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

The member for Leichhardt knows full well how important these projects are. He knows how important projects are to make sure that we get the freight line supply chains right, make sure that we enhance that productivity and make sure that we increase road safety options. And, if Mark Bailey, the Queensland minister, can get his people organised, we will certainly look at any road project—indeed, any infrastructure project—in Queensland. If any other state wants to come to the table and work cooperatively with the Commonwealth, we've got $100 billion of infrastructure that we're rolling out across this nation. I know. I've actually been to Cairns. I've actually—

Opposition members interjecting —

Thank you for the cheer. The member for Leichhardt was returned because he talked about our $100 billion infrastructure plan. Cheer that, too, because it's well worth cheering about! I know the people of Cairns, the people of North Queensland—the people of that fine state of Queensland—indeed, people of every state and every territory in and across Australia, were cheering us home on 18 May because they knew that we were building the infrastructure that Australians need, want, expect and, most of all, deserve.

Whether it's Roads of Strategic Importance, whether it's the beef roads, whether it's the northern roads, they are all making sure that we get the infrastructure that Australians want. Whether it's getting the Cairns Southern Access Corridor, whether it's getting the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, whether it's getting the Rockhampton Ring Road—all those projects are of critical importance. The Outback Way starts in Winton, Queensland, and goes through to Laverton in Western Australia. They're all important projects. We're getting on and we're building them. What those opposite who go to the dispatch box and ask those questions should do after question time is ring up their Labor state ministers and say, 'Look, if there are projects that are in my electorate, and indeed other electorates, get on board with the Commonwealth and help build them.'

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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