MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – Cost Of Living

I’ll give you some real action. Let’s get that on the table. That’s a bit of fun. Let’s do that. Let’s have real action. The lowest unemployment in 50 years—we delivered that real action. We did that. The lowest welfare dependency in 30 years—we did that too. Small businesses—you opposite talk about middle Australia, and…

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – Albanese Government

Aren’t MPIs fun! I’m going to address some of the issues that have been raised here. It was suggested previously that we can’t talk about immigration and its impact on infrastructure without somehow raising the prospect of the White Australia policy. That was raised in the context of the current debate on the Voice. So…

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – Albanese Government

It gives me no pleasure to rise in response to this motion, which I assume is part 2 of the previous statement from the government about how it’s been a good 10 months. I remember that when that statement was made I asked, ‘For who?’ A good 12 months? I’ll ask again, ‘For who?’ This…

MOTIONS – Budget

It gives me pleasure to speak to this motion put by the member for Forde. Following the budget, I spent a week out in the community reflecting upon it. I have formed an image where Labor has now absolutely taken control of the economy with this budget. You can’t intervene. You can’t get your fingers…

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS – Clive Berghofer Stadium

I was pleased to see in the budget funding the proposal to redevelop the much-loved Clive Berghofer Stadium in the beautiful city of Toowoomba. I urge all levels of government now to rapidly begin the process of consulting with the community. During my recent doorknocking it has been very clear that no consultation has taken…

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – Albanese Government

Last Tuesday there was an extraordinary coming together of the greater Queensland GPS community, as Mr David Scott Bell was laid to rest at a very moving ceremony at Brisbane Boys College. Since the late eighties, Mr Bell has been a much-loved teacher and colleague at no less than five GPS schools: BBC, Churchie, and…

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS – Budget

Restraint is a big word. Until yesterday I didn’t know how big, but after the budget we can put an exact figure on restraint. Apparently you can increase spending by $185 billion in less than 12 months and still call it restraint. Laughable as that sounds, it’s exactly what the Treasurer did when he delivered…

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – Cost of Living

I find myself outnumbered here, but we’ll have a go anyway! I will take up a point from the previous speaker, the member for Adelaide. Groom must be a very different place. We saw tremendous investment in our energy sector across coal, gas and solar. Just outside wind, we’re energy agnostic; we’ll take whatever works,…

CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS – Groom Electorate: Energy

Price caps simply do not work. This is a longstanding truism in politics and economics. It was true in recent times in South America, as it was true back in Roman times. The edict on maximum prices led to a period of chaos. It’s true because it tries to defy the laws of supply and…