Western Sydney ‘cost of living emergency’ number one priority for Fowler MP

Western Sydney is in the midst of a “cost of living emergency” with Fowler’s MP demanding an extension on a cut fuel levy while slamming PM’s staffing cuts for crossbenchers.

Western Sydney is in the grips of a “cost of living emergency” according to independent MP Dai Le, who says her first act as the newly elected representative for Fowler will be to write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to demand that a cut to the fuel levy be extended beyond September.

“Low wages and high costs for fuel, food and interest rates are causing pressure at the dining table, on people’s commute to work, and in people’s homes,” Ms Le said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph.

“I want this to be the number one priority and for the government to step up and do what that government was put there to do.”

“I will call on the prime minster to extend the fuel levy and invite him to come out to our community to see the cost of living pressures people are living under.

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg cut the federal fuel excise levy from 44.2 to 22.1 cents per litre in last March, however the six month reprieve is due to expire on 28 September.

Dai Le independent federal member for Fowler poses for a photo at the Chaldean National Day festival at Fairfield Showground. Picture: Monique Harmer

The call for extended relief comes as the latest SEC Newgate “Mood of the Nation” report found that 68 per cent of Australians rated cost of living as “extremely important”, with climate change and the shift to renewables coming at as the 14th most important issue according to those surveyed.

Ms Le, who is the only independent in western Sydney, also said she was disappointed by the government’s decision to cut the number of staffers allocated to crossbench MPs from four to one.

Echoing the criticisms made by so-called ‘teal’ independents like Zali Steggall, Ms Le said that the move “goes against what the prime minister said about this being a respectful parliament.

Zali Steggall on election day. Picture: Supplied

“The decision really hurts our ability to go through legislation – it really ties our hands in terms of being able to offer feedback and amendments to what the government is proposing,” she said, noting that Attorney-General Mark Butler had reached out to her about promised anti-corruption laws.

Ms Le, who defeated Kristina Keneally in one of the most brutal contests of the 2022 election, also said that the ALP only had itself to blame for parachuting in a candidate with no links to the community.

“Labor must not lose sight of the fact they put in someone not connected with Fowler and who does not understand us or been through challenges we have been through,” she said.

The government says that it has no plans to extend the fuel tax levy cut.

On Monday Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the restoration of the original excise “was always a temporary measure” but defended the government’s cost of living response.

“We do need to take the pressure off families with the cost of living, so we’re making childcare cheaper, we’re investing in cheaper, cleaner renewable energy so that over time power bills will come down,” she told Seven’s Sunrise.

Originally published as Western Sydney ‘cost of living emergency’ number one priority for Fowler MP