Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Paterson for that question—she's an amazing fighter for her local community—the community in Port Stephens, which will now be receiving an extra $3 million under the Roads to Recovery Program, bringing their five-year funding to $6.86 million. That's because on this side of the House we believe in assisting every regional community for better roads, not just some.

In the last two years, I've travelled across Australia and spoken to many communities about the cost-of-living pressures, and it's why this government is taking action. In five days we will see real cost-of-living relief provided to regional Australians, with the average taxpayer receiving $1,888. That is how to deliver cost-of-living relief, not by pushing up power prices with nuclear reactors. On this side of the House, we know that power prices are a serious issue for regional Australians. That's why we're working hard to create a reliable and realistic energy future. Our Reliable Renewables plan is the only plan supported by experts to deliver the clean, cheap, reliable and resilient energy that the Australians of this country deserve. On this side of the House, in only a few short days time we will be taking $300 off power bills. But we see that the Leader of the Opposition will take about two decades to serve up the most expensive form of energy that there is. CSIRO figures show us that this is the most expensive form of energy; it is up to eight times more expensive than firmed renewables. While we're delivering energy security, they're delivering press releases, and while we're out talking to regional Australians, they're talking to themselves.

Those opposite put out a plan, but it's probably better referred to as a pipedream. They didn't even bother to call the mayors in the areas where those seven reactors would be hosted. They're pushing action off into the never-never. In complete contrast, Labor is delivering a plan to put regional Australia at the heart of our Future Made in Australia, backed by $22.7 billion of investment in the budget to unlock economic opportunities across industries like green metals, low-carbon fuels, critical minerals and clean energy manufacturing. It's a plan that uses local skills, which supports making more things in our own backyard and which invests in our local workforce. That's how to deliver growth for regional communities—not waiting for another decade to tick by with the delays and excuses for a new power source, only to have to pay more for it. We're serious about delivering cost-of-living relief, unlike those opposite. And we're doing it by delivering tax cuts and energy reform now, not by pushing up power prices by delivering nuclear reactors in decades to come.

See this speech in context