Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Sullivan for his question. I am incredibly proud to be part of the Joyce-Turnbull government that is delivering in spades for regional people right across this nation, compared to the previous Labor government that never ever once had regional Australia as a priority. We have seen $5 billion for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund Facility. And this is from the coalition government, from the Turnbull-Joyce government that is investing in the north, again, unlike those opposite.

I particularly want to acknowledge the work that Senator Ian Macdonald has done on this over a long period of time. This is going to be funding for dams, funding for pipelines and funding for irrigation schemes—in direct contrast to Labor's previous approach to water which saw the previous minister, Senator Wong, spend $300 million buying back water, a part of which did not even exist.

Under this government, we are seeing $571 million for the dairy industry support package and the $4 billion agricultural white paper. Under Minister Barnaby Joyce, we have seen real investment going out to the regions where it is needed, such as the $313.8 million on the Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration program and the $100 million on research and development—something that would never, ever have occurred to the Labor Party opposite. And we have seen the appointment of the ACCC Agriculture Commissioner, putting a real focus right where it is needed—on agriculture.