Grievance Debate

Malinauskas Labor Government

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (15:14): As we begin this parliamentary year, we have one sole focus and that is to fight for all South Australians but also to hold this government to account for its failures right across the board. For nearly three years South Australians have been let down by this Labor government's broken promises. We know that the state is grappling with a future that is far less certain than it once was. Not so long ago, for example, a young South Australian couple could work hard, get a decent salary, buy a home, raise a family and build a better life. It was a promise that was passed down through generations—the hope that each generation would get a little bit better than the last. Under this Premier and his government, that promise is literally unravelling right before our eyes.

The cost-of-living crisis, for a start, is real—it is very real. Rising bills, inflation and high rent are hurting families across the state at the moment. This government's wasteful spending has made this worse. We know that net debt is spiralling out of control. We have seen the recent figures. South Australians expect better from their government. The opposition will push for policies that reduce unnecessary costs, cut waste and also put money back into the pockets of South Australians.

Next, let's address the ongoing ambulance ramping crisis. We know that Labor promised to fix it. They talked all about promises today. The only promise they do not want to talk about is in fact the one about ramping. Their campaign was clear; the corflutes were clear. They said to 'Vote Labor like your life depends upon it.' It was pretty clear, yet under this government we have seen the worst 31 months of ramping in South Australia's history, and we know in some respects it is only getting worse. It is just another broken promise from a government that cannot deliver on any of its major promises.

Let's not forget Labor's big promise on energy. Wasn't that interesting? Literally, jurisdictions around the country are pulling their hydrogen promises. Whether it is in WA or Queensland, whether it is Twiggy Forrest, Origin Energy or whoever it is, they all seem to be going one way, but not under this government. Here they promised a pretty big promise. They pledged a $593 million hydrogen plant, claiming that it would be operational by sometime in 2025. Do you know what? We are in 2025 and barely a single shovel has been put into the ground.

Meanwhile, what does the Premier do? He throws his energy minister under the hydrogen bus. What does he do? Across the nation we know that hydrogen projects, at the very least, are stalling or they are facing huge blowouts. These things are massive. The minister was sent out on radio to try to explain away the failure to deliver this hydrogen plant. While Labor mismanages the politics, South Australians are left to deal with soaring electricity prices. At the end of the day, I think that is what most care about at the moment: how can they get their electricity price down? How can they help their bill? It is $798 a year extra for the average household. Instead of delivering affordable, reliable energy, the government has only given us higher costs and these broken promises as well.

Then of course we also face a growing housing crisis. While Labor are great on the grand announcements about land releases and affordable housing, what have we actually seen? How many new homes have we actually seen? 'Not many, if any' is the answer to that question. The government's failure to act is leaving families priced out of the housing market. Now they are proposing more changes that will only make it harder to get into the market, with sky-high rents and home ownership literally slipping out of reach. South Australians are now paying up to $40,000 in stamp duty on the median-priced home in metropolitan Adelaide. It is clear: the government's actions do not match their rhetoric.

We also know that public safety is also a critical issue. Crime is on the rise in many areas, with South Australians feeling unsafe in their own communities as well. Labor's response has been inadequate. We need stronger laws, tougher penalties and an urgent increase in the number of police officers on the streets. Now we see three police ministers in the space of less than three years under this government. Whether it is housing, fixing the ramping crisis or delivering a hydrogen plant to lower electricity prices, this Premier and this government have failed to meet the test.