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

Let's move onto the red and green tape that's created by the Labor government. We have a company called Gilmour Space in my electorate of Dawson which is waiting on approval from the space agency. They've been waiting for a long time now and that's the only thing that is stopping them from launching their rocket. This is sovereign manufacturing of rockets—of potential missiles to defend our country—right here in this country. Why would you not support that and get behind it so we can (1) defend ourselves and (2) put some more satellites up into space? That is manufacturing right here in this country.

Regarding reliable telecommunications. Those opposite have cut the black spot funding. There's an agave farm in my electorate that is using a lot of different technology and developing more technology. However, they're being hamstrung by the telecommunications within the area. And now the black spot funding has been cut.

The biggest booster of green hydrogen, Fortescue, is scaling back their ambitions for green hydrogen despite the promise of tax credits just for existing. Labor's production credits are also failing to deliver for the struggling nickel industry. Labor just keeps on breaking their own rules when it suits them and playing with Australia's future.

I come from the regions. I'm not sure the last time a federal Labor member or senator was in my seat of Dawson for longer than five minutes, but if they had the courage to visit the regions they would understand how difficult it is to run a business. To manufacture anything successfully from day one you need to ensure profitability. Those opposite, and in particular the Treasurer—who has never run a business in his life—fail to understand this basic principle.

An article in the Australian titled 'Regions put living costs top of their concerns list' states:

Cost-of-living pressure is the most universal issue among regional Australians, who say reducing price increases for household bills and other essential expenses should be a government priority.

Again I point to the new NAPLAN data. There's another wake-up call in this quote from the Courier Mail:

… Queensland kids are falling behind in the classroom with new NAPLAN results revealing concerning—

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