Wednesday, 14 August 2024

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (09:53): Right now Victorians are facing a cost-of-living crisis and all Victorians are paying the price. Fuel is up, utilities are up, rent is up and taxes are the highest in the nation. We know from the MYOB small business survey that many small businesses are paying a lot more and feeling the pinch more in the cost of living than they did last year.

In my electorate we heard from the likes of Gary from Burger Bliss in Glen Huntly. He needs to sell 100 more burgers per week just to make the same profit as he did last year. Perry from the Mediterranean Greek Tavern in Elsternwick needs to fill up his restaurant three times more to make the same profit he did last year. Tom from Common Room Co in Caulfield North has seen costs skyrocket, but he knows he cannot put the prices up because customers just cannot afford it. Jennifer from the local charity Pet Medical Crisis says aged pensioners and disability support recipients are forced to choose between giving up their pets or skipping meals and missing rent because they just do not have money to afford the bills. Shlomo from C Care, who literally knows what it is like to put food on the table for those who cannot afford it, is now providing over 2000 meals a week to local families doing it tough, 10 times as many as when he first started. This is a cost-of-living crisis in Victoria. Victorians are paying the price, and they are doing it because Labor cannot manage money.