Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Canavan, Davey, McDonald and McMahon, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) regional Australia is a fundamental pillar of our economy, and will play a critical role as we emerge and rebuild from the economic impacts caused by COVID-19,

  (ii) our regional, rural and remote areas punch well above their weight; they represent just under a third of the national population, yet contribute two thirds of our national income,

  (iii) regional Australians have had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic in the wake of a devastating summer of bushfires, and

  (iv) the courage demonstrated by those in our regions as they continue to persist and resist, time and again, characterises the best of what it means to be Australian; and

(b) commends the Liberal and Nationals Government on:

  (i) continuing to recognise and respect the challenges faced by our regional communities, and letting those in bushfire-affected communities know that they have not been forgotten by this Government,

  (ii) supporting these communities as they recover and rebuild through the $448.5 million Regional Bushfire Recovery and Development Program, and

  (iii) ensuring that our regions are better prepared than ever before the next bushfire season—attributing over $37 million towards strengthening communications across rural fire depots and evacuation centres.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, we are allowing people to speak to other seats due to the spacing arrangements—which probably need a bit of work!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I deliberately wanted to stay here for this. I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, this motion is just another example of the shameless spin and marketing that we've come to expect from a government that has left bushfire victims behind. We all know that the government's bushfire recovery efforts have been lousy. Just ask the 96 per cent of people in bushfire-hit regions who haven't received help or the two-thirds of bushfire victims in New South Wales who are still waiting for the debris on their properties to be cleared. This government continues to overpromise and underdeliver on the bushfires. Just a quarter of the notional $2 billion fund has got out the door, six months after the bushfires—just one quarter. The Liberals' and Nationals' response to bushfire recovery has been slow, it's been inconsistent and it's been confusing for thousands of Australians who just want to get on with their lives in the land they love. It says so much about the Morrison government, and particularly the National Party, that, instead of getting on with the job and actually helping bushfire victims, they just move self-indulgent motions to give themselves a pat on the back. It's a disgrace, and they should actually help bushfire victims instead of just doing more marketing. (Time expired)

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that the question be put separately on parts (a) and (b) of the motion and I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Part (a) of this motion, recognising what regional Australia has gone through, the Greens support, because regional Australia has gone through a massive amount in the last six months. There was the huge summer of bushfires; in fact, there was a spring and summer and autumn of fires, unprecedented fires, fires that covered a proportion of Australia never seen before. And then there was the COVID pandemic as well hitting these regions—hitting their local tourism areas, hitting their ability to function. We absolutely as Greens support regional Australia. But the gall of this government to pretend that they are working in the interest of regional Australia! On bushfires, you have people in East Gippsland who are still living in tents. People in East Gippsland and other fire affected areas have not been able to access support. The gall of them to do that! (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first question is that paragraph (a) of motion No. 707 be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

The question is that clause (b) of motion No. 707 be agreed to.