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

Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the minister claim to have been misrepresented?

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

Yes.

Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

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

Last night a very misleading report aired on Channel 9 News in Brisbane which suggested that the Rudd Labor government supports building the Goodna Bypass. I was subsequently misrepresented by the member for Ryan in this House. I want to make it clear that, as long as the Rudd Labor government holds office, the Goodna Bypass will never be built. One of my first actions as minister was to meet with the Queensland minister for roads in December 2007 to stop this project. The minister and I agreed that work on this project would cease and the funding would be reprioritised for the upgrading of the Ipswich Motorway. That is exactly what has happened. We are now investing more than $2.5 billion to upgrade the existing Ipswich Motorway. This work is running ahead of schedule and putting thousands of Australians to work.