Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

As a government, we know that when rural and regional Australians prosper and grow they create more jobs for Australians and they benefit our nation as a whole. In this chamber, particularly on the government side, we recognise the contribution that people from rural and regional Australia make through industries such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, forestry and transport. With all of those industries, they don't just impact on rural and regional Australia; they impact on the whole of Australia. Also, when you look at our food, rural and regional Australians produce our nation's valuable exports. They grow our food and they supply our energy. We will continue to back rural and regional Australians every step of the way because, as you know, when they prosper and grow they create more jobs for Australians.