Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It was certainly his valedictory—he's gone. It's very important that we understand that the depreciation allowance has allowed a boom for the construction of grain sheds in the seat of Parkes. This is the difference a good government makes and it's reflected in the fact that agriculture has seen a 30 per cent increase in its output since we have been in government.

All we need from the Labor Party is a belief in regional Australia, something that says that they are going to construct for regional Australia, something that they are going to stand behind. They won't stand behind the coalminers. They don't believe in coal-fired power, they don't believe in the inland rail, they don't believe in the Regional Investment Corporation and they don't believe in dams in places such as Rookwood Weir. There is nothing that they are offering regional Australia. They are completely vacant about regional Australia, except in their incessant belief in playing parlour games. But it was so comforting last night, when we saw eight out of eight in the vox pop in my town, in Tamworth—the one thing people can't stand is shiftiness, and that's why they won't support the Labor Party. (Time expired)

See this speech in context