Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I am, Senator Martin. The biggest risk to our regional communities would be a Bill Shorten Labor government which chops and changes its policies and support for our regional communities. Those opposite have now refused to rule out moving the APVMA back to Canberra. Now the APVMA is actually up and running in Armidale through partnership with UNE's centre of excellence, it's producing regulatory scientists not just for the APVMA but for our state governments, which have a shortage of them. Joel Fitzgibbon needs to provide a solid commitment to the local community, the university and the 150 APVMA staff in Armidale that they're there to stay. They need to guarantee the agency's future in the region. But instead they stand opposed to job creation, higher wages and business growth out in regional Australia. They refuse to back the live sheep industry. They refuse to back mining jobs. Only a coalition government can be trusted to deliver for the regions.