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To avoid disillusionment in Federal Labour government its housing and power promises must be fulfilled

Government must fulfil housing and power promises post-election to avoid disillusionment. Citizens, facing rising expenses, seek accountability. Broken trust leads to electoral repercussions amid financial strain.

By news@gippsland - 19th March 2024 - Back to News

I don't mind if the government has programs and they say things before an election campaign about what they're going to do in regard to housing. But don't then tell me 100 times that you're going to reduce the cost of power - as the previous member just said, they have a power reduction program - by $275. You said that time after time after time, and people in my electorate listened to you, understood what you were saying and supported you.

Post-election, the government must deliver on housing and power pledges to avoid disillusionment. Citizens demand accountability amid financial pressure

Labor party promises

A whole four per cent of them decided to move towards the Labor Party and away from my position. People thought, 'I'm going to be $275 better off if I vote Labor.' What has happened? They haven't had a $275 reduction.

But then Labor said, 'Oh, no, we've got five years to do that.' The trouble is that the Prime Minister didn't say that during the election campaign. He didn't say, 'In five years time I'll give you a $275 cut.' He just said, 'I'll give you a $275 cut.' It's sort of a reversal of the 'Mediscare' campaign from the previous election.

It's a promise to say, 'I'm going to give you this,' but then they don't give it to you. You can understand that people are under pressure, and all the previous speakers have recognised that people are under pressure from power prices and a lot of state government costs, like your water and your electricity. When has the federal government come along and said, 'Here's what we can do for you'? It hasn't happened.

Housing program concerns

What happens in your new housing program, whatever it's called, which we just debated in the House and went through - it's another first home buyer type scheme; oh, it's the Help to Buy program - when the market intervenes, people can't pay for some reason, their interest rates go too high and they're under pressure?

I went to get a punctured tyre repaired, and the guy repairing the tyre said, 'You're the politician, aren't you?' And I said yes, but I was trying to hide it, with the way I was dressed. He said, 'Do you know my mortgage has gone up 1,500 bucks?' This guy is running and is part owner of a very good tyre business.

They've always looked after me very well in Pakenham and always been great. He said: 'It's 1,500 bucks, mate. That's what it's costing me over and above what I was paying.' He said, 'I have to find that money.'

Mortgage burden realities

I recently had a very well-paid person come to me and say, 'Russell, you don't understand how high the mortgage is that we've got to pay.' Well, no, I don't understand how high his mortgage is, because when I took out the mortgage on the small farm that I'm on it was $30,000. Then, in the next episode, from others that I've heard about, their mortgages went to $60,000, then $80,000, then $150,000 and then $200,000.

When I asked a young girl who worked with me for a while, Priscilla, what she'd borrowed to get into her unit in Parkdale, or wherever it was, she said $400,000. I was in shock. Now people are borrowing $1 million. For some of the people these days who have borrowed that sort of money, a tiny change in interest rates is catastrophic. And they all believed that interest rates wouldn't change for a long time.

Loan rate struggles

As we heard from the member who spoke before, people come up to you and say, 'I've just moved from a fixed loan to a variable loan, and the price has gone through the roof for me.' And this has happened to thousands of people across Australia. I learned very quickly that people are now relying not only on their income but also on their savings. They're using up their savings just to survive at the moment.

Governments should be very aware of the electorate when people are under pressure, because they will have regard for everything you say, all the time, about what you're going to do. And if you don't do it beware, because the people will be coming for you.

Pictures from Russell Broadbent MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Danny O'Brien says Gippsland roads among state's most dangerous after years of neglect under Allan Labor government
  Danny O'Brien says new AusRAP data shows many Gippsland roads are unsafe after years of Labor neglect, criticising the government for lowering speed limits instead of properly fixing deteriorating roads.
• Martin Cameron criticises Labor’s ensured failure by hastening coal plant closures without planning baseload power replacements
  The Victorian Auditor-General warns a "disorderly energy transition" could cause power shortages, soaring prices, and job losses, with Labor’s accelerated coal closures and mismanaged renewable planning worsening the crisis.
• Latrobe City Council highlights strong financial performance and community-focused progress in its 2024/2025 Annual Report presentation
  Latrobe City Council’s 2024/2025 Annual Report shows strong financial sustainability, strategic progress and disciplined planning, highlighting new health-focused development and continued delivery of essential services and infrastructure.
• Danny O’Brien said the state’s fuel price app is ineffective, though price transparency tools like Servo Saver can help strained household budgets
  Gippsland South MP Danny O’Brien urges state and federal governments to secure regional fuel supply, warning rising costs, panic-buying, and supply restrictions threaten farmers, transport, essential services, and local households.
• Bass Coast Shire Council endorses 2026-2030 Climate Change Action Plan, strengthening its net zero emissions commitment
  Bass Coast Council has endorsed Climate Action Priority Actions 2026–2030 following a mid-term review and community consultation, strengthening its commitment to net zero emissions, resilience and local climate leadership.
• Martin Cameron condemns Labor for blocking Jack’s Law, pledges action to combat knife crime
  Martin Cameron condemned the Allan Labor government for blocking Jack’s Law, pledging to introduce it if elected, giving police powers to combat knife crime, following its success in other Australian states.
• Darren Chester meets One Gippsland leaders to advocate regional priorities ahead of 2026 federal budget
  Gippsland MP Darren Chester met One Gippsland leaders in Canberra, advocating regional priorities ahead of the 2026 Federal Budget to boost economy, jobs, connectivity, disaster resilience, and community development.
• Danny O’Brien denounces Port Welshpool Coastguard funding snub despite 25-year-old vessel and critical rescue role
  Danny O’Brien criticised the state government for overlooking Port Welshpool Coastguard, leaving its 25-year-old vessel unreliable, and urged clarity and reconsideration of funding decisions for critical local rescue services.
• Mayor Rochelle Halstead honoured with MAV 10-year Service Award for her dedication to local government
  Bass Coast Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead has received the MAV 10-Year Service Award, recognising her decade of dedicated leadership, advocacy, and commitment to strengthening local government and the Bass Coast community.
• Tim Bull demands end to brumby shooting as pest and weed control programs face cuts
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull has urged the state government to scrap its costly brumby shooting program, criticising cuts to pest and weed control services vital for farmers and rural communities.