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

As part of our plan to secure Australia's world-leading economic recovery, we are investing in major infrastructure projects right across the country. Consider the scale of these investments: $2 billion for construction of east and west sections of the Great Western Highway from Katoomba to Lithgow in New South Wales; $2 billion to deliver a new Melbourne intermodal terminal; $400 million in additional funding for the Bruce Highway in Queensland; $237½ million for the METRONET Hamilton Street and Wharf Street grade separations and elevations of associated stations in Western Australia; $161.6 million for the Truro bypass in South Australia; an additional $150 million for the national network highways in the Northern Territory; $80 million for Bass Highway safety and freight efficiency upgrades in Tasmania; and $26½ million for the duplication of William Hovell Drive in the Australian Capital Territory. They're big figures, but what they are doing is enabling people to get where they need to be sooner and more safely, and they're also saving lives.

Other works are progressing. Generation-defining projects such as the Western Sydney airport will be complete and open in 2026. We're co-investing in the Sydney Metro-Western Sydney airport rail and the much-needed Melbourne Airport rail link. Inland Rail will revolutionise how we move freight across eastern Australia, intersecting with the east-to-west link. A new study shows freight costs will be slashed by up to 44 per cent. With bilateral trade deals now covering more than 70 per cent of our exports, and with more to come—and, of course, with yesterday's great Australia-United Kingdom free trade in-principle agreement—Inland Rail could not be better timed. As I mentioned, this budget commits to the intermodal freight terminal in Melbourne, which will support both the Victorian and the Australian freight networks. This means jobs—up to 1,350 during peak construction and a further 550 during peak operation. Quality infrastructure will boost productivity and underpin our communities.

Road safety, as I mentioned, is a paramount objective for us. I made this clear last year when I committed $2 billion over 18 months for road safety projects right across the nation. Half of this money was for projects with life-saving benefits to be finished by the end of this month. The 2021-22 budget builds on their success, delivering an extra $1,000 million—$1 billion—into what is now a $3 billion Road Safety Program. This new funding will support 4½ thousand jobs, taking the total number of jobs around Australia supported by the Road Safety Program to 13,500.

Water is the lifeblood of our nation. Through the National Water Grid, the government continues to deliver, boosting water security for communities and industries. In this budget there is up to a further $258 million for water infrastructure. This is good news for agriculture, good news for resources and good news for communities in general, particularly regional communities. Eight major construction projects have been completed since the establishment of the National Water Grid Authority less than two years ago. The government's ongoing investment brings the total number of projects in the pipeline—pardon the pun—to 30. The new $258 million commitment includes $160 million over the next two years for smaller-scale projects. Each project, large or small, means our regional areas are better serviced, more liveable and economically stronger. When regional Australia is strong, so too is Australia.

Regional areas have been through it all in the past year and a half—drought, fires, floods, risks from the global pandemic and, now, even a mouse plague. But regional Australians are tough. They are resilient. Our people and industries have persevered in the face of great adversity—they always do—and I thank them on behalf of a grateful nation for what they have done during this global pandemic.

With strong support from the government's regional agenda, the regions are bouncing back. In fact, they're leading the way—they're leading the economic recovery through COVID. In 2020 a net 43,000 Australians moved out of the cities and into the regional Australian lifestyle. Regional Australia Institute research has found no fewer than 67½ thousand regional jobs—good, well-paying jobs—are available right now. Last year's budget was the strongest budget regional Australia has ever seen, and the 11 May budget delivered by the Treasurer built on that success and infrastructure for our regions.

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