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

I thank the honourable member for Flynn for his question. It was great to be in Gladstone the other day discussing with the member for Flynn key proponents on how we drive the Inland Rail from Toowoomba through to Gladstone—we know how important that is—and working with Colin Boyce, who's the candidate there. I'm sure that he will do a great job. So often we hear the sneers from the other side about the member for Flynn, but we acknowledge that he is a person who's been in business, who's stood behind his own chequebook and who's risked his own money. That is a great recommendation so people can understand why the Inland Rail is so very, very important. We are now driving the Inland Rail so that you can go from Melbourne to Narromine. We have 37 kilometres still to do at Stockinbingal. This is a mechanism that shows delivery. This is something that we actually believe in. The best quote we got from the Labor Party was that it was a nice idea. For us it's not a nice idea; it's a reality. It's a reality that we are delivering.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

I take the interjection from the member for Grayndler. He said he funded it. There wasn't an inch of track that was built under the Labor Party, because they are not doers. It was interesting that, whilst I was in Gladstone talking about the Inland Rail—

Opposition members interjecting—

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