Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I note the former Deputy Prime Minister is disassociating himself from the actions of the coalition, and that shows good sense! It's precisely why we're still shocked that Barnaby Joyce became Deputy Prime Minister, not once but twice. The sequel was worse than the original, and it hasn't got any better as he sits there and mumbles during question time.

We, on this side of the House, are proud to support the National Reconstruction Fund. We're proud to be on the side of Australian workers. We're on the side of Australian jobs. We're on the side of Australia's future prosperity. I ask all members to join with us in support of a better future, made in Australia. I say to the National Party—and there are a couple of sensible people from the National Party here; they're probably the only ones—that this is about regional jobs more so than anything else. The National Reconstruction Fund is not going to support new industries in the CBDs of Sydney and Melbourne. It's going to support jobs in regional Australia and in the outer suburbs of our cities. That is what this program is about, and that is why it is so important.

One of the things about manufacturing jobs is that they have such a significant multiplier, and that's why the industries that we've identified—including the defence industry, where there will be some announcements down the track this month—are so important. That's why the demise of the car industry was so devastating, not just for people who worked in automotive but because it gutted innovation and it had a multiplier impact in the loss of economic activity.

So I say to those opposite: now is your chance to redeem yourself. Get on board. This is very sensible reform. It's based upon evidence of what works. It's supported by existing industries who want to transform and take advantage of the energy opportunities that are there for cleaner energy, which will be cheaper, but it's also important for the growth of new industries, particularly in manufacturing. We need to be a country that makes things here again. This legislation is the most significant step that will be made in that area during this term and, indeed, for a long period of time. This is perhaps the most significant support for manufacturing that we have seen—certainly in this parliament and in this century, but also for a long period of time. I commend the bill to the House.

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