Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison National Party government is providing stability and certainty to regional communities who are doing it tough?

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Flynn for his question. There are many communities in his Queensland electorate presently beset by drought. As he told me a little earlier, sports fields, those fields of dreams, have turned into dust bowls. This is, as I'm sure all members would agree, heartbreaking. They've been forced to truck in water to Miriam Vale, population 500. I know there are a lot of other communities across the country where this is a sad fact too. This is cattle country, where the member for Flynn comes from, and beef producers—indeed, all small businesses—are feeling the pinch. Whether it's Eidsvold, Emerald, Gayndah or elsewhere, people encountering drought are doing it tough.

But they're resilient folk. Country people always are. They know that relief and recovery efforts are being made to help them through and they know that it will rain again eventually. Until it does, we're there right behind them. We as a government—

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—

I'd like to think that we as a parliament, Member for Hunter, would offer bipartisanship—the sort of bipartisanship that Bill Kelty, a good union man, is offering the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. He's partnering with John Sharp to take up a position in that august organisation. He knows what a role that organisation is playing.

Of course, regional communities across Australia, and especially in Queensland, have endured plenty in recent times: the fires presently burning; the flooding, which caused such damage in the north in February. As we go through these tough times, it's important to know that the government—as I said, the parliament should—and indeed organisations such as FRRR are behind them.

FRRR was established 19 years ago, in the year 2000, with the bipartisan support of the government. A $10 million initial contribution—

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—

I don't know why you're yelling so much. This is helping all country communities, Member for Hunter. It's time you came to the table and just behaved yourself occasionally. They're country people doing it tough, and you won't ever stop yelling out at them. You should behave yourself. You're a disgrace, an absolute disgrace, and you know you are.

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

The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat.

Mr McCormack interjecting—

The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Hunter will, if he's not raising a point of order—

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am raising a point of order.

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

I haven't called you yet. I'm allowing you both to calm down for a second.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm calm, Mr Speaker.

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

The member for Hunter on a point of order—and you'll state the point of order.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, Mr Speaker. How is the Deputy Prime Minister's unhinged attack on me relevant to the question which was asked? The farmers just want him to do something!

Mr McCormack interjecting—

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

The Deputy Prime Minister will cease interjecting. The member for Hunter is warned. That was an abuse of a point of order. And I'll make a very obvious point to the member for Hunter and others: if you don't want to goad ministers into those sorts of statements, don't interject.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That $10 million initial contribution has now grown to $100 million, supporting almost 10,000 communities, small communities across regional Australia. We, too, as a government support the foundation's work. It's important work. That's why last year the federal government granted the foundation an additional $15 million to provide funding under the Tackling Tough Times Together program. It's a good program, it's helping good people and it's a very, very good initiative.

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

The Leader of the Opposition is seeking indulgence?

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

Yes, on indulgence, very briefly, this side of the House, including the member for Hunter, does stand with the government when it comes to drought issues. The response was due to—

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

No, the Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. We're not going to debate the matter.

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

Member for McEwen! Let's not rewind the videotape. Why don't we just move forward?

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

No. I appreciate that.

Mr McCormack interjecting—

Deputy Prime Minister, you just need to cease interjecting now. The member for Sydney is being uncharacteristically patient—that's good. The member for Sydney has the call.