Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question—the honourable member who has done so much for the people of Groom. He has represented them so well. He started his role with grain growers and continues his role in making sure that they get the Toowoomba range crossing, which has now started construction. And he is a member who has also been absolutely at the wheel to make sure that this new airport—the first airport built with all private money and the first airport built in greenfields in 50 years—has started. It has not only become a great endowment for the people of Toowoomba but a great endowment for the people of New England, a great endowment for the people of Parkes, a great endowment for the people of the Lockyer Valley and a great endowment for those in agriculture. It connects these people directly up to markets in Asia.

If we look in the first shipment we see organic chicken that has gone from the seat of Maranoa; pecan nuts that have gone from the seat of Parkes; beef going from my seat—from Bindaree and Rangers Valley; from Story Fresh—obviously, we have produce going from the seat of Groom; and from Mort & Co. we have produce coming from all over Queensland. We also see Stanbroke Pastoral meat—that abattoir is in the member for Wright's seat—and we see mangoes that have come from the seat of Dawson—

Ms MacTiernan interjecting—

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