Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Allman-Payne, for your contribution and thank you for your support and sensible engagement with the government about this project. I think your party's role is in stark contrast to the opposition's in how one might go about getting constructive changes that you'd like to see into important pieces of federal legislation. I should congratulate you on the approach you have taken in these discussions—open-minded and genuinely interested in making the NRF bill better and securing positive outcomes for manufacturers and industry sectors that add value to Australian resources.

I've seen the report that the senator references, and the point I would make is that coordination across government is going to be vital to the success of this terrific project. With the NRF, Rewiring the Nation, Powering the Regions as well as other government investment vehicles, like the North Australia Infrastructure Facility and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, we are confident that we're getting the right tools in place. That said, of course the NRF board will determine investment decisions independently.