Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The one good thing about those opposite is that they never fail to disappoint, do they? And it's just like this MPI has taken me back to when I was 11 years old and I was watching the television—1979, The Life Of Brian. All the main characters were huddled around in this little tomb, and, of course, there was the famous scene of 'What have the Romans ever done for us?' Those members opposite never fail to disappoint. 'What have the Romans ever done for us?'

Reg, who was played by John Cleese, said, 'Alright, alright, apart from the sanitation, the medicine, the education, the wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a freshwater system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?' It's somewhat similar to how these guys operate over here. They continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

I would invite any one of those opposite to come to my hometown on the Sunshine Coast. I know every time I mention the Sunshine Coast the member for Grayndler dips his head in shame, as he should, because he did absolutely nothing for the Sunshine Coast when he was the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Let's just have a look at a couple of things that have been going on on the Sunshine Coast. This year's budget includes $2.2 billion—I'll say that again: $2.2 billion, that's billion with a B—for infrastructure just on the Sunshine Coast. There's $880 million for Bruce Highway upgrades—they've gone very, very quiet over there—between Caloundra and Pine Rivers; $800 million for the Cooroy to Curra section D bypass; $150 million for upgrades to the Murrumba Downs section; and $390 million for the duplication of the North Coast Line between Beerburrum and Nambour.

I lived on the Sunshine Coast for 25 years. One of the most common things was that they felt neglected by the federal governments past. Now that's changed. Now they get $2.2 billion. I notice that the opposition minister for infrastructure has gone awfully quiet yet again.

Earlier in 2018 we announced the North Coast Connect high-speed rail project was just one of three chosen by the federal government to receive a share of $20 million to create a business case.

Mr Champion interjecting—

Just listen! Just one of three throughout the country for fast rail. This is on top of unprecedented funding already committed. Just listen up for a moment. There's $734 million to create an Australian first: a diverging diamond interchange at Caloundra Road on the Bruce Highway. That's on top of $120 million for the Deception Bay interchange. Those opposite can say, 'These projects are never going to come up my way.' You'll actually see these projects being done as we speak.

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