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

I'll be very quick. These are decisions of government; they're not competitive grants. We took into account other spending within the infrastructure program—that's $100 billion over 10 years, a record amount of money, thanks to the Liberal and Nationals government, thanks to the fact that we get our books balanced unlike those opposite. When was the last time there was a surplus? 1989 under those opposite. We take into account demand. We take into account population growth appreciating and the fact that the Central Coast is a large growing population. And this is important—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

I hear the Opposition Leader screaming out, but this is important.

See this speech in context