John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I can inform the member for New England that the government has every intention of meeting the guarantees that have been made in relation to this matter. This is an issue that has been raised repeatedly with the government by people such as the member for Parkes, the member for Riverina, the member for Farrer, that member for Groom, the member for Kalgoorlie, the member for O’Connor and the member for Forrest—in fact, the broad sweep of regional members, including the member for Leichhardt. They have all raised this matter. I say to all of them that, as a result of your representations and in line with the good faith of the government in relation to these matters, the earlier election undertakings will be honoured in full.

See this speech in context