe really has changed significantly, particularly in the past 15 years or so, and today people make decisions about goods and services through a variety of pathways: browsing the aisles of a local store, searching online for the best deal, or entering subscription arrangements—many of which renew automatically.”
“This Labor government is serious about protecting Australians so they can keep more of what they earn, and we know Australian households are feeling the pinch when it comes to cost of living. Many families across my electorate in Brisbane are watching what they spend. They might not buy that extra coffee one week. But, importantly, they're comparing prices before they put their money down. That's why I was proud to join the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury to announce that the Labor government is cracking down on unfair trading practices. Australians should be able to trust that their markets are fair, transparent and not stacked against them. We know that many businesses are doing the right thing. However, some businesses are not.”
“My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the current fuel crisis impacting housing construction? How is the Albanese Labor government responding?”
“Businesses often use confusion, dark patterns or consumer fatigue to keep people paying. They won't be able to keep doing that. Have you ever tried to book a hotel, a flight or maybe even a ticket to see your favourite band, then you've gone to the check-out and found that fees have been added and the final price has gone up? That practice is called drip pricing, and we're cracking down on that too so Australians can see the real price upfront. Lastly, yesterday it was announced that Australians will no longer pay $1.6 billion in credit card charges from 1 October. When you buy that beer or you buy your groceries, you won't be slapped with these extra charges. These are more measures being taken by this government to keep more money in your pockets.”
“This government is serious about protecting Australians so they can keep more of what they earn. Today I joined the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury to announce a crackdown on unfair trading tricks and traps. At a time when cost-of-living pressures are biting, Australians should be able to trust their markets to be transparent and not to be stacked against them. That's why we're introducing legislation to ban unfair trading practices, crack down on drip pricing and put an end to subscription traps. I know that everyone in this room has probably had trouble cancelling a subscription that they've signed up to. Just when you thought you could click that button and it would all be done, you find yourself down a rabbit hole. That's called a shutdown subscription trap, and we're cracking down on it.”
“It's about delivering a telecommunications system that supports our families, our businesses and our communities. I commend the bill to the House.”
“It's about accountability and it's about trust. Australians should not have to wonder whether their telecommunications provider is cutting corners or gaming the system for their benefit not the consumer's. They should know that, if the rules are broken, action will be swift, penalties will be serious and consumers will be protected and compensated. The Albanese government is committed to keeping Australians connected no matter where they live, no matter their circumstances, and with this bill we are ensuring that the regulator is empowered, that industry codes are enforceable and that dodgy providers can be identified and can no longer slip through the cracks. It's about making sure consumers are protected and that there is trust in our telecommunications system.”
“When I speak with students from the various universities we have in Brisbane about the rising cost of living, they tell me that even a small disruption to internet access can mean they miss a lecture, they don't get to do their shift at work, they might get an assignment in late or they might fall behind. When I speak with small-business owners in Clayfield, they tell me that losing EFTPOS or online ordering for a few hours or even for a day can mean hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars lost. What does that translate to? A poorer economy and job losses. That's why this bill matters. It says to the telcos, 'If you do the right thing, you have nothing to fear. But, if you breach the trust of Australians, if you exploit consumers, if you put profit before fairness, then you will face real consequences.' This bill is about fairness.”
“By investing in regional connectivity, we are not just helping rural communities; we are strengthening the arteries that connect Brisbane and other major cities to the rest of our nation. These reforms aren't about punishing industry for the sake of it. They're actually about creating a level playing field and restoring trust. This is critical in today's world, where almost everything we do relies on connectivity, and where we have very large companies that provide the majority of necessary infrastructure and many small businesses that keep our communities humming. Brisbane is a young, dynamic, growing city. Our electorate is full of students, families, startups and small businesses who expect and deserve telecommunications that are reliable and fair.”
“The Albanese government has invested heavily to change this, including our Mobile Black Spot Program and legislation to ensure mobile coverage for our rural and regional areas. Now, I know Brisbane's not classified as regional in the same way as Central Australia or the Pilbara; however, our city still feels the pain of poor connectivity, particularly on major highways and fringe suburbs. Anyone who's driven along the Bruce Highway, heading north out of Brisbane—thousands will do that this weekend—or out to Ipswich for a site inspection will know the frustration of dropping out of coverage. For commuters, for businesses transporting goods and for families on the road, these aren't minor inconveniences; these are actually safety issues.”
“Scams are an economy-wide problem and we need an economy-wide response. That's why we've released the Scams Prevention Framework. The National Anti-Scam Centre has brought together the expertise of regulators, law enforcement and the industry to stop scammers reaching Australians. Their united efforts are working, with scam losses reported to Scamwatch falling by about 41 per cent over a 12-month period. The community also needs more tools to arm themselves against scammers. To tackle this, the government ran a campaign to improve community awareness of scams and to help Australians identify and report scams. But we still have more to do. Consumer protection is only one part of the story. Connectivity itself remains a challenge, especially outside our capital cities.”
“We've amended the Competition and Consumer Act so that telcos, alongside banks, digital platforms and others, must actively work to prevent, detect and disrupt scams. I want to stop on that last point because scams are a growing issue not just in Brisbane but around the country. Late last year, I spoke with David, who is part of one of our local Neighbourhood Watch groups, and he shared a story with me where a pensioner from his area had nearly thousands of dollars drained from his account after a sophisticated phishing scam that was linked to a compromised mobile service. This government has acted decisively so that telecommunications companies can no longer shrug their shoulders. They must step up, they must detect scams and they must protect consumers. Through this bill, we are backing that expectation with serious enforcement teeth.”
“The same should apply here, because in Brisbane—whether you're a renter in Bowen Hills setting up your first internet account or a retiree in Red Hill looking for a cheaper phone plan—you should be able to trust that the provider you choose is honest and is playing by the rules. These reforms did not just come out of nowhere. They build on a strong track record by the Albanese government of protecting consumers in telecommunications. Already we've introduced new industry standards requiring telcos to provide meaningful support to customers in financial hardship. We've brought in a new standard that compels telcos to support people experiencing domestic, sexual and family violence.”
“We know that scams and fraudulent operators thrive in the shadows. Without transparency, consumers in Brisbane and across the country can be targeted by providers who appear legitimate but are anything but. It's only fair that consumers know exactly who they're dealing with, and this bill fixes that by creating the register. It increases visibility, increases accountability and gives ACMA the power, as a last resort, to exclude dangerous or dishonest providers from the market. We have seen similar powers work in the energy sector, where the regulator has been able to shut down unscrupulous retailers to quickly prevent harm.”
“With these reforms, ACMA will be able to take direct enforcement action straightaway. For families or individuals in suburbs like Stafford, Alderley or Kelvin Grove, this means stronger assurance that their provider will treat them fairly, not after three warnings, not after months of back and forth, but from the outset. This bill establishes a carriage service provider registration scheme. A carriage service provider is simply any company that uses carrier facilities to supply phone or internet services to you, me, and others—think Optus, Telstra and Vodafone, just to name three biggies. Right now, there is no comprehensive list of exactly who these providers are. The consequence of that is it makes it harder for ACMA to engage with them, educate them, track misconduct or even remove dodgy operators who cause the most harm.”
“What this means is that the penalties will match the scale of the harm done and match the size of the company that's doing it, because consumers in Brisbane and across Australia should never again be left thinking that telcos treat penalties as just a cost of doing business. Another major reform in the bill is making telecommunications industry codes directly enforceable. At present, compliance with industry codes is technically voluntary. If a provider breaches the code, the ACMA can only issue a warning or direct a company to comply. Real enforcement only comes if the company continues to break the rules. This means companies get away with egregious breaches for far too long while consumers get left in the lurch and get hurt. This bill ends that nonsense.”
“I've also heard stories from families in my electorate, families in suburbs like Newmarket and Ashgrove, who waited weeks to have a simple service issue resolved—some related to ongoing intermittent services—and who couldn't get a straight answer from their provider. For a small business, we know that weeks without internet or EFTPOS, or even with intermittent service, is not an inconvenience. It means loss of income. It means potentially lost jobs. This bill recognises that reality. It lifts the penalties 40-fold, from $250,000 to nearly $10 million, and it modernises the framework so that the courts can impose fines that actually bite and will hurt these companies that do the wrong thing. These can be $10 million, three times the benefit obtained from the breach or up to 30 per cent of turnover.”
“As we know from the news, many of those consumers were First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote parts of Australia. In one instance, we heard that a First Nations consumer who spoke English as a second language was approached by Optus staff outside a store and pressured to enter into a contract. They then entered into multiple phone plans and contracts for products including high-end phones, the ACCC said, for a total minimum cost of $3,800 or more over a 24-month period. This person didn't even have Optus coverage at their home address and was later pursued by debt collectors. Can you imagine how much anxiety would be associated with being in that position?”
“You may recall the recent story where Optus was investigated by the ACCC and then admitted to engaging in unconscionable conduct. The company agreed to a $10 million penalty for selling customers phones and contracts they didn't need. In some cases, people were sold plans even though they lived in areas of our country where Optus services weren't available. This is unconscionable, and the consumer watchdog sued the telco in October over these practices, but it affected hundreds of vulnerable customers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said that 'many of the affected consumers were vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage', including living with a disability, being unemployed or having English as a second language.”
“And it's why this Albanese Labor government is taking action through this bill to give the Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA, the power it needs to hold companies to account, to protect consumers and to build a system that works for everyone. For too long, penalties for misconduct in the telecommunications sector have been too low to really act as a genuine deterrent. The maximum civil penalty for breaching an industry code or standard has been $250,000. That may be a lot to a family living in Brisbane and dealing with the cost of living, but to a billion-dollar telecommunications company it is nothing more than loose change. We've seen the consequences: too many Australians have been hit with unfair fees and misleading offers and left stranded without services.”
“Teams and Zoom are now part of the fabric of how we work, but it's just one piece of the technology landscape. Living in a digital age has changed in my lifetime, and it's certainly different to what generations before us experienced. In my first speech, I relayed the story of how a few of us at high school pushed the community and the school to get one computer that we could all share. Now we all carry them around in our backpacks and in our bags, along with our tablets and our mobile phones. Even as I'm speaking here, I'm sure there are people in this chamber using their devices to respond to emails or catch up on the news. We are more connected than ever before. That's why Australia deserves a telecommunications system that is fair, accountable and built on trust.”
“I rise to support the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025. Telecommunications is no longer about making a phone call. It's about how we work, how we learn, how we do business, how we entertain and how we stay safe. In Brisbane and across the country, connectivity underpins almost every part of our daily lives. Whether you're a parent working from home in Paddington, a small cafe in New Farm using online ordering systems or a student at the Queensland University of Technology streaming lectures, telecommunications is not optional. It is essential infrastructure. It keeps us connected to what we do. Just a few years ago, COVID accelerated the development and uptake of technology, making it easier for people to work from home and do business more quickly.”
“Those who defraud the NDIS are exploiting not just the hundreds of thousands who rely on the life-changing support that NDIS delivers but their families. We know that, under the previous government, there were just too many players that saw the NDIS not as a disability support service but as a get-rich-quick scheme. That's appalling. It is improving, but more needs to be done. I really do want to thank the disability community for their insights in helping shape the many reforms that are being introduced, but I equally look forward to ongoing discussions with them and with those in my community who use the NDIS every day. We need to continuously look at how to make it better, and through this bill we are putting in place the necessary changes to ensure stability and integrity to the scheme.”
“So our government acted quickly, investing over $550 million in tackling fraud and noncompliance, including setting up the Fraud Fusion Taskforce and making amendments to the act. Now more claims are reviewed every single day than were reviewed in a year under the previous government. Unfortunately, when we see fraud, too often we also see violence, abuse and neglect, and this is simply unacceptable. This bill is about cleaning up the sector and protecting the people it was meant for, with changes to the penalty framework, banning orders, promotion orders, plan variation protections et cetera. The National Disability Insurance Scheme has had its difficulties, but it must be safe and it must operate with integrity.”
“He loves his job and, importantly, it gives him purpose and provides some comfort to his parents, who want him to lead the best life he can as he relies on the NDIS. Australians are rightly proud of the life-changing support of the NDIS to people with disability. But, as we've heard, it is not working the way it should. When Labor came to government in 2022, spending on the NDIS was growing at 22 per cent a year. That's not sustainable. The Audit Office found that the system set-up lacked basic prevention controls for fraud and noncompliance. I want to be clear that the majority of people who work in this sector are good people and they act in the best interests of Rob, another NDIS recipient I know. But we also know that that doesn't happen 100 per cent of the time.”
“That was part of the rationale behind NDIS. It was jointly paid for by the Australian state and territory governments. This scheme provides funding to eligible people with disability so that they can gain more time with family and friends, have greater independence and might be able to access new skills, get a job, volunteer in their community and have improved quality of life. It really just connects anyone with a disability to people in their community. It enables people to live the life they want with dignity and purpose. The NDIS supports over half a million Australians with a disability. This includes David's 18-year-old son, who lives in my electorate. The son has a very complex disability and he works and contributes in our community through employment support.”
“It's a Labor government that shares these values that has introduced this bill to provide responsible support for vulnerable people—in this case, people with a disability. It's no surprise that the National Disability Insurance Scheme is a proud Labor legacy that was introduced by former prime minister Julia Gillard. It was developed after years of calls for reform to the disability support sector from people with a disability, community organisations and advocates. It was built on the premise that people with a disability all have different goals and support needs and should be able to control and select the support that they require. It was launched back in 2013, quite a while ago now, but was in operation nationally by 2020. An important part of the scheme was guaranteed long-term funding for disability services.”
“I rise in support of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026. I joined the Labor Party at the age of 15 because I grew up around people whose lives were pretty difficult or who ended up in very difficult situations, including with a disability, through no fault of their own. I saw and lived around people who saw how important it was to look out for each other, especially for those who are vulnerable and especially those who are at risk of being left behind. As a result, I vehemently believe in equality, social justice, care and community. There's a reason I mention this. It's because these values are a part of the Labor government.”
“They say that the government sits on its hands, is completely oblivious and is not taking a leadership role. Nothing can be further from the truth. This government has taken strategic, considered and coordinated steps to support our fuel resilience, to maximise supply and to reduce costs to consumers and those who rely on fuel to keep their businesses operating. We know that there's a lot of anxiety out in our communities associated with the challenges of the war overseas. We know that part of that is due to the cost of fuel, which increases the cost of living. This Labor government hears you. We are acting. It's at times like this that we need to keep Australia moving. That's what this bill does, alongside other measures that this responsible government has taken. I commend the bill to the House.”
“What this means is that truckies and transport operators won't be left to worry about managing rising costs on their own. It's just so important to support those who move our goods around the country. But it's not just the truckies that rely on fuel. Think of all those industries and sectors that will be impacted if we can't be moving goods and services and there's insufficient fuel. There's the housing and construction industry. We're trying to build 1.2 million homes over a five-year period. There's also road building, other construction and many local businesses across our communities. Those opposite have spent weeks talking down fuel availability, at times even fuelling misinformation. They weren't prepared to support Australian truckies getting access to more fuel. You really couldn't make that up, when you think about it.”
“I say to the trucking industry, as I hope you've heard from others in this House on this side of the chamber, that this government is here to support you. We know that our transport industry can only operate if it has access to reliable fuel sources. That's why we're taking practical steps to support the industry. We passed legislation in the House to amend the Fair Work Act to allow truckies and road transport businesses to make an emergency application for a contract chain order to deal with the current spike in fuel prices. A contract chain order is a little convoluted, but it simply means they can negotiate a fair deal to keep their trucks moving. Currently, there is a minimum of approximately six months for these orders to happen and, with the passing of the legislation, that waiting time will be removed.”
“I also say to the people of Brisbane: pay attention to the prices and know that the government's on your side, that we won't tolerate you being taken advantage of. That's why we now have higher penalties for those companies that do the wrong thing to a maximum of $100 million per offence. This comes on top of the steps the government has already taken to increase penalties up to $50 million, which is five times higher than what they were. We also gave the ACCC more tools, such as extending petrol gouging monitoring powers and the ability to issue spot fines. I want to go to the trucking industry, which we know is feeling the pinch of the fuel shortages across Australia. The reason I go to this is that we know that, without trucks, Australia stops.”
“It's everyone who's trying to buy critical goods for their everyday lives, every parent who's trying to drop their kids off at school or take a sick relative to the hospital and every business that's trying to keep their doors open. Unfortunately, with fuel supply front and centre, it opens the door for grifters in the fuel industry to take advantage. The conflict overseas shouldn't be an excuse to profit off Australians. I say to those in the industry who are thinking of doing the wrong thing: Don't take advantage. Don't treat the people of Australia and my community like mugs. Just do the right thing. Everybody will benefit in the long term. Frankly, price gouging is just so un-Australian.”
“In times of conflict and uncertainty, consumer behaviour changes. It really depends on what people think might happen. One of the most obvious outcomes is hoarding when there's a fear of supply shortages. That might be a real fear or a perceived fear. Remember that during COVID we had the stockpiling of toilet paper. Not everyone did this. Many thought about their neighbours and others and only bought what they needed. We are seeing something similar happening here, with stories of people stockpiling. Supplier behaviour also changes. Price changes can be initiated in the supermarket or at the pump. Many business owners are honest and absolutely do the right thing. But there is always someone who will look at how they can make a quick buck. Who loses out when that happens? Every single one of us.”
“But I guess the rationale for those opposite is that, if you keep saying it often enough, you might start believing it yourself and to hope that other people might start to believe it too. As I mentioned earlier, that's not to say there aren't parts of Australia that are facing significant demands and then accompanying fuel shortages, especially with the supply of diesel. But I want to remind the people of Australia and my constituents in Brisbane that the now Leader of the Opposition hid an energy price increase from Australians, deliberately deceiving the Australian public. On this side of the House, we've been transparent about shortages. We face up to the challenges and we act. Today, I also want to talk about the rise in fuel prices which I've seen in my electorate and which is not isolated.”
“The Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister Bowen are continuing their engagement with international partners to maintain the steady supply of fuel and diesel shipments to Australia. We will keep Australians informed of these discussions and the progress as further developments arise. The Prime Minister also announced yesterday that the government will be announcing more measures to prepare the nation for supply chain challenges over the coming days and weeks. As this war rages overseas, it really is upending supply chains, including for fuel, and it is impacting our country. At the end of the day, as we listen to those on the other side accuse the government of sitting on their hands, really nothing could be further from the truth.”
“We've appointed a national Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator; released 20 per cent of Australia's petrol and diesel fuel reserves, targeted at regional areas; changed fuel standards to get more fuel flowing; and changed diesel standards so Australia's refineries can supply more diesel. We've tasked the ACCC to ramp up price gouging monitoring and issue on-the-spot fines. We've engaged with international partners to keep supply flowing, including securing a supply agreement with Singapore. We've introduced laws to make sure companies pay truckies fairly in this period of fuel price spikes. We've introduced legislation to underwrite the purchase of fuel imports by the private sector. Yesterday, the Prime Minister, alongside national leaders, agreed and released a National Fuel Security Plan.”
“We've seen periods in the past where this hasn't been the case, so hopefully the ACCC will be able to step in when people do the wrong thing. While Australia's fuel supply outlook remains secure in the near term because of the actions of the Albanese Labor government, the longer this war goes on, the more uncertain everything can be. That's why the government continues to act and is acting now, despite what we hear in this House, to prepare and shield Australians. Since the conflict commenced a few weeks ago, the Albanese government has taken some swift action. We've passed new laws to double penalties for petrol companies that are price gouging, and I'll talk more on that a bit later.”
“In my home state of Queensland, the great sunshine state, the former Labor government rolled out 50c fares. That has saved commuters between $20 and $70 per week on average. Not only is it cost saving, but, because it's been rolling on now for quite some time, it is changing consumer behaviour and it is helping people with cost-of-living pressures. These changes continue to today. Recently, we saw Victoria and Tasmania make public transport free for the next month or couple of months, depending on the state. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, ACCC, will continue to monitor companies for price gouging to help ensure that the low excise rate is fully passed on to consumers at the bowser.”
“In addition, the government will postpone the next planned increase by approximately six months. Working through the National Cabinet, the Prime Minister is doing what he can with the states, and our government is supporting what we can to support supply, security and cost-relief measures. While supply is secure for the time being, we are seeing spikes in demand, resulting in pockets of fuel shortages. The energy minister reports on where these shortages are daily. No-one knows when the war will end, so, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, Australians are encouraged to conserve fuel. Maybe carpool, maybe get back on the pushbike, use public transport wherever possible. I welcome existing moves to cut the cost of public transport. It's a great way to move people around quickly.”
“If you're an operator, it'll probably be around $130, assuming you've got a 400-litre tank. Again, let's not forget that the spike in fuel prices as a result of the war in the Middle East is hurting Australians, and this bill will help provide some relief. The halving of the fuel excise will commence from 1 April and run until 30 June. This bill also provides the government with greater flexibility to give additional relief to the fuel excise and excise-equivalent customs duty rates. When this bill is passed, the Treasurer will be able to determine excise or equivalent customs duty rates to be reduced by more than 50 per cent during the rate reduction period. The bill also waives the heavy vehicle road user charge for three months to support truck drivers in carrying out their essential work.”
“If we listen to those on the other side, though, you'd swear that this government was oblivious to that and was doing nothing. But nothing can be further from the truth. Again, we are stepping in to help people with this unexpected hip-pocket hit. Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that we'd halve the fuel excise, and this bill will enable this to happen. Following a meeting of the National Cabinet convened by the Prime Minister, the Australian government will now halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel for three months with this bill, should it pass. The halving of the fuel excise will reduce the cost of fuel by approximately 26c a litre. If you look at what that means for everyday mums and dads with a 65-litre tank in the car, that'll probably cut their fuel costs by about $19.”
“(): We do live in uncertain times, with the war going on overseas. While that's happening, though, we can't forget that this government continues to focus on looking after Australians here at home as well. Our No. 1 priority remains supporting our communities with cost-of-living relief. This isn't something new; this started back in 2022, when the Albanese Labor government was first elected, and it has continued full steam since then. From tax cuts to $25 scripts, seeing a GP for free and energy bill relief, this government has implemented a lot of changes to help ease the cost of living—we know how hard it's been. However, as the war rages overseas, we are seeing prices at the petrol pump go up, and there's no doubt that this adds to the anxiety that people are already feeling.”