Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Gallacher for his interest in rural infrastructure as well. Labor's investment in Australia's vital infrastructure extends beyond the limits of the cities—where the Liberals stopped. In fact, two-thirds of our infrastructure budget will be for projects in rural and regional Australia. The 2013-14 budget builds on what is already the largest road construction project since the creation of the National Highway Network some 40 years ago. This budget locks in the funding for Labor's $4.1 billion plan for a better and safer Bruce Highway to begin; it will continue and complete a range of improvements to this vital road. It continues the substantial progress towards the full duplication of the Pacific Highway. I add that that is one of the largest and most complex road construction projects ever undertaken in this country. It delivers a dedicated package of works along the Midland Highway in Tasmania. All of this is about supporting— (Time expired)