Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals in Western Australia is most certainly entitled to her views, although of course I don't agree with them, and I will tell you why. Since 2013, the Nationals and the Liberals have committed more than $2.8 billion through our regional grants program. That's most certainly focusing on regional areas. That is on top of more than $2.3 billion committed through the community development grants programs, which is most certainly concentrating on regional Australia. And we can have a look at some of the program examples of the $1.2 billion we put towards the Building Better Regions Fund—something that was actually set up by the Nationals and delivered by the Nationals. The Australian government has announced a further $250 million towards a sixth round, which is obviously going towards regional Australia to look after regional Australia. More than $331 million has gone towards the Drought Communities Program, which is delivering more than 687 projects.

Regional Australia knows that, when they need a helping hand, it is this side of the chamber that they can rely on. It is the Liberals and the Nationals in coalition that they can rely on. As a further example, more than $607 million went towards the National Stronger Regions Fund, delivering 225 projects. More than $247 million has gone towards the Regional Growth Fund, delivering 17 projects. More than $206 million went towards the regional jobs and investment packages, delivering 233 projects. More than $145 million is going to the Stronger Communities Program, which has funded around 12,000 projects since 2015. The list goes on about the issues that this side of the chamber, the Nationals and the Liberals in coalition, are delivering for regional Australia, and especially for Western Australia.

When that side closed down the live cattle trade, this side was responsible for driving for it to be opened up again. That is looking after regional Australia. When that side brought in a carbon tax, this side is the one that had to deal with it. When that side never built the Inland Rail, it took this side to do it. When that side would not concentrate on the Bruce Highway, it took this side to do it. When that side did not duplicate the Pacific Highway, it took this side to do it. We are the party that looks after regional Australia. We continue to look after regional Australia, and that is why regional Australia votes for us. You have left them so far behind that there are only a couple of seats left. One's up there, and he's only just with you. The rest have all gone.

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