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

We knew in rural and regional Australia that life wouldn't be easy under Prime Minister Albanese, but we had no idea it would be this bad. We had no idea it would be this bad and this tragic. Have a look at the first budget that has been brought down. What a disgrace! Ripping all the projects out of our region of Dawson—projects like VMR, or Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsunday. That's headed by president Mr Mal Priday, secretary Roger Woodson and their 50 dedicated volunteers. They do a fantastic job saving lives almost each and every day. They do medevacs. They even buy their own shirts. Under the coalition, they had $420,000 that was in the budget to extend their clubhouse. They have outgrown their facilities. The Whitsundays has the highest boat ownership per capita. All they need is a little bit of a helping hand, but no! It was ripped straight out from underneath them—$420,000. Then there was the veterans wellness pledge of $5 million in the budget. That has been ripped out as well.

See this speech in context