Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How is the Albanese Labor government getting on with the job of delivering critical transport infrastructure, including in my electorate, while also doing the responsible work of cleaning up the mess left behind by the Liberals and Nationals?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There has been far too much noise during questions. I want to make this clear: I've got to hear the questions and they've got to be heard in silence. What comes after is up to the House, but for the purpose of question time, questions have to be heard in silence, without commentary or any effects at all. I'm going to ask the member for Pearce to state the question again so I can hear the entire question.

Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How is the Albanese Labor government getting on with the job of delivering critical transport infrastructure, including in my electorate, while also doing the responsible work of cleaning up the mess left behind by the Liberals and Nationals?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Pearce for her question and for her continued advocacy for infrastructure in her electorate, including projects like METRONET—the Yanchep rail extension—and the Mitchell Freeway. As members know, this government has been doing the hard work of cleaning up the mess that those opposite left.

We'll soon be announcing our response to the independent infrastructure review, which has already highlighted just how reckless the coalition was when it came to managing, or not managing, our infrastructure investment pipeline. Their legacy, and the path that they set for this nation, is $33 billion of known cost blowouts and an inability to add any new infrastructure projects to the pipeline until the year 2033. It is a breathtaking indictment on every single one of those opposite, but particularly on those in the National Party. It's an indictment on their economic management and their failure to genuinely deliver for their communities.

While we've been doing the hard work of responding to the recommendations of the review and negotiating with the states and territories, we've of course also been getting on with the job of construction.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've completed the following projects: the Mitchell Freeway extension to Hester Avenue in the member for Pearce's electorate; the Townsville Ring Road stage 5 extension has been opened; we've completed the Bruce Highway from Bribie Island to Steve Irwin Way in Caboolture; the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade stage 1 has been—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will pause. The member for Hume is warned. I'm pausing the minister because there's too much noise in the House—way too much noise. This will not continue. The minister is going to be heard in silence. It was the same yesterday when this minister was on her feet. She deserves the respect to be heard in silence.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have opened the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade stage 1. We have commenced projects like the Huon Link Road in Tasmania, the Tanami in Western Australia, the next stage of the Jervis Bay Road intersection upgrade and the new Midland Station for METRONET in WA. And, of course, as was first announced by this Prime Minister when he was infrastructure minister, we have the Rockhampton Ring Road, which the coalition not only failed to start any work on but they didn't actually provide enough money to do it!

Opposition members interjecting—

You did not provide enough money to a project being delivered by the Albanese Labor government! We've reached a major milestone on our election commitment to transition Perth's buses to electric. We're nearing completion on the Nowra Bridge project in New South Wales, with all lanes now open to traffic. The Barton Highway upgrade—we remember that—now has vehicles travelling on it for the first time, with the final alignment. We've awarded the design-and-construct contracts for the Monaro Highway and we're opening the Menmuny Overpass as part of the Cairns southern access road. We're getting on with the Majors Road Interchange in South Australia and the Bridgewater Bridge is well under construction. And we're nearing completion of the Townsville Northern Access Interchanges Upgrade.

While we saw that the Liberals and Nationals were all about announcement, we are getting on with the job of actually delivering.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gippsland is seeking the call on a point of order.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table the full list of documents of the projects that the minister has actually started and completed in her time as minister.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. Order! When the House comes to order, and members on my left cease interjecting, I will give the call to the member for Wannon, but the House will have to come to order first.

The Treasurer will cease interjecting. I give the call to the member for Wannon.