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

I withdraw. It is not that complex, mate, and you should talk to the member for Gippsland about the way that he approaches infrastructure investment in his seat. He makes approaches, as a member of the National Party. He gives credit when it is there; he says, 'This is a good thing for my electorate,' and he asks for more. That is what he does. That is what a good local member does.

You have got money for planning—$10 million, and not a cent from the state government but totally funded by us, to do the planning. We have released, now, for community consultation, the proposed route. That is out there. As to the community consultation, that funding has already been provided under Nation Building 1. We have a program for the Mackay ring road: planning in Nation Building 1, and then construction in Nation Building 2. That is what the Prime Minister said. That is what is there.

And in yesterday's state budget, 85 per cent of the $590 million the Queensland government said was being committed to the Bruce Highway is funding from us—85 per cent is from the federal government.

Mr Christensen interjecting—

And you have not promised a zack, a cent, of funding for the Bruce Highway, but you come in here and get critical about funding for your electorate! You are one of the only members of parliament I have ever seen in the entire time I have been here, 17 years, who have complained about funding being in your electorate. You have campaigned against it, and you need to do your job. (Time expired)

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