Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak alongside my colleagues on Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2017-2018 and related bills. I am proud to stand as part of the Liberal-National Party coalition government, which is delivering a fair deal for Australians. I am proud to stand with the coalition that builds the infrastructure needed to strengthen our economy. I am proud to stand with a government that understands the needs of working families and commits to making life easier for all Australians. I am proud to stand with a coalition that delivers on the needs of regional Australia and gives them fairer opportunities to grow. I am proud to stand with a coalition that does not pander to the Greens at the expense of jobs and reduced living costs.

The Turnbull government's new plan for schools is based on better-targeted funding and evidence-based programs proven to boost results. It will see every student at every school in Capricornia receive a funding increase of between $112 and $653 per student starting in 2018. Our reforms will set Capricornia schools up for the future and deliver fair, needs-based funding for all Australian students. We are delivering the real Gonski needs-based funding model that Labor did not. We are increasing the funding by between $1,332 and $12,771 per student over the next 10 years in Capricornia. We will end Labor's 27 special deals with states and territories, unions and nongovernment school leaders. While we know that a strong level of funding for schools is vital, what is more important is how that funding is used.

Families and small businesses are doing it tough in the Queensland city of Rockhampton. Rookwood Weir, near Rockhampton, is a key economic driver. Agriculture is a key pillar of the Australian economy, and water and agriculture are intrinsically linked. Under the Australian Constitution, primary responsibility for water management lies with state and territory governments, but we recognise that this is an area that requires national leadership. The coalition understands that without a push this will not be progressed, especially in Queensland. The coalition government is reaffirming its commitment to supporting greater water security for the health and wealth of all Australians. This includes the coalition's $132 million commitment to the Rookwood Weir on the lower Fitzroy River.

We can create thousands of jobs around Rockhampton within two years, but the Labor Party, once again, is holding back this opportunity. The Queensland state Labor government and Labor MPs like Bill Byrne are sitting on their hands delaying the project and, along with it, stalling up to 2,100 new jobs. This is in contrast to the Turnbull-Joyce coalition government, which has put $130 million on the table to pay for 50 per cent of Rookwood Weir. Further to this, we gave Queensland an extra $2 million to get on with the job of completing the state's business case required for Rookwood Weir. After a year, they are finally getting this started.

Rookwood Weir would boost agricultural production in the Fitzroy Basin by up to $1 billion a year. An additional 2,000 workers in agriculture would provide a flow-on effect for the entire community, and an additional 2,000 workers would mean more demand for real estate, retail and services. That demand puts money into the pockets of small-business owners across the region. It is also vital for our own water security. Rockhampton's urban water supply will run out once in every 24 years. By committing to Rookwood Weir, we are committed to providing a diverse economy that will support growth and water security for generations to come.

I also relish this opportunity to address the chamber on the subject of the Bruce Highway. The Bruce Highway is an important freight and transport corridor up the entire Queensland coast. It is effectively a lifeline between Brisbane and the rest of the state, especially for places like Rockhampton, Marlborough, Yeppoon, Sarina and Mackay. With huge freight trucks, livestock carriers and general motor traffic, the issue of road safety on the Bruce is an important one. The federal government has budgeted, and not just promised, a $6.7 billion long-term plan to spruce the Bruce. This equates to the biggest project agenda in Australia's history.

My electorate of Capricornia is our nation's official gateway to northern Australia. Already, $700 million of work linked to the Bruce has been completed, is underway or will soon start in my region alone. In Capricornia, on the southern side of Rockhampton, the Australian government has invested more than $210 million at the entrance to Australia's beef capital. The aim of this was to improve traffic flow, improve road safety and ensure that the city remains open to freight and traffic movement during floods. I am proud that the Liberal-National coalition funded the lion's share of stage 2 of this project—the biggest part of this reconstruction program, known as Yeppen South stage 2. The coalition contributed $136 million towards stage 2, which was one of my 2013 election promises. The Yeppen South stage 2 roadworks have resulted in the longest bridge on the Bruce Highway in Queensland and significantly improved access into the city. It also saved Rockhampton and the economy in the recent flood.

There has also been significant spending on other parts of the Bruce Highway in Capricornia in recent times, including: $8.5 million to engineer two new overtaking lanes to make the Bruce Highway safer between Koumala and Sarina; $9.2 million to realign truck access and improve the flow of traffic on the Bruce Highway into the city of Rockhampton, specifically at the George Street and Albert Street intersection; $7.9 million for new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes on the Bruce Highway south of Marlborough; $15 million to fix up the Hay Point Road turn-off near Sarina under our roads Black Spot Program; and $1.2 million that has been provided to the Mackay Regional Council to fix the Horse and Jockey Road and Lansdowne Road intersection at Racecourse.

During the federal election, we also announced $60 million for a four-lane highway between Gracemere and Rockhampton. This section connects the Capricorn Highway to the Bruce Highway at a notoriously busy intersection on the outskirts of Rockhampton where up to 20,000 commuters, on top of freight and livestock trucks, attempt to enter the city at peak times each day. Further north in Capricornia, the Bruce Highway is undergoing major reconstruction to make way for the Mackay Ring Road—$360 million has been provided by the federal government.

But we are just warming up. The Turnbull-Joyce government is spending a further $96.8 million to create a four-lane section of the Bruce Highway on the northern outskirts of Rockhampton. Construction was originally due to commence mid-2018 and scheduled for completion by late 2019, weather permitting. However, the first $13.8 million of the Turnbull-Joyce federal government funding has been brought forward to fast-track stage 1. Work is already underway to generate economic activity in the city. This is strong evidence that our coalition government is delivering real improvements to the Bruce Highway.

I would like to commend the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, my esteemed colleague Darren Chester, for his efforts to get the Queensland state government to finally budge on the Walkerston Bypass. We have delivered a bumper deal for a critical road project in Capricornia, with up to $120 million now on the table to build the Walkerston Bypass. Last year, we committed $75 million to the project, and we have now secured more as part of a wider road-funding package for Queensland, to be announced. This was not an empty election promise. We are delivering beyond our election commitments because we know how important this infrastructure is for the safety and wellbeing of the people of Walkerston. We have listened to residents who, for years, have raised concerns about heavy vehicles passing through the town, especially through the intersection so close to the school—promise delivered.

I have met with Minister Chester a number of times to push for this critical infrastructure, and I am so grateful that he has succeeded in reaching an agreement with the state government. We have delivered well above our election promise, knowing that the additional commitment would lock in funding to prevent further delays from the Queensland state Labor government. Construction for the bypass will start following completion of stage 1 of the Mackay Ring Road project, extending the pipeline of infrastructure construction work in the Mackay region.

The coalition government does not just talk about jobs; it delivers opportunities for creating them. On 31 May, grants will open for the Bowen Basin jobs package. Following the publication of the committee's local investment plan, the coalition government is now delivering opportunities for local infrastructure, business innovation and skills training under three streams. I would like to thank the Bowen Basin Local Planning Committee for their hard work. Their plan is based on local knowledge of the Bowen Basin region and reinforces our commitment to enable regions to localise growth programs. This is one of the only funding packages available for private enterprise, with businesses able to apply through the business innovation stream. It is a real commitment to job growth. This is a great opportunity for the communities of Capricornia to submit applications for key projects that will boost the local economy and create jobs. It will harness the broad range of skills in Capricornia to create more jobs, and I look forward to seeing what applications are put forward. It will provide the Bowen Basin region with a much-needed $30 million shot in the arm, and we are one of only 10 regions to benefit from this pilot program.

Finally, I think it is important to stress that, unlike Labor, we actually pay for our projects. Labor needs to understand that it is called a budget, not a spending spree. Thank you.

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