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

Indeed it is, just like the Liberal and Nationals government—perfect working order, backing workers, backing farmers, backing the electorate of Mallee, that wonderful rural Victorian electorate, home to just some of the 8.8 million Australians who call regional Australia home. We are backing them too. The member for Mallee is certainly backing her community. She's out there every day of the week, fighting hard for the farmers, fighting hard for the people who want better digital connectivity.

This government is building the infrastructure to boost growth and to unlock the potential for farmers, for families—certainly in the member for Mallee's electorate. In the member's electorate, as well as investing in road, rail and air infrastructure, we've invested in the essential services people living in regional areas deserve. When I was in Mildura during the election campaign, the mayor of Mildura, Simon Clemence, said the investment we made—$2 million in the landing instruments system at the local airport—was the best investment that we had ever made for his community. He knew that it was going to grow the aviation opportunities for those communities. We've delivered $8.9 million in Mallee through the Mobile Black Spot Program. Forty-one mobile black spot towers have been funded, with 32 already installed.

Opposition members interjecting—

I hear them cry out. They didn't deliver one—not one—mobile phone tower in six sorry years of government, and I was there for three of them. You didn't deliver one—not one, not a single one. A big fat zero, zilch for you guys over there.

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—

Oh, I've cut a nerve. What a soft touch you are!

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