Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition quite frankly does not recognise that we have already pulled forward the financial assistance grants of $77 million and made them available to the Queensland government. The authority, which has been set up by the state government, has been working diligently in ensuring that the work is being done. In addition to that, right across Australia this government has made a $5.6 billion commitment to rebuild Queensland. It will not be done in a day; it will take time for the work to progress. You would not want to provide the funding in a way that would squeeze the market. You want to ensure that the authority can prioritise the work, undertake the necessary work to be able to ensure that the rebuilding effort across Queensland is done, that roads can be rebuilt. (Time expired)