Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As a regional member, I am very pleased to be participating tonight. I certainly have some questions for the minister for regional services later in relation to some of the government's massive investment right throughout regional Australia.

When I look at my electorate, I see more than $1.5 billion of major investment in community infrastructure in a regional area, in roads, in health facilities and in community facilities. It has made a really big difference to my area. This budget commits almost $1 billion through the Regional Development Australia Fund, to finance infrastructure projects throughout the nation. I am very proud that we have delivered so much.

I am really excited tonight to be talking about the $500,000 from the RDAF for the Knox Park youth precinct at Murwillumbah. This is funded by the Tweed Shire Council, which is matching the federal Labor government's commitment of $500,000. It is a fantastic investment and the project will deliver a range of recreational facilities for a whole range of age groups including an adventure playground and a plaza style skate park. This particular park has needed to be upgraded for a long period of time. We were very proud to make the announcement. It is going to make a very big difference to that area. This is what RDAF funding does; it really makes a huge investment in regional areas and delivers great results.

I was also really pleased only a couple of weeks ago on 21 May when the minister for regional development was in my area and we turned the sod at the Arkinstall Park Sports Centre at Tweed heads. That received $5 million from in the previous round of RDAF funding. It is a great investment in our area. That is to complete and do some major upgrades on our netball and tennis courts. When it is completed we will have an international-style facility for tennis and netball which we can be really proud of.

It will also be a great training facility, with the Commonwealth Games just up the road at the Gold Coast in 2018. If they are looking for some training they can just come over the border to Tweed Heads and we will have that wonderful sporting facility there which will make a huge difference. Really importantly, it is going to make a very big difference to our region. Our kids will be able to use international-style sporting facilities, which is so important. Of course, the economic benefits from all these projects just go on and on. There are so many.

I do not have the time to talk about all the funding in my electorate when it comes to regional development but, previously, under the other programs, there was $9.5 million for the sport and recreation centre at Byron Bay; $2.7 million for the cultural and community centre at Lennox Head; and $2 million for the community centre at Murwillumbah. That all came out of the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program—our previous regional development program—and that has made a massive difference to the community as well.

I also want to touch on the incredible upgrades to the Pacific Highway that we have had in my area which have made a big difference to our region. There was $359 million for the upgrade of the Pacific Highway at Sexton Hill and more than $500 million for the Pacific Highway upgrade between Tintenbar and Ewingsdale. Of course, we have also had the BER—another great investment. There was $115 million worth of upgrades to 90 local schools. What a difference that has made to our kids and what they can access in terms of their educational opportunities?

Also, there was $7 million for our GP superclinic at Tweed Heads, which opened its doors last Friday—a great, great achievement—and $1.8 million for the Jack Evans Boat Harbour redevelopment. Finally—we have another very important one--$2 million from this government was delivered for Australia's first high-performance surfing centre at Casuarina. We actually have the world's only high-performance centre or surfing—a great institute at Casuarina, just near Kingscliff. We have a lot of surfing greats that will come there and provide a mentoring service for young people. We are very proud to have the world's first. It truly remarkable.

That all adds up to more than $1.5 billion—a remarkable investment my electorate of Richmond. What you see from this government is real investment in real projects right throughout regional Australia and right across the board, whether it is roads, health facilities or community infrastructure. I have seen firsthand the benefits of all these facilities and the difference that they make. I would certainly like to hear a bit more from the minister, and I would like the Minister for Regional Services and Local Communities and Territories to outline the importance of this government's support for regional Australia—particularly touching on our Regional Development Australia Fund and the difference that it makes local communities like mine.

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