PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Mr CONAGHAN (Cowper) (10:50): I'm pleased to rise to speak to this motion. In fact, when I read it, I actually laughed out loud. I didn't realise that the member for Moreton had such a good sense of humour.

It's either that or she's quite deluded as to how well she thinks that Labor is dealing with the economy right now. While they pat themselves on the back over there for a $268 tax cut—an average of about $45 a week before tax—they completely ignore three key and indisputable facts. The first is that this Labor government is now officially the highest taxing government in Australian history, so well done to them for that remarkable milestone.

I'm sure that the Australian people won't forget it coming up to the next election. The second is that national debt under this government has reached over $1 trillion for the first time in Australian history. The third is that almost every fiscal decision this government has made over the past four years has only added to homegrown inflation, rendering the paltry figures meaningless when compared to the year prior.

We know that Australia is in a per capita recession and it's of this government's making. Every dollar an Australian makes is buying less than it did last year. Unfortunately, some of the policies being celebrated across that side right now are going to add more pain to Australian people.

GDP per person has declined in 10 quarters under Labor. It declined again in the most recent quarter. Australia has experienced its longest household recession in history.

There are a lot of first times here this morning. According to the ACCC, groceries are up over 25 per cent since 2022. Electricity is up 38 per cent over that same period.

It's no wonder that some of our senior citizens are choosing not to put the air conditioner on in summer or the heater on in winter. Rent is up 34 per cent. Insurance costs are out of control.

But don't worry; those across the floor will give you a thousand-dollar instant tax deduction without proof of receipts, which is cold comfort for the thousands of dollars that Australians are worse off due to rampant inflation. Then there are small-business insolvencies. I talk to business owners every single day of the week.

In regional Australia, small businesses are our lifeblood. They not only provide the majority of our goods and services; they employ our communities, they train our young people and they keep us afloat. In New South Wales, more than 15,600 businesses have entered insolvency in the past three years.

Across the country, 2025 was the worst year on record for business closures. I've met with those people. They're not just businesses closing; they're mums and dads.

There are hard workers out there who have put it all on the line and, because of the policies of this government, have lost it all. At every mobile office and forum I hold, small businesses are telling me it's never been harder and they're barely keeping their heads above water, and many are considering closing within the next 12 months. When I ask them about the effect the new wage increases would have on their businesses, the answer is consistent: 'We'll have to let somebody go.

We just can't afford it.' It's either that or increase their price, and we know that their customers can't afford to pay any more. We on this side of the floor are serious about getting the economy moving, rewarding hard work and supporting our business communities. We'll axe these government policies that have made it so, so difficult for average punters and business owners out there.