Willcox Questions Labor’s Plan for Cost of Living

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox questioned the Federal Government’s plan to address the cost of living burdening Australians at the moment.

In his speech to the Parliament he said that constituents in Dawson are facing tough financial choices as the cost of living continues to increase.

“This is a critical time for the household budget for families and individuals across Dawson. I am concerned about the Government’s sluggishness to present feasible solutions for Australian’s hip pocket,” Mr Willcox said.

“On Budget night, the Labor Government walked away from a commitment to reduce every household’s energy bills by $275. A promise repeated over 97 times. Since then, we are yet to see any alternative sense of reprieve and that is of great concern to me.

“My constituents in Dawson are currently dealing with a 56% increase in their power prices, which is why in Parliament this week I continued to stress to the Government the urgency of the matter.  

“It is getting harder & harder for families to make ends meet, to just enjoy the simple things in life, as those simple things are fast becoming luxuries.”

On Monday, Mr Willcox also called on the government to honour commitments for vital infrastructure projects in Dawson including VMR Whitsundays, and veteran’s wellness funding in the region.

“Prior to the election, the Coalition committed $420,000 to the Whitsunday Volunteer Marine Rescue, but this funding has been cut by Labor. The funding would go a long way to improve the safety of those thousands of water users in the Whitsundays,” Mr Willcox said.

“Another group left behind is veterans in and around Mackay. The Coalition Government committed $5 million Dawson to invest into veterans’ wellness. This would have brought an RSL to Mackay, a wellness centre to the Mackay Memorial Centre Pool Complex and a retreat at Kinchant Dam.

“If our men and women are willing to put their lives on the line for the security and sovereignty of our nation, the very least we can do is offer support when they return home.”