Cost of Living Committee to visit Western Sydney

Joint media release with
Dai Le MP
Member for Fowler

21 April 2023

Senator Jane Hume, Chair of the Senate Cost of Living Committee, will today lead hearings in Warwick Farm, Western Sydney, to hear from members of the community and industry groups in the latest hearings on the cost of living. 

The hearing will be held at the Warwick Farm Holiday Inn. Representatives from local business chambers including the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and the Cabramatta Chamber of Commerce, as well as Business NSW will appear to give evidence. 

With many older Australians struggling under the cost of living crisis, the Committee will hear from groups representing older Australians and superannuants such as the SMSF Association, Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association, and the Council on the Ageing. 

The Committee will also consider the cost of accessing essential financial services like banking and health insurance. Representatives from the banking and finance broking sectors, and the private healthcare industry, and the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority will appear in front of the Committee to answer questions about the regulatory levers the Government can access to lower operating costs so providers can deliver more value to consumers. 

The Committee will also hold its first ‘open mic’ session, where members of the Western Sydney community will be able to share how the cost of living crisis is impacting them. 

Senator Hume said it was important for the committee to get out of the CBDs and hear firsthand about the cost of living pressures ordinary Australians are facing in their everyday lives. 

“The cost of living remains the number one issue for Australians and our open mic session will be a great opportunity to hear directly from Western Sydney locals about how they’ve been impacted by the cost of living crisis” Senator Hume said.

“We are really keen to hear about the real experience of as many ordinary Australians as we can, which is why we set up an online survey that makes it quick and easy for people to make a submission to the Committee.

“I encourage anyone who is willing to share their story with the Committee to make a submission via the survey, which can be accessed by yourcostofliving.au” Senator Hume said.

Dai Le MP, the Member for Fowler, welcomed the Cost of Living Committee arranging a hearing in Western Sydney. 

“I’m grateful that the Western Sydney community has been given the opportunity to share our unique stories and experiences, and I look forward to the outcomes of the inquiry.

“If we are going to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, we must listen to the everyday Australians who are struggling to put food on the table, buy clothes for their kids and pay for petrol – while being held hostage by mortgage repayments and rental increases,” Ms Le said.