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 Deputy Prime Minister inform the House how the Morrison-McCormack government is supporting the creation of every possible regional job as part of the plan to support the Australian recovery from the COVID-19 crisis?

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

On 18 July last year in Dubbo, in the member for Parkes's electorate, The Daily Telegraph held its inaugural Bush Summit. It was in the midst of one of the worst droughts that this nation had ever seen. There was an air of doom and gloom over that gathering. Last Friday, in Cooma, the second Bush Summit was held. Whilst it was in the middle of a terrible global pandemic, there was an air of optimism and hope at that meeting. Those who attended felt as though the recovery was not far away, certainly from the drought. There's a sheen of green around the nation. In many parts, welcome rains have really helped our regional communities. Hopefully, we'll get the best harvest we've had for many, many decades.

We know that many Australians today are hurting. Many Australians are mourning. But there is hope and help for them. There is optimism in sight. I know the member for Flynn works hard every day, certainly to create jobs and to build hope and optimism in his electorate. The fine people of Flynn know that the resources and agricultural sectors of central and northern Queensland are going to help our recovery efforts as we battle through COVID-19 and make sure that we get through this together.

I know that mayors in his electorate, such as Kerry Hayes, who heads the Central Highlands Regional Council, know how important jobs and, certainly infrastructure stimulus are to the fine electorate that the member for Flynn represents. He is very pleased that the federal government is investing $40 million in the Tambo-Springsure road. It's only 246 kilometres, where we're bitumenising certain sections of that road. It's a cattle road. We're making sure—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I don't know why you're yelling out. We're sealing sections of that road. We're putting bitumen down on that unsealed road to ensure that we create jobs.

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—

Don't take my word for it, member for Hunter. You've got your own problems, mate! Mayor Hayes says:

'The Springsure to Tambo road effectively connects Western Queensland to the Port of Gladstone via our agricultural powerhouse …

The inclusion of the Springsure-Tambo road link in Roads of Strategic Importance funding is a result of a combination of strategic advocacy by the member for Flynn, by the council and by local advocates, because they know that the truth is jobs are so important. (Time expired)