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

I thank the honourable member for his question and note the great work that he, when he was minister for transport—like previous National Party ministers Tim Fischer and Warren Truss—did in building nation-building infrastructure. Vital work was done, especially within the Nationals, for things such as the duplication of the Pacific Highway and also major projects such as the Western Sydney airport.

I note that the member for Riverina was instrumental in this nation-building infrastructure which is so vital for our nation to have a path into the future, a purpose into the future and infrastructure for the future. Nation-building infrastructure makes a nation strong. Things such as the Inland Rail, all 1,716 kilometres of it, from Melbourne up to Brisbane, and now the business case that we are starting on the process of building it from Toowoomba down to Gladstone, show the side of the House that has a vision for the future.

The member for Riverina asked about alternative policies, but it's incredibly difficult for the Labor Party to have alternative policies, because their coalition colleagues, the Greens, don't believe in building very much at all.

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