Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Before the last election, the Liberal Party identified an urgent need—

Mr Ewen Jones interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Herbert that he is warned.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

for $16 million dollars of economic stimulus, specifically in Glenorchy. But now you are spending most of the Cadbury money elsewhere in Tasmania, a move supported by the ALP in a sign that both Liberal and Labor have given up on Glenorchy jobs.

Mr Nikolic interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bass is warned.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Prime Minister, what is your plan to deliver on the promise to spend all of $16 million on jobs in Glenorchy?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. The government was very clear that the Cadbury money would be reinvested in Tasmania, and so it will be—$16 million will be invested in a new jobs and investment fund to support the Tasmanian economy and to strengthen the competitiveness of that local economy. I have to remind the honourable member that the commitment to the Cadbury factory would have had benefits far beyond a particular street, suburb, postcode or city. This project would have seen increased dairy production in the north of Tasmania, increased logistics activity across the state and, of course, more jobs at the factory itself. So the project would have provided economic benefits across the state, not just in Glenorchy. Glenorchy is not a hermetically-sealed economy in and of itself; it is part of Tasmania. So any investment there at Cadbury would have benefited the whole state—and the honourable member, I am sure, agrees with this.

Sadly, it was Cadbury that withdrew its request for the funding.

Mr Champion interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But I can, however, assure the honourable member that this will be a thoroughly consultative, forward-looking government—one that invests in growth to improve the prosperity of communities right across Australia, including, of course, Glenorchy in the honourable member's electorate. The Tasmanian government has said it will contribute $8 million to the fund, and the private sector will need to put in $2 for every $1 of government spending. This means the fund will potentially attract up to $72 million in funding from the government and the business community, and this is undoubtedly a huge opportunity for local business in both Glenorchy and right across Tasmania to embrace the future with a sense of optimism—to be more innovative, more agile and, above all, to invest in the enablers that will lift performance and deliver greater prosperity. That commitment, this commitment of which I have spoken—

Ms Collins interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Franklin will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

is on top of the more than $1 billion this government is already investing in the honourable member's state.

Ms Collins interjecting—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Franklin and the Leader of the House will cease interjecting.