Mr DICK (Oxley) (13:48): On more than 28 occasions I've spoken in this House on the desperate need to clamp
down on the out-of-control payday loan industry and the loan sharks who are ripping off more than 800,000
Australian households. But, despite promise after promise by multiple government ministers, including in writing
to me by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, this government continues to let the loan sharks do what they
please. Earlier today I met with Gerard Brody from the Consumer Action Law Centre and the Stop The Debt
Trap Alliance—a coalition of more than 20 consumer advocacy organisations from across this country including
financial experts, community advocates and service providers. This alliance has been formed in response to the
more than 1,000 days of inaction since the coalition government promised to make reforms. Included in their
delegation today is payday lending victim Noorlia, who escaped family violence and was close to being homeless,
only to be exploited by the out-of-control payday lending industry and fall into the debt trap, as thousands of
people do.
This must stop, and I once again call on the government to get off their hands and bring forward the legislation
to do so. I also want to acknowledge in the House today Mr Tan and Mrs Nga Vu, from the Vietnamese Catholic
Community Centre in Inala in my electorate. Earlier this year I took my parliamentary oath on a bible provided by
their Catholic church. I want to put on record my sincere thanks and admiration for all they do for our community,
and welcome them to the people's House.