Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. Will the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House about the McCormack-Morrison government plans for economic recovery through the additional investment in local roads and community infrastructure programs and how it is working to drive jobs and economic activity across regional Australia, especially in the Hunter Valley where we had a spectacular win on the weekend?

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

I thank the member for New England for his question. He, like me, on Saturday would have had people coming up to him and talking about jobs, talking about resources, talking about agriculture, talking about all the things that we on this side of the House care about and that they on that side of the House don't care about.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left!

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

Indeed, in the member for New England's electorate, under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, his councils are benefiting, as are the other 527 councils right across Australia benefiting from that particular program. It's a very effective program making sure that we get the money out there for the roads, making sure that we get the money out there for that vital infrastructure which makes such a difference, particularly in the regions, particularly in the member for New England's electorate, particularly in the Hunter. Armidale Regional Council received $6 million under the LRCI program; Glen Innes, $3.4 million; Gwydir, $4.4 million; Inverell, $5.5 million; Liverpool Plains, $3.3 million; Tamworth, $11.3 million; Tenterfield $4 million; Uralla Shire Council, $2.3 million; Walcha, $2.2 million; and Upper Hunter Shire Council, $4.8 million. A total of $47.7 million is going to the member for New England's electorate, and he would have heard on the weekend how important that money is, what it's going to do to transform—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left!

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

That's very right, on the left; they are very left, Mr Speaker, and that's the trouble. They are very left!

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

Deputy Prime Minister will not verbal me.

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

I will not, Mr Speaker, I would never think of doing such a thing! But don't just take my word for it, don't just take the member for New England's word for it. Let's hear from the Upper Hunter shire mayor, Maurie Collison, who said:

Council could not undertake these sort of community projects without financial backing. It's a big investment in Murrurundi sports and heritage, which are amongst the town's biggest attractions.

…   …   …

These are vital regional connections and working with the State and Federal Governments—

and I am pleased to say they are both coalition governments—

I am pleased to see our Council being able to undertake these much needed road upgrades.

Indeed, I am asked: what are the alternatives?

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

No, I say to the Deputy Prime Minister: you might have expected to be asked that, but you actually weren't.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Well, Mr Speaker, the proof is in the pudding. We're backing those areas, we're backing those regions, we're backing those resources. To use the member for Hunter's own words, 'You lot need to wake up to yourselves!'

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Members on both sides! The Deputy Prime Minister will cease interjecting. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.