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

was upgraded there. I would like to think it was my decision, but I've got to say that the blokes in the Australian Defence Force who were doing that were just extraordinary, showing their skills in engineering. I pay tribute to them and the other emergency service workers who were on the ground there in Townsville, along with the member for Kennedy; Premier Crisafulli; the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Jenny McAllister; and the Mayor of Hinchinbrook, who walked across in his thongs and shorts in amongst what was still pretty muddy. I have had conversations there with the Premier, as well as the member for Kennedy. Yesterday I spoke with the Premier again when I informed him that I'd signed off on considerable grants, $100 million worth of support, for people in that community.

One of the issues the member raised with regard to roads is the Kennedy development road. It's a great example of, frankly, stuff that needs to be done better. Ten kilometres of that road are still dirt, and that has meant that it hasn't been able to be used. We will fix it. We have funding provided for it, and that will be fixed. I've spoken with the Premier about making sure that we don't just build what was there again in the same form but that we build it back better.

Just like in the member for Kennedy's electorate, as he would remember, he made representations about the Einasleigh River Bridge so that Karumba and Normanton in his electorate were not cut off. We built it back better through the council, and not only did they do that under the $31 million budget; they provided additional three bridges as a result of using that local labour. They know what they're doing, and they used local suppliers as well. I've spoken to the Premier about the same approach to make sure that the bureaucrats in either the capital city here or the capital city in Queensland listen to people on the ground, particularly the people in local government, because that is how you can get things done.

The Kennedy development road, I assure you, will be done, and we will work constructively. I must say that the engagement with the Premier of Queensland has been very constructive, and our two governments are working seamlessly because that is what is required at a time like this to get things done. I do praise the member for Kennedy, who's been on the ground there with his local community. These are tough times. North Queenslanders are tough people, and they're showing it yet again. We're seeing that, at the worst of times, we see the best of the Australian character.

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