Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce will strongly oppose any move by the Albanese Government to increase the size of the Australian Parliament, warning it would come at significant cost to taxpayers at a time Australians are already under severe financial pressure.
Analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office shows that expanding the Parliament could cost taxpayers more than $620 million, including salaries, staff, travel and office costs.
Mr Boyce said the Government had its priorities completely wrong.
"At a time when Australian families are tightening their belts, the last thing they should be asked to fund is more politicians," he said.
"This is a Government that cannot manage the economy, cannot control spending, and now wants to make Australians pay for a bigger Parliament.
"This is more spending, more bureaucracy, and more pressure on the Budget at exactly the wrong time.
"We will protect Australians' way of life and restore their standard of living, and that starts with living within our means.
"People in regional Australia are doing it tough. They are paying more for fuel, groceries and power. They do not want more politicians in Canberra. They want practical help with the cost of living.
"Now is the time to tighten the belt, not expand the bureaucracy. This Government is focused on itself. The Coalition is focused on Australians."
The Coalition is calling on the Prime Minister to immediately rule out any expansion of the Parliament and instead focus on Australia's declining living standards and cost-of-living crisis.
