Cathy O'Toole (Herbert, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question to the minister revolves around the fact that in this year's budget you have not funded one cent for vital infrastructure in Townsville. You have not committed one cent for long-term water security infrastructure. You have not committed one cent for energy infrastructure. You have not committed one cent for the Townsville Port Expansion Project. The people in my electorate can very clearly see that the Turnbull government is not committed to the electorate of Herbert. Townsville's unemployment crisis falls squarely on the LNP's shoulders.

Under the Abbott-Turnbull governments, Townsville has become the capital in the nation for two things. We were the jobless capital and now we are the insolvency capital of the nation. Townsville's unemployment rate has almost doubled under the Abbott-Turnbull governments. When Labor left federal government in 2013, Townsville's unemployment rate was lower than both the state and national averages. Now Townsville's unemployment rate is higher than the state average and almost double the national average. Under the previous Labor government, manufacturing in Townsville was soaring. When Labor left the federal government in 2013, more than 8,400 people were employed in the manufacturing industry. But, under the Abbott-Turnbull governments, manufacturing has nosedived, with job losses of over 3,000. There were 442 fewer construction industry business registrations last year compared with 2012, and 153 fewer retail business registrations in the same period. Yet, in this year's federal budget, Labor got nothing but cut after cut after cut.

Minister, allow me to explain what your lack of investment in infrastructure is doing to the people of Herbert. Allow me to explain the detrimental effects of your government's cuts to my community. And then, after I have asked my question, can you please tell me how you think completely ignoring my community is a good idea. Your decision not to fund vital long-term water infrastructure in my community will result in Townsville eventually being declared in drought again. With our dam less than 15 per cent full again, the community will be forced back to level 3 water restrictions again, costing the council in excess of $34,000 a day in pumping costs—again. Your decision not to fund energy infrastructure in Townsville will further drive up the cost of electricity bills, which have already doubled under the LNP. The continual skyrocketing of power bills will force local businesses to shut their doors, and workers, pensioners and families will struggle to pay their electricity bills. Your decision not to fund the port expansion project will result in dual-hull ships carrying our fuel to bypass Townsville Port and go directly to Brisbane. That fuel will then be trucked back to Townville, causing more maintenance on the Bruce Highway, but, more importantly, exponentially driving up the cost of fuel for Townsville residents. Your decision not to fund infrastructure will ensure that not one new infrastructure job will be created in our community, where, on your watch, unemployment has almost doubled. Townsville now has the fourth worst unemployment rate in regional Queensland.

Your $14.8 million in cuts to Townsville schools will ensure that around one in three teachers will lose their jobs. Your $9 million in cuts to Townsville health and hospital services will ensure that doctors, nurses and staff will lose their jobs. Your $36 million cuts to James Cook University and $38 million cuts to Central Queensland University will ensure that degrees are cancelled and jobs are lost, and students in North Queensland will not be able to access some higher education courses in Townsville. In fact, that is already happening with James Cook University, as they are being forced to cancel their creative arts degrees. Your cuts to aged care have ensured that, right now in my community, 323 people in North Queensland are sitting on a waiting list to access a home care package and won't be able to do so any time soon. Your cuts to the ABC will ensure that we lose our local ABC presence. Townsville ABC suffered under your last round of cuts, and we know we are going to suffer again. Your cuts to the National Partnership on Remote Housing will ensure that seven apprenticeships are lost on Palm Island. Your cuts to Project Booyah will ensure that teens at risk will not get the help they need.

You seem very happy with this long list of cuts for the people of Herbert, whilst at the same time you are very happy to fund an $80 billion tax handout to big business and the banks. My question to the minister is very simple: why are you refusing to fund Townsville's long-term water security infrastructure, why are you refusing to fund our energy infrastructure and why are you refusing to fund our vital port expansion project?

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