Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House how building the infrastructure of the 21st century benefits those living in New South Wales, particularly in my electorate of Dobell?

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

The member for Dobell knows full well that this government understands the importance of building infrastructure for the 21st century to make our nation internationally competitive. The coalition's record investment in infrastructure is creating thousands of jobs across the country, building a stronger and prosperous economy and boosting productivity.

But yesterday I had to report to the parliament about the way in which newly elected Labor governments are actually destroying jobs and axing these projects, which are absolutely vital to our nation's future prosperity. In Victoria, I had to report how the new Labor government is threatening to terminate the transformational East West project—a project that would have employed 7,000 people; 7,000 jobs—condemning Melbourne traffic to gridlock for a generation. I also had to report on the Queensland newly elected state Labor government, which is axing at least $20 billion worth of new infrastructure projects, which were promised and paid for by the Newman government—tens of thousands of jobs lost in Queensland, a state where unemployment is being affected by the downturn in the mining and construction industry. These are projects like the Brisbane BAT tunnel, which I know the shadow minister claims that he is very supportive of. The Newman government had a commitment to build it and Labor is axing the project. Let us move now to New South Wales—

Ms Butler interjecting—

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

The member for Griffith will desist!

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

where Labor is threatening to terminate part or all of the WestConnex project. There are more than 10,000 jobs in WestConnex—Sydney's major new traffic artery left dead in the water. Now, this morning, we woke up to the news that New South Wales Labor is also vowing to halt the NorthConnex project—a project critical to the residents of the Central Coast; a $3 billion project that is already underway—

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

The member for Corangamite will desist!

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

and will employ 8,700 people.

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

The member for Newcastle is not in her seat and she is not entitled to speak!

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

There are 8,700 jobs at risk.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. Given it was Labor that signed the contract for NorthConnex—

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

The member will resume his seat! That particular member knows better than most that that is abuse of the standing orders and he will desist.

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

It is nice to know that the shadow minister supports this project. But Labor in New South Wales does not; they intend to terminate it and sack 8,700 workers. This is the attitude of New South Wales towards these viable infrastructure projects. Instead of building infrastructure for the 21st century, Labor state governments are putting workers out of their jobs and making it clear that our cities will be in gridlock for all time. (Time expired)