Decisions made in Canberra and Spring Street have very real consequences around the kitchen table, on the farm and behind the counter of a small business – and Loddon residents are really feeling it.

Last week, The Nationals in Coalition in Canberra won an important reprieve for older Australians from Labor’s unquenchable thirst for tax grabs.  The Albanese Labor Government wanted to cut the private health insurance rebate for Australians aged over 65. More than three million older Australians would have been affected, including around 1.2 million pensioners.

The Government repeatedly claimed only 44,000 older Australians would drop their cover. Yet we now know the Health Department expected that number to grow to around 78,000 within years, and National Seniors projected up to 270,000 Australians would drop hospital cover and 400,000 would reduce their cover.

As Shadow Minister for Regional Health, for months I fought this terrible Labor policy which was never taken to an election.

Most older Australians have paid for private health insurance for decades. They budgeted for private healthcare because they knew that being over-65 often triggers treatments like hip replacements, knee replacements and cataract surgeries.

Labor’s plan to make health insurance less affordable risks transferring private patients into public hospitals that are already struggling, especially in regional Australia.

Last sitting week, the Coalition led the charge in the Senate, kicking the Labor’s private health tax grab off the legislative agenda.  True to Labor form, tin-eared Health Minister Butler immediately reintroduced the same bill. The fight is not over.

Labor’s disconnect from everyday Australians is also evident in the Albanese Government's treatment of small and family businesses.

Small businesses make up more than 97 per cent of Australian businesses, employ 5.1 million people and generate $600 billion in economic value. Yet more than 29,000 companies have entered external administration over the past two years. This is catastrophic.

New research lifts the lid on the real, human picture behind those numbers. Only around one in four small business owners are paying themselves more than they did a year ago. Two in five are working longer hours and one in four has worked those extra hours for no additional pay.

Small business owners are not faceless corporations. They are the mechanic, café owner, tradie, retailer and family business owner who may have their home and savings on the line.

Small business owners face severe headwinds under Labor - toxic tax changes affecting trusts,  higher energy and financing costs, more regulation and the fiasco over the ATO taking credit-card payments. On top of that, abolishing credit card surcharges does not magically abolish merchant fees. Someone still pays.

Regional Australians also know what happens when Labor trashes food security.

Last sitting week, the Liberals and Nationals introduced a bill to stop further Commonwealth buybacks of permanent Murray-Darling Basin water entitlements. Labor is blindly pursuing an additional 450 gigalitres and the water market is going up like a rocket.

Every megalitre removed from productive agriculture has consequences beyond the farm gate. It affects processors, contractors, transport operators, shops, food prices, food security and the future of our towns. That is why I and The Nationals have consistently fought Labor's damaging buybacks.

And here in the Loddon, another battle continues.

The enormous VNI West transmission line’s Environment Effects Statement has been put on public exhibition until 16 November, right when many farmers are entering their busiest and most critical time of year: harvest.  VicGrid – a government entity – took 2 years to produce a 29 chapter document with 27 appendices and attachments, that farmers are expected to respond to in 1 month.  This continues the atrocious behaviour by Labor, where controversial environmental consultations are imposed on farmers during harvest.

After years of farmers telling Labor governments they are not being heard – and being fined $814 for standing up for their property rights – Labor’s timing is just extraordinary.

I have consistently opposed the railroading of our farmers and communities over VNI-West. I have supported farmers at protests. I will continue fighting to protect prime agricultural land and the strongest message to send Labor is to vote in The Nationals in a Coalition government on November 28.

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