Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (right) and Nationals’ candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey speaking with constituents in Dubbo.
After two years of high interest rates, along with skyrocketing energy bills and grocery prices, many people in the Parkes electorate are struggling.
Australians are paying 20 per cent more personal income tax, real wages have gone backwards, and living standards have collapsed by nearly 8 per cent.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said Labor’s broken promises and failed policies have done nothing to ease the hip pocket pain.
“Under Labor, the cost of living has skyrocketed, and instead of coming up with a plan to address it, Labor’s policies are making it worse,” Mr Coulton said.
“Labor’s $315 billion of additional spending has caused interest rates to be higher for longer, putting more pressure on working Australians.
“The only cost of living relief that helps all Australians is to get inflation down. But inflation is staying higher for longer under Labor, and there is no relief in sight.”
Mr Coulton said the Reserve Bank of Australia told the Cost of Living Committee that it is looking for ‘softer growth’ in Government spending before it could cut interest rates, but instead, it had to almost double its forecasts for government spending since Labor’s last Budget.
“The Coalition has a plan to get Government spending back on track,” Mr Coulton said.
“That is why we voted to establish the Select Committee on the Cost of Living to inquire into and report on the causes of cost-of-living pressures, how they are impacting Australians and develop sensible solutions to address this crisis.
“The Committee has already made recommendations for sensible policies that will get the cost of living down by addressing key pressure points like housing, grocery prices, energy bills, and supporting the charities sector.
“The Cost of Living Committee’s recommendations are part of our plan to get Australia back on track, which is what the people in my electorate need now, more than ever.”
The Cost of Living Committee wants to hear from people who have been impacted by the rising cost of living. People can share their story by making a submission at yourcostofliving.au.
