Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I certainly can. This year's budget continues the coalition government's record investment in nation-building infrastructure projects, in roads, in rail and in airports. These projects are job-creating superchargers to the economy. We're going to take Australians off the misery of welfare and into the dignity of work.

The coalition government is investing $75 billion in a decade-long pipeline of transport infrastructure. Inland Rail and the Western Sydney Airport are the sorts of nation-changing, family-opportunity-providing infrastructure projects that have not been attempted before. These new investments will collectively support around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, particularly in regional and rural areas. People in regional and remote areas are going to be beneficiaries of the $3.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, which is going to lift productivity on our regional freight roads. We're also investing an additional $160 million in the Outback Way, making it a total commitment of $330 million to the project. This is a decade-long pipeline of investment, giving certainty to businesses. They know what they're looking forward to. With this investment, the economy has created over 100,000 jobs in the last year. That's 1,100 jobs a day, 1,100 more families with a principal breadwinner.

To do this, of course, and as I indicated yesterday, we have to get the budget back under control. The budget is returning to surplus next year. It's taken us five years to do it, just as the Howard government had to contend with Labor mess before we saw unprecedented economic growth. This government is getting the budget under control. As we continue to strengthen our budget position, we can invest in Australian families. (Time expired)