Financial Hardship

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:42): Today I speak once again on the burdens Labor has inflicted on South Australians. The reality today is that South Australians are paying more now than they were two years ago, whether that be for essential services and household items or everything in between. In some cases, we are paying more than the rest of the country.

Recent inflation data reveals that South Australians have endured one of the highest rates of inflation in the country. This was outlined during the June quarter. This is not just a statistic, it is a stark reality. The typical South Australian family is now nearly $25,000 a year worse off since Peter Malinauskas became Premier. This figure is not abstract, it reflects real financial hardships faced by families and businesses every single day.

Financial hardship is not just about dollar signs. For some South Australians, it can mean not turning on the heater in freezing temperatures, choosing between medication or food, not fixing their hot water system, or shutting up shop on a family business. It is a harsh cycle. These realities can lead to detrimental impacts on mental health due to stress and insecurity, the decline of physical health because people cannot afford to see their doctor, and a spillover effect onto our health system.

If the Premier and Treasurer do not believe me, they need look no further than their own social media accounts' comments sections. 'I hope the cost of a GP visit is on the agenda soon,' writes Lorraine on the reel of the Premier's post on his Facebook page on 13 August 2024. Ian said:

You clowns are the weakness—cost of living up over 45 per cent and power bills up over 55 per cent…Being a true leader is someone who really delivers, not someone who keeps icing a cake with no filling all the time.

Ron writes:

All you are doing is driving up prices and all your so-called thousands of new homes will never happen. Prices are skyrocketing, materials are in short supply, a lack of trades and building firms going broke, leaving people with half-finished home... I would say your housing road map has gone off the rails!

Matt says:

Your new rental laws are making investors leave the market. Less investors mean less supply! You rush the laws in to get the headlines and votes, but haven't looked in the repercussions for the changes!

The cost-of-living crisis is hitting South Australians hard, and it is not just housing. Utilities, such as electricity and water bills, are significantly higher here than in the rest of the nation, and the Premier continues to put the burden on already suffering families and businesses. In the last quarter alone utilities in Adelaide rose 10.2 per cent, compared with a national average of 3.6 per cent. Electricity prices have surged by 28.3 per cent since Premier Malinauskas took office. Cody has written:

Weak! Your incentive has nothing to do with helping anyone. That's why you've allowed the rip off of everyone in this state, with massive increases in rates and utilities, and under delivered in areas such as health, child services and energy.

South Australian families are struggling with skyrocketing costs and, instead of relief, we are seeing the situation worsen. Premier Malinauskas' policies have not only failed to alleviate the cost-of-living burden but have contributed to the rising inflation, which, as highlighted by the RBA, is the true impact of massive overspending by both the federal and state government. A budget is about priorities, and this government has the wrong priorities. I will end my remarks with the comments from Marie:

Welcome to Labor. The economy is being purposely pushed up by Labor's mismanagement and hard-working families are paying the price. We have a Prime Minister who does not understand economics, and a Premier in South Australia whose priorities for the people is investing into expensive sporting projects. We need an election now.

Marie, I could not have said it better myself.