Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for External Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I ask the Prime Minister: how does the government expect to unlock the full potential of Kakadu National Park when it's pushed back the start date for upgrades of roads in Kakadu National Park to beyond the next election?

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question, and I find it quite extraordinary that he should be suggesting that the $260 million committed by the Prime Minister, who's on this side of politics, for the upgrade in Kakadu National Park is somehow insufficient. We all know what happens when you roll out an infrastructure program too quickly because we saw it with Labor in government time after time. We know what happens when you shovel that money out of the door with no policy, no guidelines, no procurement. Two hundred and sixty million dollars has been dedicated to the upgrade of Kakadu. I was there recently. The traditional owners are very happy with the process. The tourism initiatives that are starting, they're very happy with the process. We've got good relationships with the Northern Territory government. We're not playing politics about this. How could you come into this place and talk this sort of nonsense? Honestly, the member for Lingiari should know better.