STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Dr WEBSTER (Mallee) (13:51): In 1949, I say for all the students here—welcome—George Orwell wrote his dystopian novel 1984, a book designed to warn people about the dangers of government overreach and control after World War II. Yet here we are in 2026, and Labor are launching their own war on so-called misinformation. This is where two plus two equals five.

Under Labor's part-time climate saviour, Minister Bowen, the Climate Change Authority has set up a cross-agency working group to tackle misinformation—the new 'ministry of truth'. And what are they tackling? This tofu-eating SWAT team will tackle anyone who challenges Labor's message.

So what is this misinformation they're talking about? It's about the cost of living, energy prices and reliability, jobs, regional impact, biodiversity and environmental impact, and whether Australia's action actually matters at one per cent of global emissions. Yet Minister Bowen walks in here, gaslighting and spouting misinformation day after day.

But he's not the only one. The Prime Minister and the Treasurer come in here, gaslighting Australians on their toxic taxes. And we find out today that there is a new baby tax, can you believe?

What could possibly go wrong?