Cost of Living: Relief for Families and Households

What People Are Telling Me

"Everywhere I go, people tell me the same thing: life is getting too expensive. Families are struggling to pay for food, rent, and electricity. Small businesses are feeling the pressure of rising costs. And too many people are having to choose between essentials—like heating their homes or putting food on the table."

Meanwhile, big corporations post record profits while everyday Australians fall further behind. This is not fair, and it is not sustainable.

The Reality We Face

📈 Soaring Inflation and Household Costs

• Food prices have risen 8% year-on-year, making basic groceries harder to afford.

• Electricity bills have increased by 20–30% in the past year, pushing many families into energy poverty.

• Rental prices have skyrocketed in cities, with vacancy rates at all-time lows.

The Impact on Everyday Australians

1 in 4 Australians are skipping meals due to cost-of-living pressures.

Renters and low-income families are being hit the hardest, forced into difficult financial decisions.

Small businesses are struggling to keep up with rising wages, supply chain disruptions, and high operating costs.

Meanwhile, corporate profits are soaring

Australia’s largest supermarkets, energy companies, and banks are making billions in profit while consumers struggle with record-high prices.

It’s time for real action that puts people first—not corporate profits.

My Commitment

I believe every Australian deserves:

✅ A fair go—where people aren’t priced out of basic necessities.

✅ Lower bills—so families can afford to live without financial stress.

✅ Fairer wages and taxation—so workers keep more of their hard-earned money.

✅ More housing stability—so renters and homeowners aren’t constantly under pressure.

This is why I’m committed to a bold, practical plan that delivers both immediate relief and long-term solutions.

Key Initiatives to Ease the Cost of Living Crisis

1) Lowering Energy Bills for Households

Australians should not have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table.

✔ Targeted energy bill relief—direct subsidies and rebates for low- and middle-income households, funded by closing tax loopholes for energy giants.

✔ Accelerate investment in renewables—ensuring 75% of new energy capacity comes from wind, solar, and battery storage by 2030, driving down household electricity costs.

✔ A Fair Energy Pricing Commission—a new independent watchdog with enforcement powers to monitor electricity and gas prices, preventing price gouging by energy retailers.

✔ Cooling and heating assistance—expanded rebates to ensure vulnerable Australians (renters, seniors, and low-income households) can afford to keep their homes comfortable year-round.

2) Fairer Prices for Groceries, Fuel, and Medicines

No Australian should have to skip meals because they can’t afford food.

✔ A National Price Oversight Body—monitoring and investigating supermarket pricing, fuel costs, and medicine prices to prevent excessive markups.

✔ Stronger penalties for price gouging—big corporations that take advantage of consumers will face heavier fines and increased regulation.

✔ Support for Australian farmers and suppliers—helping them reduce costs so savings are passed on to consumers instead of middlemen.

✔ Temporary fuel tax relief—reducing fuel costs in periods of extreme price surges, modeled on successful policies in other countries.

3) Tax Relief for Working Australians

Australians should keep more of what they earn.

✔ Tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners—adjusting tax brackets to put more money back in workers’ pockets.

✔ Close billionaire tax loopholes—ensuring Australia’s wealthiest pay their fair share so the system is fair for everyone.

✔ Expand affordable childcare—boosting subsidies to help parents return to work without sacrificing most of their income to childcare fees.

✔ Relief for small businesses—cutting red tape and providing low-interest loans to help them survive rising costs.

4) Addressing Housing Costs and Rent Pressures

Renters and first-home buyers deserve fairer housing options.

✔ Cap extreme rent increases—partnering with states to ensure rent hikes remain in line with inflation and fair market conditions.

✔ Landlord incentives for long-term affordability—tax benefits for property owners who offer secure, affordable leases to tenants.

✔ Increase supply of affordable housing—expanding federal investment in 50,000 new affordable homes over the next 5 years.

✔ Help first-home buyers get into the market—expanding deposit assistance and low-interest mortgage programs.

(More detailed housing policies can be found in my Housing Affordability Plan.)

5️) Transparency, Accountability, and Corporate Responsibility

The system must work for people, not just corporations.

✔ Quarterly public reports on cost-of-living measures—so Australians can track progress on energy, grocery, and tax relief initiatives.

✔ A public grocery and fuel price tracker—to expose excessive price hikes and hold big retailers accountable.

✔ Mandatory public reporting for corporate profits—forcing large companies to disclose how much of their price increases are due to inflation vs. profit-taking.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about statistics—it’s about people.

This plan will:

✅ Lower everyday costs—by bringing down energy bills, rent, and grocery prices.

✅ Put more money in your pocket—through targeted tax relief and wage fairness.

✅ Protect Australians from unfair pricing—by holding corporations accountable.

✅ Build long-term affordability—by investing in renewables, housing, and childcare.

My Vision

"No one should have to choose between paying rent and buying food. No parent should have to work extra shifts just to keep the lights on. And no worker should see their wages stagnate while corporate profits skyrocket."

"I am fighting for a future where fairness is at the heart of our economy—where hard work is rewarded, essentials are affordable, and corporate greed is held in check. By tackling the root causes of the cost-of-living crisis, we can build a stronger, fairer Australia—one where every household can thrive."

💬 If you believe in real solutions for cost-of-living relief, join me in making this vision a reality.