Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

Well, yours is a $3.2 billion black hole. The member for Grayndler knows very well that reprofiling or rephasing expenditure is nothing new, because he did it himself. There is a $3.2 billion difference between what was forecast in the Commonwealth budget in 2010-11 and what was actually spent on infrastructure in 2012-13.

In this year's budget the Turnbull-Joyce coalition government is very proud to be supporting, announcing, delivering a $9.1 billion infrastructure investment program. These are record levels, and this means thousands of projects both large and small, right across the nation. My friend and colleague the member for Bradfield, the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, will talk further about some of the urban opportunities that we see, to partner state governments in, but, with regard to my particular interest, in some of the regional communities, we have seen great expenditure and great improvements—in the Bruce Highway, the Pacific Highway, funding through the Roads to Recovery program and black spots. There is a terrific amount of work going on throughout our community.

I will address the member for Whitlam's commentary as well. He was very selective in his commentary to the chamber today. He chose not to mention a little program called Roads to Recovery, which is an important program. It is one that the coalition government established many years ago, and it has survived changes of government. Over the past two years, we have seen a record investment in Roads to Recovery, higher than any year under Labor, and beyond 2019-20 it is also higher than any year under Labor. This money goes directly to local councils. Local councils appreciate this program enormously, because it allows them to set their own priorities in their own communities. It is a program which, as I said, has withstood the test of changes of government, which we cannot always say occurs in this place. It is a program that has had bipartisan support, and I expect it will continue to have that in the future.

The other program that the member also chose to ignore is the National Stronger Regions Fund. I was very surprised—

Honourable members interjecting—

I welcome the interjections, because—

An honourable member: And the characterisations!

I notice the member for Whitlam has gone very quiet, though. He has gone very quiet.

An honourable member: That is to be encouraged! That is very much to be encouraged!

I wonder if it is because he came and met with me and made a very strong case—a compelling case, in fact—for a $10 million investment in his own community. He made a very compelling case for the $10 million for the Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive link in the seat of Whitlam.

Honourable members interjecting—

I notice he has gone quiet. He is not critical—

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