WA FAMILIES HIT BY LABOR’S RISING BACK TO SCHOOL COSTS

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY 19 January 2024  WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith, a member of the Coalition economic team, says the concerns of many local parents and carers have been realised due to a sharp hike in education-related costs under the Albanese Government in 2024. This week, a report by school children’s charity The Smith Family found that nearly 90% of respondents to a survey of 2,000 families were concerned about not being able to afford school supplies for the year. More than half of the survey’s respondents said it was harder to afford all the things their child needed for school than last year. 46% feared they were not going to be able to afford the right uniform or shoes for their children. The Smith Family report comes in the wake of recent estimates that reveal families are spending on average $2,547 a year to send a child to primary school – a figure that increases to $4,793 for secondary school. In total, there has been an almost 5% rise in education costs since Labor was elected. It should come as no surprise that these costs are pushing vulnerable groups further to the brink. In September 2022, a hearing of the Senate Cost of Living Committee heard that about 7,000 grandparent carers in WA were earning less than $19,000 a year, and living below the poverty line. Representations from the group flagged back to school costs as a major challenge. The same Committee heard from YouthCARE, whose CEO, Tamsyn Cullingford, confirmed that the past 18 months had seen schools and families who were previously completely self-reliant ask for the charity’s help. Senator Dean Smith said Labor is consistently failing in its promise to reduce the cost of living for Western Australians. “Under Labor, parents and carers are worried about covering the cost of sending their children to school – irrespective of whether they are public or private,” Senator Smith said. “The 5% rise in education costs comes when home rentals have increased 27% under Labor, and monthly repayments on an average mortgage for a $500,000 home are growing by more than $1,000 since Labor were elected,” he said. “These intense cost of living pressures mean parents and carers are starting to make heart-breaking decisions such as pulling their children out of extra-curricular activities because they simply can’t afford them.” “They are feeling the heat at every angle under Labor and it’s getting worse.”

Balance crucial in a divisive debate – The Sunday Times

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It’s the time of the year when the subject of Australia’s national day, and the date on which we celebrate it, fills the airwaves and column inches. For a couple of weeks it dominates media, political and, more recently, commercial conversations. The decision by Woolworths and Aldi, among others, not to sell Australia Day-themed material this year at least partly on ideological grounds is the latest example of elements of corporate Australia being unwilling to stay in their own lane and has rightly drawn criticism. We now expect a debate to arise as each January 26 approaches. But those of us who are genuinely proud of our country, enjoying its triumphs and mindful of its tribulations, should not accept the efforts of those sowing hypocrisy where there should be honesty, and division where there should be unity. So, as we near this Australia Day, let’s ensure the discussion is characterised by some balance and common sense, too. First, surely we can all agree there should be a national day on which we celebrate Australia and the part each of us plays in it – and this should be known as Australia Day. Second, we should be clear about what we are acknowledging on Australia Day. We celebrate our diversity, our respect for each other and the individual dignity every Australian is entitled to. We honour the liberty of expression that allows free debate, the equality given to every person before the law, and reiterate our trust and respect for the institutions ensuring our democracy. All this is wrapped in a spirit of gratitude, fairness and tolerance. Third, let’s recognise all our history – the good and the bad. We are blessed with a rich Indigenous heritage. We are a nation that has built a trusted national identity that is the envy of the world. We have fought for freedom over tyranny in global conflicts and opened our doors to millions looking to build a new life in safety. We can absolutely enjoy all that is good about our country, while also remembering past wrongs and committing ourselves to constant improvement. And we can do this in the knowledge that Australia’s historical ledger has more pluses than minuses. Finally, we must be clear about the date. Australia Day marks January 26, 1788, and while this represents understandable and valid sensitivities for some parts of the Australian community, it can also be viewed as a lens through which we better appreciate the experiences of First Nations Australians over the past 236 years. I’d argue that what is required is not a change of date, but an increased level of maturity and understanding – especially from our parliamentarians. There are those, led from the front by Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, working to deliberately erode confidence in our national day by failing to provide real leadership. Anthony Albanese could learn a thing or two from the political playbooks of former prime ministers Paul Keating and John Howard on this. When confronted by efforts in the 1990s to destroy Anzac Day and change the Australian national flag, these leaders acted decisively. As a result, Australians are today comforted by the fact both Anzac Day and the Australian national flag are protected by law. Paul Keating enshrined Anzac Day in legislation in 1995 and John Howard in 1998 ensured the national flag could only be changed by a vote of all electors. Debates about these symbols are now muted because people know they must make a substantive case for change, rather than simply disrupting from the sidelines. Australia Day is every bit as significant and deserves the same certainty and protection. It’s something to think about as the noise once again begins to rage. In the meantime, I have no doubt many will celebrate Australia Day 2024 with enthusiasm – and they are the Australians Anthony Albanese and corporate Australia should be paying attention to.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury – Opinion Piece – The West Australian – Labor is a definite risk to all of Australia’s prosperity

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SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA OPINION PIECE – THE WEST AUSTRALIAN LABOR IS A DEFINITE RISK TO ALL OF AUSTRALIA’S PROSPERITY In the closing chapters of Parliament for 2024, the Albanese Labor Government prioritised its pursuit of short-term political gain and put in jeopardy the hard-earned savings of generations of Australians. The Future Fund— established as a safeguard for our nation’s financial stability — is now being plundered to prop up a failing economic agenda, risking our future prosperity. This isn’t hyperbole. It’s the reality of a Government that has abandoned sound economic management for ideological gain. David Murray, the Future Fund’s first chairman, has raised the alarm, suggesting Labor’s changes to the investment mandate breach laws designed to protect the fund’s independence. “The act was carefully drafted to limit the Government’s ability to interfere,” Murray explained. Yet Labor is pressing ahead, exposing the fund to volatile, politically driven sectors like housing, renewable energy, and infrastructure. Treasurer Jim Chalmers insists these changes are lawful but refuses to release the legal advice that supposedly justifies them. Australians always deserve transparency — but never more so than when $230 billion of their savings is at stake. Without oversight, these changes look less like reform and more like a desperate raid on the nation’s nest egg to cover Labor’s economic blunders. Labor’s economic mismanagement isn’t confined to the Future Fund. After nearly three years in power, the Albanese Government has delivered Australians the weakest annual growth since 1991 — outside of the pandemic — with GDP per capita contracting for seven consecutive quarters. This is the longest household recession in half a century. Living standards have plummeted by 8.7 per cent — the largest fall on record. Mortgages are unaffordable for many, with interest payments tripling since the election. Productivity has collapsed by 6 per cent, a damning sign that points to a Government with the wrong priorities. Inflation remains stubbornly high, driven primarily by homegrown factors. While other advanced economies like the US and UK have begun to see interest rate relief, Australians are still struggling under the burden of rising costs. Core inflation sits at 3.5 per cent — higher than most advanced economies. These are not abstract figures; they’re the reason families are cutting back, businesses are closing, and farmers are scaling down operations. Energy costs are a prime example of Labor’s poor governance. Three years ago, Anthony Albanese promised Australians a $275 reduction in electricity bills. Today, power prices are up by over 30 per cent, with households paying as much as $1000 more annually. Labor’s “renewables-only” policy has saddled Australians with a projected $642 billion bill for transitioning to green energy, more than five times what was originally claimed. The instability caused by relying solely on renewables has left families and businesses footing the bill. Australians are being left in the dark, both literally and figuratively. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, are buckling under the weight of soaring costs. Nearly 25,000 of them have become insolvent since Labor took office. Farmers, already dealing with surging fertiliser and feed prices, face energy costs that risk making it impossible to remain competitive. These failures have cascading effects across our economy, hitting everyone from consumers to exporters. The Albanese Government’s legislative blitz at the end of the 2024 parliamentary year is a reflection of their slapdash approach to their responsibilities. Sweeping changes to the Reserve Bank’s governance were rushed through, backed by Greens-aligned policies that prioritise climate goals over economic stability. This politicisation undermines the independence of one of Australia’s most trusted institutions and erodes confidence in its ability to serve the public. Even the Treasurer’s nominees to the new interest rate board have raised eyebrows. Labor’s focus on appointees aligned with its views over bipartisan experts risks further destabilising an already fragile economic landscape. Meanwhile, migration is the only thing propping up our economy. With one person arriving every 44 seconds, this surge masks a deeper economic malaise. It doesn’t address falling living standards, nor does it alleviate the rising costs of essentials like housing and energy. Instead, it covers up structural problems while failing to tackle the root causes of our economic challenges. Unlike Labor, the Coalition understands that the Future Fund is not a political tool but a safeguard for all Australians. We are committed to restoring fiscal discipline, fighting inflation, and securing Australia’s future. Our approach focuses on cutting Government waste, lowering taxes, and investing in reliable, low-emissions energy to reduce costs for families and businesses alike. Unlike the Government’s costly renewables-only plan, the Coalition’s balanced energy approach — including zero-emissions nuclear power — offers a cheaper, cleaner, and more consistent solution to the energy crisis. Our plan will save Australians up to $263 billion, delivering lower power bills, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy. Labor’s half-baked economic policies are a betrayal of the trust placed in them to competently manage the national economy. Their mishandling of the Future Fund is just one example of a broader pattern of mismanagement that has left Australians worse off. Labor’s fiscal irresponsibility has always ended the same way — with higher taxes, mounting debt, and lower living standards. For Australians struggling to make ends meet, the Albanese Government offers nothing but excuses. Peter Costello, the architect of the Future Fund, put it plainly: Labor is turning the fund into a tool of Government policy, compromising its independence and purpose. This is not just bad policy; it is harming future generations. Our vision, on the other hand, is one of growth, stability, and opportunity — a nation where the Government plans not just for tomorrow, but for the decades ahead. The choice is clear. A future weighed down by Labor’s incompetence, or a Coalition Government led by Peter Dutton that is committed to restoring stability and prosperity for all.