Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

In his remarks on the Nation Building Program (National Land Transport) Amendment Bill 2009, the member for Barker asked where was the member for Capricornia. I can assure him that I am here speaking on this bill about nation building. That is not something that I was ever able to do in my years in opposition because there were not any bills about nation building coming before this parliament during the Howard years. In contrast, we are a government committed to nation building and this bill is a central part of that aim. It will ensure the effective delivery of a program worth more than $26.4 billion for our roads and railways. In essence, this bill is about delivering greater efficiency for the provision of funds to these important projects. Of course, that has been the mantra of the government since we took office, especially since the global financial crisis and its effects began unfolding last year. It is clear from everything that we have seen before the House this year that the government is not only taking action but is taking swift and effective action to counter the effects of that global financial crisis and also to undo the neglect of infrastructure that we saw under the previous government.

This bill introduces changes that expedite the process of getting construction works started sooner. It will mean jobs are created sooner and important infrastructure will be available for our economy and for our community sooner. Making these changes now will ensure that we can deliver our road and rail infrastructure program in the most efficient way. I see that throughout this debate the opposition have continued their obstructionist games. They are looking to oppose some of these measures and to seek some amendments, something that we have seen all too often from the opposition as we try to get on with the job of protecting Australian jobs and the Australian economy from what is unfolding globally.

From the outset the opposition have stood in the road of our plans for nation building in this country. They have voted against new infrastructure for primary schools; they have voted against community infrastructure projects—and in so doing they have voted against protecting the economy and Australian jobs. I guess we should not be surprised by that attitude, because it is consistent with the Liberal and National parties’ record in government, where we saw a total neglect of infrastructure throughout the country, particularly in regional areas. An example of their neglect and poor attitude towards infrastructure is the cut to road funding in 2006-07. For them, infrastructure, like everything else, was all about politics. We have seen that played out again here in the House in the last few months, when opposition members voted against nation-building projects and nation-building initiatives and then went back and spruiked another message to the local papers in their electorates, claiming credit for projects that they had opposed when they had the opportunity in this House.

The opposition want to amend this legislation so that it cannot include funding for black spots on the national network. I do not how they explain that position. It beggars belief that they would want to exclude dangerous parts of our roads from receiving funding and upgrades. These Black Spot projects, after all, are upgrades that reduce accidents and protect lives.

In fact, there are two projects on the national network in Capricornia that the government has committed to that fit into this category. These are both on notorious parts of the Bruce Highway—one north of St Lawrence and another north of Sarina. The government is installing rumble strips and fatigue markers at these black spots. I drove this road at night just a couple of weeks ago, and I can testify to the importance of these rumble strips. Too many accidents have occurred because of fatigue on the long and sleepy stretch of highway between Mackay and Rockhampton, but it seems that if the opposition had its way these black spots would be robbed of important funds.

I am pleased to see that this legislation will allow the minister to approve funding for black spots projects on the National Land Transport Network. The success of the Black Spot Program has been well documented, and recognised, I must say, by speakers on both sides of the House. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has some key numbers which really demonstrate why it is such a good investment. The numbers indicate that this program has prevented at least 32 fatalities and more than 1,500 serious injuries in just three years. The program also returns $14 for every $1 invested, by reducing the number and cost of crashes.

In March this year I had the pleasure of announcing to the people of Capricornia $2.2 million in black spot funding. That included seven extra projects worth $1.7 million funded under the government’s nation-building packages. These included the two projects on the Bruce Highway I have already mentioned. It also included widening, sealing and line marking at Nine Mile Road, Fairy Bower, not far from Rockhampton; widening a causeway and realigning the intersection of Rifle Range Road at Sarina; realigning and sealing a section of Courtneys Gap Road, west of Sarina; line marking and new traffic signals at High Street and Ford Street, Berserker in Rockhampton; and upgrading signage, line marking and pavement at Pacific Drive and Barfield Street in Salonika Beach not far from Sarina. These projects were assessed and recommended by a panel of independent road safety experts including the RACQ, Queensland Police, Bicycle Queensland and the Queensland Trucking Association.

I also want to mention the Roads to Recovery program, which is a great boost to local councils in my electorate. Roads in Capricornia are getting increased funding through the Roads to Recovery program thanks to money going to local councils. The Rockhampton Regional Council is receiving $8.25 million, while the Isaacs Regional Council is receiving $5.585 million over five years. Along with the Mackay Regional Council, these local government authorities will spend the money as they best see fit. We are making sure that local communities are getting the maximum benefit from this funding, so we are leaving it to councils to identify their priority projects.

One of the key messages in this bill and in the budget delivered earlier this month is that the government is committed to infrastructure. The list of projects is too long for me to list here, but one of the most important things to come out of the budget for people right across my electorate—and indeed for people throughout Queensland—is the funds going into the Bruce Highway. There is a whole list of projects that will make major improvements—both efficiency improvements and safety improvements—to that key strategic piece of infrastructure. Many people in my community drive the Bruce Highway for business and leisure and they will all welcome these upgrades. Similar road upgrades are happening all over the country.

In conclusion, I remind the House that the Rudd government will invest $35 billion over six years on transport infrastructure. It is a welcome change from the previous government, which failed to deliver on our infrastructure needs and left our roads and railways severely lagging. Now, however, Australia is getting the funding it needs for black spots, Roads to Recovery and boom gates at level crossings, as well as major upgrades to roads in general and railways and ports. Our commitment to investing in infrastructure is driven by strategic outcomes, not political outcomes. This government is making nation building a priority to overcome the neglect of infrastructure that we suffered throughout the Howard years.

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