STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms ALDRED (Monash—Opposition Whip) (13:48): As of today, Labor has driven our national debt to a trillion dollars, and that's not an abstract number. It means the interest bill alone is running at more than $52,000 every single minute. While this Prime Minister spends, Australians pay, people in my electorate of Monash pay.

That's the truth of it. Under this Labor government, Australians have suffered the worst collapse of living standards anywhere in the developed world—not a slow decline, the worst. Our country needs to change and the coalition is putting the hard policy work in with a strong team and a real plan to restore Australians' standard of living and protect our way of life.

So here's what we'll do: we'll deliver lower taxes, axe Labor's toxic taxes, back small business, and introduce our tax back guarantee. We'll deliver cheaper power, and, for my region, that means making sure the Latrobe Valley remains a national energy hub, employing blue-collar workers and delivering cheap available power. We'll make sure there are more homes delivered, that there is less migration and more affordable energy and that Australians are put first.

We'll make sure our businesses have the skilled migration to get the workers they need. For small businesses, family run businesses, pubs and hotels in my electorate, that's important. It's important for our tourism sector.

It's important for everyone.