STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr CHAFFEY (Parkes) (13:48): Once, we were the land of opportunity, but now under this Labor government we are not. Recently I met with a couple from Kickabil who own a family business caught up in the quagmire that is the Albanese government's decision to end the Inland Rail project at Parkes, a decision that has cost them dearly. Unworkable gun laws have made it extremely difficult for small businesses that supply firearms, such as David and Nancy Thwaites at Walgett Hunt Camp Fish & Newsagents.

Sam and Sharnah Tomlinson of 2 Rivers Guns & Ammo in Moree have been forced to close their doors altogether. A teacher from the Parkes electorate has written to me about the families who are struggling just to provide lunches and uniforms. A 68-year-old woman from Brewarrina has had to go back to work full time just to pay her rent to stay in her house.

Our economy is turning into the saddest circus of all. We've had the Australian Tax Office credit card ban debacle. We've had taxes we were promised more than 50 times we would never have.

We've had changes that are slugging Australian family businesses up to $13.3 billion in restructuring and tax advice costs alone, and we know why. It's because there has to be some way to fund the out-of-control spending of this government. We are $1 trillion in debt, and the coalition has a plan.

We will lower taxes, we will make power cheaper, we will deliver more sensible migration policy, and most of all—