Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Hansard source

He rightly points out that it would mean disaster. The costs of this disaster, the closure of a road of this nature to Wadeye, are borne by this community, an Indigenous community of roughly 2,500 to 3,000 people. They are not in the mainstream eye. There is a lot of criticism made of Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory. But, when people understand the nature of the disadvantage those communities suffer because of their geographic isolation and because of the nature of the road and communications infrastructure that they have until recently had to endure, there should be no doubt where the costs are being borne. It is not unusual—indeed, it is common—for these communities to rely on air charters and helicopters for their services.

As a commitment at the last election, this Labor government resolved to upgrade airstrips and install lighting in a number of communities—at Minjilang, or Croker Island, Robinson River, Nyirripi, Ti Tree, Apatula, Peppimenarti and Milyakburra. This will ensure that people living in these communities in remote parts of Australia will have access to food and other essential services, including medical supplies, mail and personnel like teachers, doctors and nurses.

My time is about up, but there are a number of other areas of infrastructure that need to be contemplated when we are talking about the bush, not the least of which is broadband. I know it is a central feature of our communications policy, and it is important that we contemplate what it means for people who live in the bush. Broadband is essential for local government, small business and individual citizens, regardless of where they live. The absence of effective broadband removes an absolutely vital lifeline—for example, for Defence families who want to keep contact with loved ones who may be on hazardous overseas deployments. It stops families in remote areas from keeping in touch with families in the southern states, and that is a vital element of their wellbeing.

This bill stipulates that Infrastructure Australia will look at economic or physical infrastructure, specifically transport, energy, communications and water infrastructure. This is not to say that things which are commonly classified as social infrastructure—schools, hospitals, libraries, universities—are not to receive attention. Indeed, in the case of my electorate, this government has committed itself to addressing fundamental housing needs in Lingiari as well as additional resources for schooling and health services. As you know, Mr Deputy Speaker, these institutions are important foundation blocks of our communities and will be treated as such by this government. I welcome the bill and commend it to the chamber.

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