Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

And ours, but at the end of the day the important thing is that we do need, as a government and as an opposition, to get on with the job of building the Pacific Highway. We need to do it to save lives. I know that the member for Grayndler is genuine in his desire to build the Pacific Highway, and I did hear in my first term of parliament a very passionate and emotional speech by him about the personal reasons he wants a particular stretch of highway funded to save lives. It is critical that we do save lives.

I realise I am not talking about the amendments, but I do take exception to the comments he made about the current member for Lyne. I know the current member for Lyne is committed, as we all should be, to getting on with the job of duplicating that stretch of road. It is vital. Far too many lives have been lost on that highway for far too long. This government, through its infrastructure projects and because of the absolute necessity to build roads for the 21st century, is getting on with the job and is providing more money than has ever been provided in the past to build the roads of the 21st century. The actions of the Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of The Nationals and member for Wide Bay will ensure we are doing just that. We oppose these amendments.

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