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

I appreciate the opportunity to consider the budget in detail this afternoon. If it suits those opposite, I will make a few introductory comments and then give the floor to those opposite to raise any concerns. I think there are members on this side who have some statements that they would like to make as well. Perhaps the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and I will then seek to respond, in a collective sense, as the proceedings continue.

The budget, as the Treasurer has indicated, is about making choices. It is a fair budget, and this government is making the right choices to provide for the security of our nation and is helping to deliver opportunities and a fairer system not just in our cities but also in our regional communities. We are getting on with the job of delivering everything we promised in the last election campaign and a lot more than that. We are seeking to deliver the infrastructure that our kids and our grandkids will thank us for and a record $75 billion investment over 10 years, which will include projects in our capital cities, in our regional towns, on our regional highways and in remote areas, which will deliver real changes throughout Australia.

We believe—and I am sure that those opposite would agree—that good investment decisions and good infrastructure decisions can change lives and can save lives. They change people's lives by reducing congestion, improving productivity, getting our freight to markets, and providing economic prosperity through moving freight in a more efficient manner. They also saves lives by reducing road trauma, through investments in safer and better roads. I know the member opposite is appreciating investment in projects like the Midland Highway. That important stretch of road has seen a reduction in road deaths and serious injuries.

The highlights, from the government's perspective, in this year's budget have been well canvassed publicly. I would like to raise them again here on this platform. The Inland Rail project, the National Rail Program and Western Sydney Airport are very significant projects that we are very proud to be delivering as a Turnbull-Joyce government.

There is the Inland Rail project. For decades people have talked about linking Melbourne to Brisbane—linking our goods on the eastern seaboard and moving freight in a more efficient manner. This is the biggest rail project in the past 100 years. People have talked about it for decades. We are getting on with the job of delivering it. The $8.4 billion equity investment in the ARTC will see construction start later this year as we work to overcome the great freight task challenge as we see freight double in this nation by 2050.

In relation to the National Rail Program, the Commonwealth is pleased to announce a dedicated fund which will allow us to work with the states to identify projects and deliver them. It will allow us to focus on being an early participant in the planning of these major projects—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

because we recognise that there will be opportunities to create jobs during the construction phase, and we will be seeking to reduce congestion, improve productivity and save lives. The member for Grayndler will get his time.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

His answer is, 'Just fund it.' I have noticed that the member for Grayndler has been wandering around Australia over the last four weeks, racking up the numbers and trying to find out who will vote for him in a future leadership ballot. He spent about $150 billion over those past four weeks. There was $114 billion on high-speed rail. He said that he is just going to fund the metro project in Melbourne, Cross River Rail, the link to Sydney Airport and Perth Metronet. He spent about $150 billion in four weeks, which, even by Labor's standards, is a remarkable spending spree. The member for Grayndler will get his chance in a moment. I look forward to his contribution.

This is a government which is getting on with delivering infrastructure that our kids and grandkids will thank us for. The Minister for Urban Infrastructure will talk in a few moments time. I am sure that he will mention the $5.3 billion investment to build Western Sydney Airport, which will be operating by 2026, creating thousands of jobs in construction and also revolutionising the huge growth area of Western Sydney.

Complementing the new infrastructure announcements in the budget are the ongoing commitments to projects like the Bruce Highway, a project where we have committed $6.7 billion over 10 years—$1 billion more than Labor ever committed to the Bruce Highway. There is $5.64 billion to see the Pacific Highway duplicated by 2020. The duplicated highway will link Sydney and Brisbane, will cut travel times by in excess of a couple of hours and will also save lives. In the Western Australian package we will see 17 projects, worth more than $2 billion, delivered. Victoria will see an extra $1 billion, including $500 million for regional rail, on top of the $3 billion deal secured last year.

This is a government that is getting on with the job of delivering the infrastructure that our communities are demanding across our nation. We look forward to getting on and building for our future. Those opposite, unfortunately, are just whingeing about it.

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