Gary Gray (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I am prepared to see the good side of Wilson, unlike those in the National Party. He knows about wheat marketing, unlike the Leader of the National Party. What we are looking to do here is restore integrity to the process of government grants that support local communities. We have already described the regional infrastructure program that we wish to put in place, and for which we wish the best possible set of guidelines and protocols for its operation. We want to seek the best advice for doing that. Trial and error learning has never been a strong point of those opposite. Trial and error learning is a fundamental achievement of the human race. Trial and error learning is what it is about in getting things right. What we want to do through the regional infrastructure programs that we will put in place is have the best possible balance. The reason why those opposite oppose the appointment of the member for New England, a person who has a wonderful set of experience in two jurisdictions, is frankly that he has clearly expressed his concerns—

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