Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I notice that the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads who is responsible for these decisions at the federal level is here in the chamber. I welcome his attendance in the debate. Clearly it is important for him to know of members’ concerns.

It is wrong for the mover of this motion, the member for Cowper, and the seconder, the member for Page, to sheet home the blame to the New South Wales government. I am quite happy to criticise state governments, Labor or governments of any other colour, if I think they have done the wrong thing. But it is critically important, Minister Lloyd, that you attend to your needs—you attend to the responsibilities that the Commonwealth has invested in you as a minister of the Crown. I have to say, Minister, that as for your incapacity to properly fund this road, people in the New South Wales are quite rightly disappointed.

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