Tom Venning
Grey · Liberal Party · Australia
“Residential burglaries, commercial property theft and daylight shoplifting have left citizens and business owners feeling completely helpless as crime targets every sector of this great regional community. Police statistics show the town is in the midst of a spate of burglaries, with 34 incidents recorded in the first half of June alone.”
“For the Port Augusta community, the most difficult part of this crime wave is what they view as a revolving door bail system for serious juvenile offenders and a lack of quality youth diversion programs in the region. Police can only do so much.”
“Mr Kean was personally chosen by the Prime Minister to lead the Climate Change Authority. It has now been revealed that he spent over $32,000 on one single trip to Brazil last year for an international climate conference.”
“Imagine sitting around the dining table with your family and telling them, 'We're going to spend more money than we receive every year for the next 10 years.' You wouldn't. In fact, you can't, yet that's exactly what this Labor government and this Treasurer are doing. To pay for this, they deploy toxic taxes, assaulting aspiration.”
“Labor cannot manage money, so they continue to come after yours. The average Australian's paying 39 per cent more tax under this government. Since Labor was elected, Australia suffered the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world.”
“It's lifting prices, inflating government charges and pushing hardworking Australians into paying more tax. While Labor profits from this inflation, their tax cuts do not keep up. At 70c a day, they won't even buy a cup of coffee a week.”
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“We have a state election pre-poll starting this coming Saturday. I'd like to discuss the incredible candidates running in the state seats around Grey. Sam Telfer is the current member for Flinders. He's a local farmer and across both the issues and the enormous opportunities on the west coast. Under an elected Liberal government, they'll commit $5 million to the start of a Doppler radar service on the Lower Eyre Peninsula. Sunny Singh is the incredible candidate for Giles. He and his wife came here with nothing in their pockets, and now they run a successful business in Port Augusta. He's a councillor and he'll be a fantastic representative for Giles. My good friend Leon Stephens is a community man and a business owner and is whip smart. He'll be a great advocate for Port Pirie and of course the outback.”
“Sunny and I met with Ben at SportsPower and Anne from Harvey Norman and with many other businesses in that community. I heard from remote and regional councils starved for funding by a city-centric Labor government, which is passing the burden onto regional ratepayers, but I also witnessed something extraordinary—a space launch facility at Koonibba partnering with companies across three continents and Penong footy club, a team undefeated for three years.”
“I had the privilege of spending a lot of time out there in the last few weeks, travelling from Port Lincoln to Ceduna, Penong and Port Augusta, meeting with councillors, small-business owners, farmers, miners and community leaders. These people are the people who run this nation, often without the recognition or adequate support. I visited the South Middleback mine, the future of Whyalla, a place that is thriving and is full of possibility but also a business that is struggling under power prices plus green and red tape. I met with small-business owners in Port Augusta, who are working incredibly hard for their slice of the Australian dream but feel crushed under power prices, rising crime and a police presence that is simply not good enough.”
“Ten years ago, the Pinery fire tore through our region with a ferocity that changed lives forever. I'd like to acknowledge the deaths of Allan Tiller and Janet Hughes. The Wasleys Bowling Club was destroyed—reduced to nothing but charred remains. However, the story did not end in the ash. Penny and I stood in a facility that not only has been rebuilt but is currently thriving. At Wasleys, resilience is not a buzzword. It is the lived reality. It is the grit of the volunteers and the determination of a community which refuses to be defined by disaster. I want to extend my gratitude to the CFS for organising this commemoration. We honour the memory of what was lost, and we celebrate the strength found in the aftermath. The west coast is the best coast.”
“Seventeen years ago Sunny Singh arrived in regional South Australia with little money and few connections. Today he's a justice of the peace, an elected member and a community leader, and for years he has been quietly raising the issues that matter most to the people of Giles. The Liberal Party chose him for a reason. Giles deserves a representative with proven dedication and real roots in the community. That person is Sunny Singh, and he has my full support. On Monday, 16 February, I had the privilege of attending the annual Bushfire Resilience Day at the Wasleys Bowling Club. I was joined by my friend and colleague the member for Frome and candidate for Ngadjuri Penny Pratt. Together we spent the morning listening to the lived experience of those who survived the Pinery bushfire, and the choice of the venue was no coincidence.”
“We will fight for lower costs and for disciplined economic management. We must unapologetic, unapologetic—I can't even say it, Deputy Speaker Freelander.”
“That is $16,000 for every household in Australia. Since coming to office, the Albanese government has added $100 billion to the national debt. That is impacting Australians. We saw some news come out last week that Australia has the highest rates of bureaucrats per capita—another interesting point. Australians are spending $50,000 a minute on the interest of Labor's debt alone—$50,000 a minute—and I'm sure that's increasing as well. Under Labor, Australians are worse off. Under Labor, living standards have declined. Australia has the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world. As Liberals, we stand for lower inflation, lower interest rates and lower taxes. You will always get that from the Liberal Party. It is clear Labor's reckless spending is keeping inflation higher for longer.”
“AMP chief economist Shane Oliver only last week said, 'A lot of factors driving (inflation) relate to government spending.' IFM Investors' chief economist Alex Joiner said: We already have fiscal policy getting looser, but it could be even looser than we expect. The fiscal guard rails have come off. And HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham said: … the primary driver of the pick-up in inflation is not strong demand. To the extent that demand is playing much of a role, it is that public demand growth has been strong, due to government spending. The government has lost support from its friends in the industry super sector. Spending growth is running at four times the rate of growth in the economy, and debt under the Albanese government is set to reach $1.2 trillion. Spending is now $160 billion higher than when this government came to office.”
“Australia's inflation rate is now higher than the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany and so many other countries. This is a problem specific to Australia, fuelled by government spending being the highest in 40 years outside of a recession. Why is it that we are the only country with this problem? The worst part is that Labor have been warned by industry experts. This is not new news. AMP chief economist Diana Mousina confirmed it when she said: So it appears that directly, the government has been adding to inflation in recent years, as you would expect in an environment of public spending lifting to a record high.”
“This waste of taxpayer money has resulted in our primary producers, the backbone of our economy, having an important resource taken away. That mistake was a completely unacceptable use of taxpayer money by Labor, and it's just one example. I've been fighting for a Doppler radar on the lower Eyre Peninsula. Minister Watt told me there is 'no capacity'. To be frank, 'no capacity' is political speak for 'no cash'. How is it that this government can spend so much money yet not spend any of it where it is actually needed on physical infrastructure like Doppler radar as opposed to an expensive website? Labor's out-of-control spending is hurting all Australians by fuelling higher inflation and higher interest rates.”
“That is a 38 per cent increase on what they were paying just last week. These figures add up when Australians are being forced to pay more for essentials because of this government's spending habits. You only have to look at Labor's upgrade to the BOM website to see how they manage their money. That was $96.5 million for a website upgrade. My fiance builds websites. The cheapest website is about $2,000. A Rolls-Royce website is about $40,000. How on earth did the Bureau of Meteorology spend $96.5 million on a website that no-one asked for? Indeed, there was clearly no user acceptance testing, because the farmers that I speak to don't use it. They don't like it. We've had to reinstate the old one and share that link with all of my community.”
“We've seen it spend, spend, spend, spend, spend. We've seen inflation and debt go through the roof. It is as simple as that. After nearly four years of Labor, Australians are paying more for everything because of Labor's reckless spending, which is fuelling the inflation fire. Insurance is up 39 per cent. Energy is up 40 per cent. Mind you, the $275 reduction in our power bills never came. Rent is up 22 per cent. Health is up 18 per cent. Education is up 17 per cent. Food is up 16 per cent. Throw in the recent floods in outback South Australia, which is causing some councils to estimate $10 million in damages, with no support announced at the state or federal level. Or how about the recent fuel shortages, which are causing transport operators to pay more than $1,350 on fuel?”
“At the House Economics Committee on 6 February, the RBA governor said: … to the extent that aggregate demand is above aggregate supply, which we think it is, that's contributing to inflationary pressures. She also said: Mathematically, you're right; public demand expenditure and private sector—all of that—adds to demand. The government cannot escape the laws of economics. Higher government spending always results in higher inflation. Higher inflation demands higher interest rates. I always come back to my high school economics teacher—economics 101; thank you, Mr Maguire—who said that governments act in a countercyclical fashion to the private sector. When the private sector is doing poorly, government spends more. When the private sector is doing well, government restrains itself. What have we seen with this government?”
“Labor's reckless spending habits are also part of the reason the RBA have raised interest rates again. The Treasurer has got his foot on the gas of government spending. The RBA have their foot on the brake, raising interest rates. If you press the gas and the brake too hard, what do you do? You do a burnout. Maybe we should start calling our Treasurer Burnout Jim. The RBA raised interest rates in February by 25 basis points, making it now sit at 3.85 per cent. Pundits predict the RBA will increase rates again when they next meet and even again when they next meet after that, putting more pressure on your mortgage repayments and more pressure on the cost of everything.”
“That's a lot of money, but it's hard to comprehend what that means on a per-worker basis. If I combine the South Australian Labor government debt and the Australian Labor government debt and I divide it by the workforce, we reached a milestone in 2025 in South Australia. There is over $100,000 per worker on their individual government debt credit card. Every South Australian worker now owes their government more than $100,000 in debt. That is significant, and that will be paid off by their children and their children's children. Until Pyro Jim gets spending under control, Australians will keep paying through higher prices, higher mortgages and weaker living standards. This is the first generation in Australian history where your children will be poorer than you, and that is unacceptable.”
“Spending as a percentage of GDP is predicted to reach 26.9 per cent at the end of this financial year. More than a quarter of all dollars in our economy is spent by this government. That is ridiculous, and it is not good enough. This is big government territory. This government is running deficits because record levels of revenue are being outstripped by record levels of spending and record levels of spending growth. This socialist Labor government is breaking records all around at the cost of Australians. These spending habits do not reflect the restraint that the Treasurer so often speaks about. This restraint is setting up the next generation to pay off even more Labor debt—$1.2 trillion of debt. That's $1,200 billion. It's $1,200,000 million. That's how much money this is.”
“I rise to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026, the Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026 and the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026. The Albanese government has made history as the highest spending government outside of the pandemic in 40 years. In coming years, it is projected, they will break their own record. I've said it many times, and I'll keep saying it: this Labor government is run by politics, not by policy, and they have no respect for the taxpayer. They answer only to their union boss. They have no respect for the small-business owner. The national accounts show this. The government debt shows this. Our inflation shows this—it's the highest in the OECD. Spend, spend, spend, spend, spend, and then, one day, the next Liberal-National government will fix it.”
“My farmers and fishers are rightly nervous. Get the damn fuel moving around this country. We are here to work for the Australian people. Do it.”
“I'll be returning to work soon, and I fear the costs I'll face then—if it's even financially viable for me to do so. Governments push to get mums back to work, but this may be just another barrier in our path.' The Leader of the Opposition wrote to the Prime Minister to form a bipartisan taskforce to reduce government spending and fix the cost-of-living crisis so people like Lisa and Robin can get on with living their lives the Australian way. But there has been no response. Labor's economic failures mean the consequences of this Middle East conflict will be far worse for everyday Australians. Minister Bowen and the Treasurer keep telling us they've met with this group and with that group. 'Let's form a roundtable.' What? But listening only gets you so far. As a minister of the Crown, action is more important.”
“Without reliable urea supply, we are facing a disastrous food security crisis—not just a farming crisis. But it is not just businesses. My office has received messages today from struggling and desperate South Australians. Lisa Lemon from Two Wells has reached out and shared her story, and I think it hits home: 'In two weeks, the price at Angle Vale OTR has gone from $1.75 on 26 February to today's price of $2.40, a difference of 64c a litre. I'm a solo mum with a toddler and a fuel tank of 80 litres. I'm also on a very tight budget until I return to work. I must go to suburbia from Two Wells a few times a week, at a minimum, for education, medical, shopping or other things we can't get. At 64c a litre more, it now costs our little family $50 more a tank.”
“I do not blame some Aussie punters for buying more fuel than they need, because no-one trusts this minister and this government. Let's remind ourselves that Minister Bowen and the now Prime Minister said on 97 occasions that your power bill will reduce by $275. Minister Bowen said, 'This is the most comprehensive modelling ever.' Well, what happened? Prices did not go down. In fact, they went up—now over 40 per cent. No wonder no-one trusts you to manage this crisis. This vulnerability extends to fertiliser. We rely on the Middle East for almost half of our urea imports, with usage peaking in April prior to seeding—as we are about to get ready for on our farm. NeuRizer was incredibly close to domestic production in Leigh Creek before stifling red and green tape made approvals impossible.”
“John Horgan, a constituent from Wudinna, has informed my office that Mogas in Wudinna have stated that they are not delivering to farmers. Robin Hughes of R&L Hughes Transport tells me: I can't get fuel delivered on site. Normally, he fills up his trucks every two days. Now, he's filling up at the end of every day in case he is forced to wear the cost of another price increase. A fill-up that normally costs 800 bucks cost 1,200 bucks only yesterday. As Robin warned me, 'We may not see the repercussions yet, but maintenance on trucks will be the first to go.' He was blunt: This government is not working for the people. People do not trust the government, and that is why they're panic buying. I understand why farmers are panic buying. Their livelihoods depend on it. I do not blame Robin for his statement.”
“I rise today to give a voice to the businesses, the families, the fishers and the farmers in my electorate who are bearing the brunt of this fuel and fertiliser crisis, because Labor is not listening. Surging fuel prices and rationing are aggressively exacerbating Labor's cost-of-living crisis and putting our primary producers at extreme risk. The government claims that there is plenty of supply in the country, but, on the ground, the reality is starkly different. Wholesalers have begun rationing petrol and diesel. Transport companies are being cut off from bulk supplies and forced to purchase retail fuel. Suppliers are being told to prioritise retail stations over farms and fishers. Many regional pumps, relied upon by our communities, have already run dry.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. I refer to his previous answer and what he said about fuel supply flowing to Kwinana. Kylie, from Cataby, runs an earth-moving business and emailed me saying: 'My fuel supplier, FueleX, has informed me that they are blocked from accessing fuel out of Kwinana and cannot tell me when they will get more.' Minister, can you advise how long will Kylie be waiting until to get fuel?”
“Road trains face extra weekly costs of $1,300, surviving on retail fuel because yard deliveries have ceased. Furthermore, Australia relies on the Middle East for almost half of its urea imports. Urea usage peaks in April prior to seeding. NeuRizer was incredibly close to domestic production in Leigh Creek before red tape and green tape made approvals impossible. Thanks, Minister Koutsantonis and Minister Watt. We must move towards domestic production to stop being price takers and stop being vulnerable in an increasingly unstable global environment. Minister Bowen needs to pull his finger out and get fuel moving.”
“I call on the government to commence action to bolster sovereign fuel and fertiliser production in this country. The businesses, families, fishers and farmers in my electorate demand it. With the Strait of Hormuz compromised, surging prices and rationing are worsening our cost-of-living crisis and putting primary production at risk. Suppliers are being told to prioritise retail stations over farms, and many regional pumps are already completely dry. In Port Lincoln, fleet sales have stopped. Fishers await a fuel ship, worried it might be diverted, as tens of millions of dollars worth of tuna lie waiting in pens offshore. Primary industries like seafood and ag need to be prioritised. Ninety per cent of tuna are penned. These fish must be fed, or businesses risk massive losses.”
“They can't just nip out and drop two grand on a new phone. Rebecca, from Streaky Bay, had been calling my office because, during a severe heatwave with fire warnings, the internet and mobile coverage for the whole town just dropped out for three days. Think about that: a heatwave, a fire threat and a total communications blackout. (Time expired)”
“My good friend Lucas Bagshaw, who faced every country person's absolute nightmare of a fire on his property, grabbed his phone to call for help, but there was nothing—no signal, no bars. He knew better than to rely on triple zero because, in regional South Australia right now, that's a roll of the dice. I think of an elderly primary producer in my electorate who recently crashed his quad bike. He lay there in the dirt for hours. He wasn't saved by a 4G network or a government safeguard; he was saved because he had an old radio and someone happened to hear his call for help on the good old UHF radio. I spoke with David, a senior, whose wife was forced to buy a new phone because her two-year-old Samsung, a perfectly good device, could no longer access triple zero after the shutdown. These are pensioners.”
“This was another consequence of the failed 3G shutdown. When it comes to mobile service, my constituents are paying what can only be described as a tax on their postcode. Because the 4G rollout wasn't finished before the 3G was unplugged, families have been forced to fork out thousands of dollars for Starlink set-ups or expensive boosters just to get the basic signal they used to have for free. This government treats connectivity as a data point on a spreadsheet, but, in the electorate of Grey, connectivity is the lifeblood of our communities. Let me tell you about some of the people I represent. Craig, a farmer on the Eyre Peninsula, is trying to run a productive livestock business, but he told me he's basically had to give up on ordering transport to move loads of sheep because he simply cannot get a signal.”
“The 3G shutdown was a planned change that required meticulous coordination between the carriers and manufacturers, the government and the emergency services. Instead, what did we get? We got a process characterised by confusion, the late identification of thousands of incompatible devices and completely inadequate communication to the public. Hundreds of device models were found to be incompatible, with many Australians only discovering this problem when their device suddenly stopped working. And this did not just affect mobile phones. Farms, farmers, fishers, miners, winemakers, those who work out in the elements have many IoT connected devices. We certainly do on our farm. Well, the cost to replace all of these antennas from 3G antennas to 4G antennas was significant thousands of dollars on our farm alone.”
“We had three deaths in my electorate in recent times, and the coroner has stated that the lack of cell service reception had a 'significant impact'. Again, imagine if this happened in Adelaide. There would be absolute outcry—but not for us in regional, rural and remote South Australia. Again, as another example, when we had the Optus triple zero outage, there was a death in Gawler just outside my electorate because they could not contact triple zero. So whenever we discuss new obligations, we must look at them through the lens of this government's track record and, frankly, that record is appalling. The 3G shutdown was a foreseeable failure, and Minister Wells' handling of the triple zero failure was equally appalling.”
“In regional Australia, people often hold on to their phones much longer than the tech-savvy crowd in the cities—sometimes because of financial necessity, but mostly because they just want a tool that works and they don't need those flashy features. A reform that only functions for someone carrying the latest high-end smartphone is not 'universal'. It is elitist and it is city-centric—but that is not new. It undermines the very principle of equitable access that this bill claims to advance. Emergency triple zero access must never ever be contingent on owning a recently released, premium handset. We have already seen hard lessons on the government's failed management of the 3G network shutdown. That transition showed us that device compatibility cannot be treated as a secondary issue or left to chance; it is a core issue.”
“Telecommunications policy must anticipate these impacts rather than just reacting to them after damage is done and competition has been crushed. What about device compatibility? This is a massive issue that the government seems to want to brush under the carpet. An outdoor coverage obligation is meaningless if the phone in the Australian's pocket cannot connect to this new service. Many of the handsets currently in circulation in my electorate were not designed with satellite connectivity in mind. Enabling that compatibility requires hardware and software capabilities that older devices simply do not possess.”
“While we want to accelerate the rollout, we must recognise that legislating an outcome doesn't magically make the technology appear or work perfectly. Business builds and does things, not government. This test isn't whether the headline sounds good in a 6 pm news grab; it's whether the framework delivers for the people of Tarcowie or Streaky Bay. The bill as it stands leaves so many questions unanswered. Domestic carriers may bear the primary regulatory burden, but they are going to be heavily dependent on international satellite-providing companies whose pricing models and deployment schedules are entirely outside Australia's direct control, like Starlink and Amazon. We must ensure that the new obligation strengthens competition rather than inadvertently handing the entire market over to one or two global giants.”
“You can get great speeds with this technology today—I certainly have it on my vehicle when I'm driving around the countryside because, of course, I don't get mobile phone reception. It is a powered antenna on the top of your car or on the top of your home, and it's a different technology than we're proposing for data and voice technologies. For the government to enable a universal mobile service obligation on data and voice—it cannot be done with the current constellation. What we're seeing now is companies like Amazon releasing more LEOs into the atmosphere for data and voice—and we're a long way away from that. You can consider it like a constellation of 5G mobile cell towers, which is very different to the constellation that Starlink has in our skies today.”
“Australians deserve more than an ambitious headline; they deserve a framework that stands up under pressure and delivers tangible outcomes. Let's talk about this emerging technology, particularly direct-to-device satellite technology. It represents an exciting development that could close longstanding coverage gaps, but we must be honest with the public. It is still a developing technology. This global rollout is still is still in its relatively early stages, and there are significant technical and commercial variables. For those at home, I want to expand on the direct-to-satellite technologies. Here in Australia and around the world we have Starlink, a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites.”
“Any measure to improve connectivity must work in the paddock, in the truck cabin and on the shop floor. The legislative framework must genuinely expand coverage in a practical, reliable and affordable way. 'Obligation' is a very serious word in law, and it must be clearly defined so that carriers understand precisely what is expected of them and, more importantly, so consumers understand. Terms like 'reasonably available equitable access' are dangerous if they are left as broad, sweeping concepts open to interpretation. They must be translated into measurable, enforceable standards. Without clarity and a strong compliance framework, there is a risk that this obligation will be impossible to monitor and even harder to enforce.”
“But an opportunity is only as good as the framework that supports it. We need a system that delivers genuine reliability, not just political promises that fall apart the moment they are put to the test. The coalition supports the goal of extending voice and text coverage outdoors across more of the country, because we believe that improved connectivity for regional Australians is simply the fair thing to do. It is a matter of basic equity. Why should a citizen in Peterborough have a lower standard of safety and economic opportunity than a citizen in Melbourne or Brisbane? However, the credibility of any reform rests not on what it aims to do but on the detail. It contains the realism of its implementation. That is why this bill must be deeply scrutinised.”
“It provides the essential reassurance that if the car breaks down, if a medical emergency strikes or if the weather turns dangerous, help can be called. In an inner-city suburb, a dropped call is an annoyance, a reason to grumble at the dinner table or send a frustrated text later on, but on a remote highway, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town, a dropped call could be life or death. Australia's geography makes connectivity more challenging than almost anywhere on Earth, but that very same geography makes it more vital. As we move through 2026, we see technologies emerging that offer exciting opportunities to bridge these gaps. We see the potential for direct-to-device satellite communication to finally put an end to silent zones that have plagued the bush for decades.”
“It is not some consumer perk like getting a free coffee on a loyalty card or a discount on a streaming subscription. It is just as vital as the roads we drive on, the electricity grids that power our homes, and the water pipes that sustain our towns. It is the digital asphalt of the modern era, underpinning our social relationships, our economic activity and, most importantly, our safety. For a grain producer on the Eyre Peninsula or a livestock farmer in the mid-north, reliable mobile coverage is like oxygen. For any Australian who hitches up a caravan or loads up a four-wheel drive to explore this magnificent country—a lot of them are in regional South Australia right now—mobile coverage is first and foremost a safety mechanism.”
“If I look at the nine years of the coalition government, 56 new towers were put in the electorate of Grey, and Minister Anika Wells can give us just the one. That is how much this Labor government cares about regional, rural and remote South Australia and their access to telecommunications—or lack thereof. Let's tell the small-business owners, who are losing thousands of dollars because they can't process a payment or take an order, that their experience is equivalent to the speeds enjoyed in the city. The reality is that for people in regional SA connectivity is not a luxury; it is a fading pulse. This bill, while noble in its stated objective, needs to be dragged out into the light and interrogated. In 21st century Australia, reliable mobile phone coverage is not a lifestyle.”
“But I invite the minister to come to Weetulta, Tarcowie, all of the Eyre Peninsula or even parts of Wallaroo and North Moonta. I received an exciting letter from Minister Wells last week in relation to the Mobile Black Spot Program. Now, the electorate of Grey is vast and has a lot of industry—oil and gas in the north-east, mining throughout. Agriculture is the biggest industry. Port Lincoln has the biggest fishing fleet in the Southern Hemisphere. We have 28 councils. That's 28 CEOs and 28 mayors. So you'd think in an electorate which represents 92.3 per cent of South Australia—bigger than New South Wales—that we would have a lot of new mobile cell towers going in the electorate of Grey. One was announced in Grey—one.”
“I acknowledge the previous speaker's comments: vision is one thing, but actions are another thing. I rise today to address a matter of profound significance to the people of rural, regional and remote South Australia and indeed every Australian who lives, works or travels beyond the suburban fringes of our major cities. The Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 is a piece of legislation with a title that promises much but, as is so often the case with this government, carries a risk of delivering very little. The minister has repeatedly promised regional South Australians equivalent coverage. It's a lovely word, isn't it, 'equivalent'? It sounds reassuring in a briefing note or a departmental press release.”
“The OECD confirms Australia has suffered the largest collapse in living standards in the developed world. Prices are up, real wages are down, and farmers, small businesses and people living outside our city centres are working harder for less. This Labor government is expanding, but wallets and family budgets are contracting fast. This government must stop its futile spending and focus on support for all Australians, including rural and remote South Australians who feed and power this very nation. The only things increasing are taxes, debt, inflation and interest rates. Australian households remain poorer than when Labor came to power.”
“Recent torrential rains brought devastating flooding to outback South Australia. Remote communities like Oodnadatta are cut off and roads, like Kemp Road, between some of Australia's largest and most important agricultural centres and livestock stations have been destroyed. The roads have collapsed, and these regions now require urgent assistance to have vital freight and general transport routes repaired. The state government is in caretaker mode, and local councils cannot do this alone. I urge the minister to focus on this before things get worse. The collapse of these roads, perhaps somewhat ironically, mirrors the broader collapse in living standards faced by the very rural and regional South Australians who use these roads. Under this government, Australians are enduring a cost-of-living crisis.”
“Today it is a superannuation balance above $3 million; tomorrow it may be another threshold, another definition or another asset class entirely. Debate adjourned.”
“A future offset adjustment in a superannuation account does absolutely nothing to relieve those stresses today. If this government is serious about helping households, it must tackle inflation at its source—excessive government spending and weak economic growth—rather than just reshuffling offsets within the retirement system to buy good headlines. This proposal cannot and should not be viewed in isolation. It is Labor trying to clear the decks so they can spend more and pour more debt petrol on the inflation fire. When spending accelerates without corresponding structural reform, governments eventually reach the limits of conventional revenue. That is when they start testing new boundaries. They leave thresholds unindexed. They invent new bases for taxation, they create new, dangerous interpretations of what constitutes income.”
“When retirement income settings are destabilised, confidence in the entire system is eroded. The government has desperately pointed to increases in the low-income superannuation tax offset, the LISTO, as evidence of 'balance'. Let me be clear: any measure that generally supports low-income earners building retirement savings is welcome, but we must be honest about the scale and the timing. LISTO adjustments, while positive at the margin, do not put a single dollar back into household budgets today. They do not lower the grocery bills that are giving parents anxiety at the checkout. They do not ease the crushing weight of mortgage repayments. They do not reduce the electricity costs that are forcing families to choose between heating and eating. Australians are facing immediate, severe cost-of-living pressures right now.”
“Surviving spouses who suddenly find themselves relying on superannuation balances to maintain some semblance of stability after the devastating loss of a partner could face immense additional tax complexity and reduced financial security. Total and permanent disability benefit recipients are another cohort that must be considered carefully. These are Australians who, through no fault of their own, have suffered catastrophic events and are no longer able to work. Their superannuation is not an abstract investment vehicle. It is a vital lifeline. Any changes that increase volatility, reduce predictability or complicate access to those funds carries real, devastating human consequences. Tax policy cannot be designed in an ivory tower isolated from lived reality.”
“What they do not and will not accept is retrospective tinkering, ad hoc changes and ideological experiments dressed up in the deceptive language of 'modest adjustments'. This proposal reinforces a broader, more dangerous pattern with this government—higher spending first and then hidden taxes to pay for it later. That is not economic reform; that is fiscal mismanagement on a grand scale. Furthermore, beyond the headline rates and the threshold changes, this legislation introduces serious hidden structural risks that the government has tried to sweep under the rug. Take, for example, the removal of the effective death tax exemption. This creates immense uncertainty for families at precisely the moment that they are vulnerable.”