Fiona Scott (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on what the government is doing to improve infrastructure in Western Sydney in order to support the growing population in my electorate?

Mr Husic interjecting —

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley is warned!

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lindsay for her question. As one of the champions of Western Sydney, she knows that Western Sydney will play a vital role in the economic growth of our country in the years ahead. It is already, with two million people, Australia's fourth largest city area. It is an area that will continue to grow. One in two people living in Sydney will be living in Western Sydney before too much longer. That is why that region needs a major capital investment, a major commitment to building better infrastructure. It is a call that has been crying out for some time and which the previous government left unanswered.

But this government, the government that is going to build the infrastructure of the 21st century, has answered the call. There is a commitment for $3.5 billion worth of new road and infrastructure activities in that area. This will transform Western Sydney: upgrading its existing roads, building new motorways and building the kind of infrastructure that a city of two million people has a right to expect and, in particular, also building for them an airport. What cities around the world of two million people do not have an airport of their own? A key part of this major investment will be the new Badgerys Creek airport—

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is the one Tony said wasn't being built?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

which will provide an opportunity for those who want to live and work in Western Sydney to connect to the rest of the world.

Our road program includes upgrading the Northern Road and the construction of a new four-lane motorway between the M7 and Northern Road and building the Bringelly Road up to a four-lane standard from the Camden Valley Way to Northern Road. And there will be a $200 million package for local roads in Western Sydney to help provide the infrastructure to service that rapidly growing part of the country.

I am pleased to report also to the House that work on these projects is proceeding at speed. The project offers will be opening very shortly. We will be calling tenders next month for the work on the Bringelly Road as the first project, a $500 million project, to start improving the infrastructure that Western Sydney needs for the future. We have a commitment, a $3.5 billion commitment with the New South Wales government, to Western Sydney to build the infrastructure that it needs to give Western Sydney the opportunity it wants to contribute to our nation and to help build a stronger local economy.