Cost of Living Discussions in the Senate (28/10/2025)

Cost of Living and Housing Affordability Discussion

• Youth Advocacy: A significant portion of the session focused on speeches delivered by young Australians who advocated for urgent reforms addressing housing affordability and cost of living challenges. These discussions underscored systemic issues, highlighting the challenges young people face in securing affordable housing and the rising costs of living that affect their overall quality of life (p. 14-18).
• Government Accountability on Living Standards: Senator Jane Hume criticized the current government for presiding over declining living standards, attributing this to increased living costs and diminished disposable income for families. Hume referenced a Wall Street Journal report, emphasizing that energy and childcare costs remain unaddressed, causing financial distress for many Australians (p. 56).
• Contrasting Perspectives: In contrast, Senator Corinne Mulholland from the ALP defended the government’s performance, citing tax cuts for families and minimum wage improvements as positive outcomes. Mulholland’s remarks aimed to counter the criticisms regarding living expenses and overall economic management (p. 56-57).
• Energy Prices and Economic Impact: Senator Dave Sharma expanded on the issue by linking high energy prices and inflation to the economic decline of Australia. He criticized the government’s energy policies, particularly their shift towards renewable energy, suggesting these have created added burdens for Australian households (p. 57).
• Government Support Initiatives: In response, Senator Penny Allman-Payne highlighted government efforts to support low-income earners and expand bulk-billing services as strategies to alleviate pressure on vulnerable populations affected by cost of living increases (p. 57-58).
• Calls for Substantial Reform: The session saw calls for more significant structural reforms to address energy costs and the rising cost of living comprehensively. Senators emphasized that without actionable steps, the burden on Australians, particularly the youth and low-income earners, would continue to grow (p. 59).
• Nuclear Energy Proposal: Senator Jane Hume advocated for exploring nuclear energy as a solution to Australia’s energy crisis, positing that it could supply clean and affordable power, thereby contributing to lower overall living costs (p. 84).
• Mental Health Crisis Among Youth: An urgent need for mental health support was brought up as connected to the overall well-being of young Australians facing high living costs and housing issues. Reports indicated that many youth struggle to access help, contributing to rising mental health crises (p. 93).

This focused discussion within the Senate highlighted the pivotal issues surrounding cost of living and housing affordability, showing a clear divide in perspectives on the government’s effectiveness and exploring various solutions proposed by different parties.