Sid Sidebottom (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

They talk down the economy. And in the building industry—just cop this figure while you are playing with your Treo, Member for Tangney!—$6.7 billion was allocated for the construction of new public housing: 20,000 public and DHA homes. There was $400 million for repairs and maintenance to existing public buildings and $250 million for the DHA to build an extra 802 residences. Of course that is not stimulating the economy, is it!

Day in and day out, when they are not worrying about their own internal affairs, we have the mob opposite—it is rather gory, isn’t it, that they are playing around with their own internal affairs?—who have the gall to criticise us for stimulating the economy with a massive building program in public housing and defence housing. They have the cheek to criticise us—and not only that, they voted against it. But they will go to the openings, won’t they? Of course they will; they know it is good stuff.

What about the environment? We have allocated $3.9 billion to increase the rebates of $1,600 to install solar and heat pump hot-water systems, and free ceiling insulation of up to $1,600 to eligible owner-occupiers and up to $1,000 for rental properties. This will mean possible savings of $200 per year on those costs. That is pretty good. I know you are smiling over there, Member for Tangney, because you do not believe any of this is necessary. I have heard and read your speeches—unbelievable stuff! You make the Luddites look progressive, Mate, I can tell you. Not only that, just for your edification, we are going to support local stormwater harvesting projects and accelerate water buybacks in South Australia.

Road and local infrastructure—something we all need—is something you opposed. But we are providing $650 million to fund regional road maintenance in Australia and another $500 million on top of that to help local councils build town halls, libraries, and community and sports centres. You know, it is so unpopular that it was oversubscribed by $1.2 billion—cop that! (Time expired)

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