Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

It's got beyond a joke. The person who fills the second-most senior role in the country is still in his job because 11 National Party MPs can't decide on how, when or where to tap him on the shoulder. We have got the deputy leader of that party who has just told Australia that 100 per cent of the people are behind him. We know that's not true. We know that 100 per cent of the members of the Liberal Party are definitely not behind him. It would not be such a joke if it weren't regional communities that are suffering. They are suffering. Right now there are over $500 million worth of growth projects that are on hold because this Deputy Prime Minister and his ministers cannot make a decision. The Regional Growth Fund, $270 million worth of projects: we were promised guidelines; we were promised money. It is on hold because they can't make a decision. The Regional Jobs and Investment Packages: eight of the 10 projects haven't been announced. The decentralisation plan—there's a fraud if ever there was one. No plan, but jobs being cut in regional Australia. It's time for the Prime Minister to do what the Nationals can't do: end this battle between the Hatfields and the McCoys. Do the right thing, sack the Deputy Prime Minister and let's get the country back on track.

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