Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Page for his question. I know, as he does, and as do all the members for northern New South Wales, how important it is for the duplication project of the Pacific Highway to be completed. That is why we have committed $5.64 billion to complete the duplication of the Pacific Highway by the end of this decade. Indeed, the last federal budget included all of the money that is required to complete this project.

It is well and truly underway. Construction has begun on the last 155-kilometre section from Woolgoolga to Ballina in honourable member's electorate. That project is headquartered in Grafton in his electorate. There is, therefore, real progress occurring, and we are determined to achieve our objective of completing this by the end of the decade.

I noticed recently that Labor have endorsed the former member for Page as their candidate at the next election. I cannot understand why they would do that in view of the fact that she stood idly by while Labor slowed down the construction of the Pacific Highway project and skipped the electorate of Page during the construction phase.

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