New Parliament, Old Government
This week was the first sitting of Federal Parliament since the May election. As the Federal Member for Dawson, I’ve been in Canberra raising the concerns of our region. Thank you to everyone who shares their stories. Your experiences shape the fight I take to Canberra.
During the election campaign, the Prime Minister told voters all you need is a green card and promised only Labor could deliver cost-of-living relief, while scaring voters that a Coalition government would slash services and raise taxes. Now, Treasury reports show that Labor’s wasteful spending has set the scene for Labor to raise taxes. They said one thing to win votes, and are doing the opposite now they’ve won. It might be a new Parliament, but it’s the same old Labor government.
Labor’s so-called “highlight reel” over the last three months has been a disaster for regional Australia. Full of fluff and photo ops. Albanese jetted off to the G7 chasing a date with Trump and got ghosted; Treasurer Jim Chalmers proposed a new tax on super and unrealised gains that will hurt farmers and kill aspiration for our youth; NDIS funding for travelling providers was cut, a cruel blow to regional families; inflation continues to outpace real wages; unemployment has hit its highest level since COVID; investment in offshore wind collapsed, following the dive in hydrogen confidence; and of course, Albo went on a six-day selfie tour of the Great Wall of China.
And what exactly did six days and a Great Wall photo shoot achieve? We heard buzzwords like “security ties” “economic cooperation” and “decarbonisation.” But when Chinese military vessels can circle our waters and conduct live-fire drills without notice or apology, is this really a relationship built on respect? Instead of demanding answers, Albanese played diplomat-in-chief, spruiking progress on climate. Meanwhile, China continues to build industry at a rapid pace, while we shut ours down. They buy our raw materials before sending back the finished product, and Labor calls it climate leadership.
Backing aspiration, cutting red tape, and letting businesses, farmers and industry grow our regions, this is what the Coalition stands for.
Having been appointed Assistant Shadow Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capabilities, this role could not be more relevant to the people of Dawson. We back industry, innovation, and real jobs. I’ll be pushing hard for investment in manufacturing and the workers who drive it.
In Canberra, I’ll keep fighting for Dawson and for investment in Australian manufacturing so in the future we’re not left relying on handouts and the courtesies of China or others. I’ve called for a Senate inquiry into the health of Australia’s metal manufacturing industry and I’ll keep holding this government to account.
While I have new responsibilities, I work for Dawson first. Your stories are the ammunition I take to Canberra. Keep sharing them, and let’s fight for Dawson, together.