Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the shadow minister for her question and note the presence in the chamber of the American ambassador. One small step for man! Yesterday, it was one giant leap forward for Parkes, which is going to play such a an integral part in the inland rail—a $9.3 billion investment by this government because we get on and we do things. The fact is the inland rail was first suggested in 1890. The first plans were drawn up in the early 1900s, and the Liberals and Nationals are actually building it.

But more to the point of the shadow minister's question, 19 out of 21 projects on the Infrastructure Priority List are funded by the Australian government. Nineteen out of 21—that's not a bad result. This government has significantly transformed the way we invest in infrastructure. We have a $100 billion commitment, a $100 billion investment, in infrastructure right across the country—better roads, better rail, better airports, better seaports. We are getting on with the job of building the infrastructure to, as the Prime Minister said, get Australians home sooner and safer.

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