sussanleymp

We were in Cairns today meeting two hardworking family businesses that rely on cold room storage to keep their produce fresh and their operations running.

And the truth hit hard. At Cairns Bulk Meats, power bills have almost doubled since May 2023. When your cold rooms run around the clock, you cannot absorb those kinds of increases. You feel every cent.

This is the cost of a government that sets targets it cannot meet at a price Australians cannot afford.

Australia has already reduced emissions at almost twice the speed of other advanced economies since 2005. Yet Labor now wants to double down again while families and local businesses are being crushed by rising bills.

Energy prices have climbed 40 percent since Labor came to office. The regulator is warning of even higher costs ahead. Households are hurting and cold room operators like these are doing everything they can just to stay above water.

There is a better way.

Australians deserve affordable energy and responsible emissions reduction, and our plan puts the cost of power first.

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We’re in Leongatha today meeting locals and hearing firsthand how rising power prices are affecting their daily lives.

Labor is setting targets they can’t meet at a cost that Australians can’t afford.

Because since 2005 Australia has reduced emissions at almost twice the rate of other developed countries. But to meet net zero by 2050 Labor would have to double that again, even as their policies push prices higher and hit households and businesses.

It means power prices have climbed 40 percent since they were elected. Businesses are hurting. Families are hurting.

And as a result of Labor setting unachievable targets, AEMO now warns that the costs to consumers will rise.

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Families like Paul and Luis at @gazzolafarms keep our communities fed with long hours, dedication and a commitment to quality.

But even for businesses doing everything right, Labor’s policies are sending energy bills through the roof. Their investment in solar should have delivered real savings, yet rising power costs have wiped them out and pushed expenses up toward 40 percent. It is the same pressure we are hearing from farmers, manufacturers and households right across the country.

Our plan puts affordable energy first and promises responsible emissions reduction that works with industry, not against it. We will back Australian producers so they can keep growing, keep employing and keep feeding the nation. Families deserve energy policy that brings bills down and supports the people who keep the country moving.

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The fire at Deniliquin High School over the weekend is devastating for our community.

My thoughts are with the students, staff and families who are now dealing with the shock and uncertainty of losing their classrooms and the place they gather every day to learn and grow.

The NSW Education Department is coordinating support for those affected, and learning will continue off site while the assessment and recovery work takes place.

Thank you to our emergency services who acted quickly and professionally to bring the fire under control and keep the community safe.

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Thankful for the social workers and volunteers who turn up every day for people doing it tough.

At the Southern Peninsula Community Support Centre we saw the pressure families are under, from rising rents to energy bills that are now impossible to keep up with. Volunteers here pack food hampers and help locals navigate rebates because the cost of living has become overwhelming.

Their practical and important work reflects our values: standing with those who help others and backing local services with real solutions.

A special thanks to @zoemckenzieflinders for her tireless advocacy for this organisation and her commitment to tackling homelessness in the local community.