George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've been accused of doing some crazy things—that's probably an understatement, say some of my colleagues—but I never thought I would ever don lycra and dance like Beyonce to 'All the Single Ladies'. But I have to tell you the deed is done, the die is cast and, as Annabel Crabb noted on Insiders, what is seen cannot be unseen. Some have rudely called this a stunt, but the fact is that we have a fantastic program, with the government's funding, with stage 1 of the Mackay Ring Road under construction, though it's more of a right angle than a ring; stage 2 completes the ring. The message to Canberra is: if you like it, you'd better put a ring road on it. I must inform the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport that the threat is real, and more will be revealed with the release of the full version of that lycra-wearing, Beyonce-bopping video if we don't get stage 2 of the project.

Stage 1 takes the heavy traffic out of the city and creates about 600 jobs. Stage 2, which has been dubbed by the Deputy Prime Minister 'Beyonce Boulevard', puts a ring on it and provides direct access to the port for heavy traffic from our sugar mills and coalmines. It is definitely something worth dancing about, as embarrassing as that might be, and, through you, Mr Speaker, to the Deputy Prime Minister, I just have one message: if you like it, you've got to put a ring road on it!

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

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.