Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It seems this government is very selective when it comes to strategic nation-building. We are at a critical time for our nation's economy. The smart thing to do would be to invest in the parts of Australia that produce the nation's wealth and make sure that they receive the required infrastructure. But apparently this Labor government is more concerned with rewarding those who voted for it and punishing those who didn't.

When the coalition was in government we invested billions in regional roads like the Mackay Ring Road and the Mackay north access upgrade, which was a huge reprieve for all road users in and around Mackay. We funded upgrades to the Haughton River Bridge and delivered record funding for all upgrades to local roads in regional council areas. Along the Bruce Highway we delivered funding for overtaking lanes, for shoulders and for widening the roads. We targeted black spots and increased the number of rest areas. The coalition did significant legwork, and the new Labor government is rolling all of that back.

Sadly, the inaction, the delays and the cuts for regional Australia are history repeating itself for Labor. We saw this first from the state government, and we are now seeing it from the federal government. Take the roadworks north and south of Bowen, for example, which are right smack in the middle of my electorate of Dawson. The coalition government funded these works to ensure safer and more-efficient roads, but the state Labor government has dropped the ball. Nothing is happening. You can't even call them roadworks, because no work is actually being done—it's stagnant. And now speed limits are reduced to a crawl. Worst of all, the state Labor government doesn't seem to care too much. I've written to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, and I'm still waiting for a reply. What have I heard? Nothing, crickets.

The member for Moreton and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government might want to herald their Bruce Highway funding as a coup for regional Australia. In reality, the funding is all for Brisbane and surrounds. What an insult to the 30 per cent of Australians who live in regional Australia. What an insult to the people in my electorate of Dawson. The Bruce Highway is our main connector from the city to the bush. It is the key road that allows supplies to be delivered to Dawson for our industries, our farms and our hospitals. It is a vital corridor for getting our produce to market and, more importantly, food and fibre to the shelves of Australian supermarkets and other shops. The Bruce Highway enables residents in Dawson to get to their medical appointments. When you're in the bush you don't have specialists just around the corner.

More importantly still, the safety of families and road users in regional Australia is at stake. We know that twice as many people die on the roads in the country as in the cities. The politicking of this new government is making my people more vulnerable. The neglect of our highway at the hands of state Labor exposes their disdain for the people who didn't vote for them. The previous coalition government gave them money to complete the works, but the project continues to fall down the list of priorities.

Regional Aussies deserve more from their government, which was elected to represent everyone, not just those who voted for them—in particular, those in the south-east corner. Not only are these actions reckless, they are just plain foolish. Our part of the world in central and north Queensland is one of the biggest heavyweights in producing our nation's wealth. Our agriculture, our coal—there was a lost opportunity for Labor in the last budget. They need to continue the good work of the coalition.

When regional Australia is strong the whole nation is strong, but this government is leaving regional Australia behind, and it is to the nation's peril. I urged the infrastructure to minister and this Labor government to right this wrong. Prioritise regional infrastructure. Look after regional and rural Australia because regional and rural Australia looks after you. Otherwise this whole nation, this great nation of ours, will suffer, and it is purely not acceptable. Labor needs to do the right thing here and look after those who look after Australia.

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