Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Will the minister confirm that the latest cost estimate for the construction of the Dinmore to Goodna section of Ipswich Road is $2.7 billion, two and a half times last year’s election promise of $1.1 billion? Minister, does this multibillion dollar blow-out in addition to computers in schools and broadband policy bungles not simply prove that the government is losing control of its budget?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I absolutely thank the member for the question. That is extraordinary. For 12 years the Ipswich motorway has been an issue in Brisbane. For 12 years they did nothing about the Ipswich Motorway. The government went out there and started work on it. The Prime Minister and I on 2 March of this year—and I remember it because it was my birthday—spent the day working on the Ipswich Motorway with Shayne Neumann and Bernie Ripoll, and the members who supported this important, critical project for Brisbane. It is terrific that the last question asked this year by the opposition is one which is critical of our nation-building agenda, because it says it all.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and COAG and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Emissions Trading Design) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on the point of order of relevance. The question was about the $1.6 billion blow-out and whether it proves that Labor has lost control of its budget. That is the question.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Goldstein will resume his seat.

Jim Turnour (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Turnour interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for Leichhardt, there is no chance that I will be that accommodating! The minister has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The blow-out is in the tyres of the coalition vehicle. That is the blow-out, because they have just blown it. They have just sent a message to everyone in Brisbane, particularly to people around Ipswich—the good burghers of Ipswich—and Moreton, of course, and all the seats along that road, that they are against it. They were against it for 12 years and, now that there is action being taken, they are against it again. It is just mind-boggling.

This government is absolutely committed to fulfilling our commitments on road, rail, ports, broadband and nation building. Those opposite just exposed themselves once again through that extraordinarily pathetic question. I thank whoever it was on the tactics committee who decided to give me a belated birthday present by asking that question.