Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Senator McCarthy. Despite what those opposite might think, our regions are more than just a grant program. How's the Albanese Labor government working to improve the lives of people in the regions?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order across the chamber! Senator McKenzie, which part of me calling order did not apply to you?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for the question. From day one the Albanese Labor government has been getting on with the job of delivering for regional Australia. We've delivered on our commitment to restore integrity and transparency in our regional grant programs, because now every community, regardless of their postcode, can apply—the $600 million Growing Regions Program, the $400 million Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program and more.

As someone who drives for hours across the Northern Territory, I know how important it is to improve the safety of our regional roads. We're progressively doubling the Roads to Recovery Program over the next five years to $1 billion annually. In the senator's home state of New South Wales, this means that councils will be receiving $1.2 billion over the next five years, a $461 million increase. We're also increasing the road Black Spot Program from $110 million to $150 million per year, meaning more money for improving some of the most dangerous sections of our roads. We have launched the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, with $200 million available each year, a $50 million boost. And we have delivered an additional $250 million to regional councils through phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

We know on this side of the chamber how important connectivity is in our regions, which is why we have made a record investment. We're delivering a further $2.4 billion to expand NBN full fibre to an additional 1.5 million premises around Australia, 660,000 of those being in the regions.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that fulsome account—but it's not only road and community infrastructure which is so essential to our regional areas; it's access to services. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to boost service delivery in the regions?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. Yes, we on this side of the chamber understand that regional development isn't just about investing in our roads or infrastructure; it's also about investing in our people and enhancing service delivery. When we came to office, people in regional towns couldn't get in to see their local GP. After a decade of neglect, we know we can't fix this overnight, but we're getting on with the job. Our landmark investments to strengthen Medicare have seen an additional 2.2 million bulk-billed visits in regional and rural areas since November last year. Would you like me to repeat that? That's a pretty significant number.

A government senator: Yes, repeat it.

That's 2.2 million bulk-billed visits in regional and rural areas since November last year. We are getting more doctors where we need them most by waiving HECS fees for health practitioners— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Neill, second supplementary?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our regions need to attract and retain skilled workers to ensure they can continue to deliver these important services—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, please resume your seat. The senator is entitled to make her—

Senator Ruston! Your disorderly conduct during question time today is setting new records. I invite you to either listen in silence or leave the chamber. Senator O'Neill will put her question in silence. Please continue, Senator O'Neill.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And it is important to talk about the regions and to listen to the answers. Our regions need to retain skilled workers to ensure they can—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Neill, please resume your seat. I would have thought, and I think that was you, Senator McKenzie, but apologies—Senator Henderson.

Government senators interjecting—

Order! Order on my right! I would have thought, Senator Henderson, if you heard me calling one senator to account, you might work out that that really does apply to all senators, including you. Senator O'Neill, please continue.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll try again, for a third time, to stand up for people in the regions against those opposite. Our regions need to attract and retain skilled workers to ensure they can continue to deliver these services— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd request that Senator O'Neill be allowed to repeat her question, given how much she was interjected upon by the opposition.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Neill, I'm going to invite you to complete the question from the point you got to. You have a clear voice, so I was able to follow, but the interjections were disorderly.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So, Minister, what is the Albanese Labor government doing to allow people to stay and train in our regional towns?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We want people to train at home and continue working locally, because you shouldn't have to leave home to build your career. We are bringing university closer to students living in the regions, investing in 20 more regional university hubs. Our fee-free TAFE has already supported over 500,000 people nationally, including over 127,000 in our regions. That's why we will make fee-free TAFE permanent. Just because you're getting it for free doesn't mean you don't value it, unlike what those opposite might think. To attract and retain the workers of our communities, we need to build more housing.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You don't care about the regions. You obviously don't want to hear about them. You never want to know about any success in the regions—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Order!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order across the chamber! I would like silence for the next eight seconds. Minister McCarthy, please continue.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To attract and retain the workers our communities need, we are building more housing—$32 billion in housing initiatives to help Australians to build, rent and buy. (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.