Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 624, standing in the name of Senator Chisholm for today relating to northern and regional Queensland, be taken as a formal motion.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend this motion by deleting paragraph (a) and deleting in paragraph (b) all words after the word 'Macdonald' so that the motion would mean that the Senate applauds Senator Macdonald.

Leave not granted.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no objection to the motion being taken as formal, I call Senator Urquhart.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Chisholm, I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that the Prime Minister:

  (i) has failed to represent people in northern and regional Queensland,

  (ii) has failed to connect with people in northern and regional Queensland and identify with their values, and

  (iii) is only concerned with Brisbane and the south-east; and

(b) applauds Senator Macdonald for calling out the Prime Minister's neglect of northern and regional Queensland.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister and the Liberal-National coalition government are fully committed to northern and regional Queensland. Four of the five LNP senators are based outside of Brisbane—in Townsville, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Nambour—and live in the regions. In stark contrast, all four Labor senators are based within an hour's drive of the Brisbane CBD. The Queensland Labor Party replaced their only regionally based senator with fly-in fly-out senators who have no connection to or understanding of regional Queensland. Under Labor, the Office of Northern Australia was located in Canberra and the biggest announced policy for the north involved absorbing the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility into the Department of Finance. Unlike Labor, this government will continue to deliver for those living in rural, regional and remote areas.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that notice of motion No. 624 be agreed to.