Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

In a quote? It was required for Albanese—sorry Madam Acting Deputy President. So, these things happen. It is not new. It is not us reinventing the wheel. It is what happens when people stand up and see projects. I'm not going to have a go at the now Prime Minister for this. Maybe he knew something that the grant writers didn't. Maybe he knew something. Cost benefit ratios don't know the project.

They talk about National Party seats. There was a program, a big program—not just little programs; they're big programs. If we're talking about transitioning and diversifying our economy in regions that are energy and carbon dependent, significant funds were set aside under the previous government to assist communities to do that.

I come from the Hunter Valley. I work at the world's largest coal port. There was an allocation of $250 million under a regional transitional program to assist the port to diversify. It is gone. The future of kids in the Hunter is gone. You are taking that opportunity away from them. You are taking a chance at a better life away from them. It's in a Labor seat. As long as Newcastle is there it will vote Labor. But what do we get? We get $500 million for a high-speed rail—what are we talking about?—study, not even a project, and I quote the Prime Minister, 'to allow people from the Hunter to get to Sydney'. The Hunter is not the servants' quarters of Sydney. We are not the workers' quarters of Sydney. We have a right to our own lives. We have a right to our own aspirations and that is being taken away.

On 20 April 2022 then Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook that included a document of community projects. Every one of those projects was warranted and needed. They are across all seats. Members of parliament on both sides were approached, plans and costings were delivered, discussions were had with councils and communities, and the benefits would be delivered. But every one of those projects is being reviewed. Labor say they are reviewing those measures from PEFO. What will Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and infrastructure minister Catherine King do to look after our communities if they take this away? The answer is: nothing.

On that list on their website there are projects from every state, every region, every party, and they all fall down. Here in Canberra: renovate and rebuild the AIS arena at $11.4 million. Is that to go? We're looking at Lindsay: Bennett Park upgrade at $0.59 million. Pick a seat. They're all here. In Brisbane—probably not the safest Liberal Party seat in the history of the world—the Brothers Rugby Club facilities upgrade is $2.5 million. (Time expired)