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

I am glad the member for Shortland interjected. I understand why the member for Grayndler has deserted labourers, because he represents inner-city latte drinkers, but the member for Shortland actually still represents labourers and he has deserted them with his attitudes, and that is a disgrace. But on Snowy Hydro: obviously, that is going to deliver not only a great infrastructure project but it is also going to give us a renewable energy source that is not intermittent. That is very important.

I could go on about nation-building projects, but I just want to cover a few in my own electorate. Locally we have a program that of course was begun under us—and I know you would know the program well, Mr Deputy Speaker Coulton. Labor would never introduce a program like the Bridges Renewal Program. We understand that the first mile bridges are very important for regional communities. Regions like mine are very productive. We produce a lot for this country, especially in agriculture.

It has been a great pleasure of mine to work with some of my local councils to deliver bridges under this program. One of the more significant is the Kyogle Council. They do not have many ratepayers as their base—they are not a large council—but they have nearly 300 wooden bridges. It is a very productive area; they have a lot of produce, whether that is blueberries, cattle or many other things. Helping them to maintain the infrastructure through this program is very important. We have done 14 of these bridges already, and I am sure there will be more to come.

We also have what was previously called the Stronger Regions Fund. It is now changing its name to the Building Better Regions Fund. I am very proud of some of the infrastructure that we have under that. This is all job producing and all helping local industry. There are things like the Casino saleyards, a very important part of our local economy; the Lismore Quadrangle project; and the Harwood sugar mill, down on the Lower Clarence—that is an important project. We are also delivering the Ballina Marine Rescue tower and the Kyogle-Toonumbar Dam road—that is also an important tourist road in our area.

Another thing we have done which, again, the other side did nothing about for the six years they were in, is to help to build mobile phone towers in regional areas. I think that Paul Keating is famous for saying that if you do not live in Sydney you are camping out! He probably used to think that was funny or witty, but underneath that there is a subconscious belief by the other side that they neglect. They do not believe in it. I am proud to say that we are building 22 of these stations—22!—in my region, which are going to cover more than 100 black spots.

I knew I would run out, Mr Deputy Speaker! I could keep going—I have pages of infrastructure spending to go here! (Time expired)

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