Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is always a pleasure to rise in this place and talk about who in this chamber best represents the interests and best delivers for regional Australia. It is the government members on this side of the chamber that are delivering for regional Australia and, in particular, for regional Tasmania. One of my greatest joys as a senator for Tasmania is representing our great regions. As the duty senator for the seat of Lyons, I have a wonderful opportunity to get out and see the best of our state and see how our government is investing in regional Tasmania to ensure that our communities remain strong.

Just last week, I was up at Corumbene Care in the beautiful Derwent Valley. They have received $3.7 million under the Building Better Regions Fund to deliver a community and wellbeing hub, repurposing existing buildings at Willow Court. This is much needed infrastructure in the local community to support the health and wellbeing of all of those in the Derwent Valley and beyond, and I'm very glad that our government is delivering on this important project.

Our government has also committed $100 million for irrigation projects, which are so needed across regional Tasmania, so that our agriculture industry can continue to thrive and prosper. Growing up in Tasmania and spending so much time driving along the Midland Highway up from the south to the north of the state, you can see the transformative effect that our irrigation schemes have had in regional Tasmania in ensuring that our farms are green and are growing food to supply the nation. We've provided millions in financial relief to tourism businesses that have been impacted.