Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

It is not just, ‘What is his policy?’ The question from the backbench on the government side is, ‘Who is the Leader of the National Party in this House?’ So there we have the coalition once again split right down the middle on the question of a core piece of economic policy for the future of the nation. Senator Minchin has indicated his opposition to the government’s approach. If the Liberals had their way, Australians would be left using carrier pigeons for the future rather than accessing an internationally competitive broadband network.

The government is getting on with the job. Our policy is clear. After 12 years of neglect on this critical piece of infrastructure those opposite are simply floundering and flailing in the wind looking for a policy. Leadership on this matter is being provided, curiously, by Senator Joyce, the Leader of the National Party in the Senate—leadership having again been abandoned by those representing the National Party and the coalition in the House of Representatives. The government’s plan is to build nation-building infrastructure for the future. Jobs today, infrastructure for tomorrow: that is our plan. I would suggest that those opposite get with the national project.

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