Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

That was a mind-boggling address by the previous speaker, the member for Lalor. We get a lecture about the debt of the country and how it needs to be restrained and that it is an issue and the problems with that and, then, we get that nothing should be restrained as far as spending goes. So I do not know quite how that works. I want to make one point about the previous speaker's contribution: we have increased spending on health, we have increased spending on education and we have increased spending on welfare, every year, that we have been in government for the last two or three years. In the forward estimates we are increasing spending as well. Yes, we are not increasing them as much as you and others would like, because of the situation you so eloquently described at the start with our debt-and-deficit issue.

Everyone in this chamber would say that governments need to spend money in areas that promote jobs in our economy, promote growth in our economy, because from that, obviously, you get more tax to collect from a growing economy and people in more jobs. One thing that we have done exceptionally well is target our spending on some very productive and growth and job orientated infrastructure projects. One of them that is especially important to my area and my region is the Pacific Highway. The previous Labor government went to the 2013 election putting $3.5 billion on the table to complete that exceptionally important infrastructure project.

But that was not enough, because they wanted to back out on a deal they had with the previous state Labor government. The federal Labor government was funding this infrastructure project at 80 per cent and the previous state Labor government was funding the project at 20 per cent. But—lo and behold!—when the state Labor government lost office the previous federal Labor government said, 'Well, we don't want to fund it at 80 per cent anymore; we want to fund it at 50 per cent.' That is a very unfortunate and cynical view of a very important infrastructure project.

So with the help and, obviously, with the cooperation of the former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Warren Truss, we negotiated that if we were to win government in the 2013 election we would in fact reinstate the 80-20 funding rule on this very important infrastructure project. Madam Deputy Speaker Henderson—and welcome to the chair!—what that meant for this very important infrastructure project was that the funding went back to an 80-20 split, which was very important, but very importantly it meant that the project was now on target to be finished by 2019.

We all know why these things are important. With the dual duplication of the highway between Sydney and Brisbane the primary reason we do that—and I know that you would know this, Madam Deputy Speaker, as a regional MP—is for safety on our roads. The duplication of the highway has already halved fatalities on that highway from what they once were—even though it is not finished, but just with the section that has occurred, and even with the increased traffic and more people driving on the roads. The fatalities have halved because of the section that has been duplicated. We know that when the dual duplication is finished—there are about 155 kilometres of it to go in my electorate, between Woolgoolga to Ballina—fatalities will decrease even further. That meant an extra $2 billion from this federal government over what the Labor government was going to commit to it, and it has seen a lot of work happen on that highway in the last two years.

The other things that we are also doing are through a program that I am very proud of—and that the Nationals, in conjunction with the Liberal Party, are very proud of—the National Stronger Regions Program. Madam Deputy Speaker—again, I know that you would know this as a regional MP—that is delivering and targeting jobs and growth in regional areas. I just want to go through a few projects which were successful in getting up in the last round in my community and region. They are going to be good for jobs and good for growth.

One of them was an upgrade to the local saleyards at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange in Casino. That is a $3.5 million investment. This is an exceptionally important piece of infrastructure for our local economy. Casino being the beef capital of Australia, this piece of infrastructure is essential. In fact, across the road from the saleyards is the local Northern Cooperative Meatworks. They are the biggest private employer for hundreds of kilometres. They employ around 1,200 people and, obviously, they need well-resourced saleyards to get the stock and produce through into the abattoir. That was a great announcement, again, to help local jobs and local growth in our economy.

Another one in the most recent round: we all know the importance of the sugar industry. I see the member for Hinkler in here and he would well know, as a very knowledgeable man about the sugar industry in Australia, that the Harwood Mill and Refinery also received $4 million. This was to improve freight and logistics. They are a co-op. The local cane growers association was the entity that put that application in, Assistant Minister Pitt, and that very successful application is helping their freight logistics operations. This will help to lower the price for which they are going to be able to get their product out of their area.

It is not just the 100 or so people who work at the mill. As you would well understand, Madam Deputy President, it is the growers—and there are many of those in the region—the drivers, the carters and the local communities where those workers live. Again, this is all helping job security in my region. It was another very successful application and a great job and growth project for my region.

The other one was a road to Toonumbar Dam. I encourage you to come for a holiday to the Northern Rivers in New South Wales, Madam Deputy Speaker—it is a beautiful area. In fact, I know where you live; you probably should come up in the winter time—

See this speech in context