Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

They say no to upgrading the Peak Downs Highway. They say no to all these projects. At the same time, the leader of the Nats, while in regional Australia, said:

I share the disappointment about how few mining companies contribute to the areas they invade—

'Invade' was the term used—

and how little state governments return the massive royalty incomes they receive to these communities.

That is what they say out there in their communities, but in here the Nats line up with their Liberal Party colleagues to knock over funding for regional infrastructure.

There are some regional members who understand the importance of regional infrastructure and they sit on this side and up in the corner over there—the member for Lyne, the member for New England. They understand the importance of regional infrastructure and that is why they are backing the MRRT.

I must say there are some others who understand as well. Remember in the budget when we brought forward an additional $1.02 billion for the Pacific Highway? Those opposite, including the local member, said that it was a mirage—that there would be nothing built and that it was just for planning. Well, last week, I was there with the leader of the New South Wales Nats, Andrew Stoner, announcing the construction of the Clybucca section of the Pacific Highway. This is the location of the worst road accident in Australia's history. They did nothing about it for 12 years. We have brought forward funding. Construction will commence in 2012 as part of our upgrade of the Pacific Highway. I pay tribute to the member for Lyne, particularly for the work that he has done in advocating the upgrade of the Pacific Highway, unlike the member for Cowper who has been opposed to funding in his own electorate. (Time expired)

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