Anthony Byrne (Holt, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I am very mindful of the fact that we are programmed here to conclude our proceedings at 12 pm. I am also particularly mindful that some senior staff who are here for that purpose will have to leave us shortly. I thank the member for Lindsay for his question. He is obviously a very enthusiastic advocate for his constituents. That is certainly the feedback that we received at the community cabinet in Penrith and subsequently.

Because we do not have much time I unfortunately cannot go into the details, but, in terms of the Australian government creating jobs around Australia under the economic stimulus plans so far, there are already 270 social housing units under construction, and 347 defence houses are under construction. The Prime Minister handed over the keys for the first completed house last Friday in Brisbane—I read that on his Twitter site. Also, 285 primary school constructions are underway, repairs and maintenance has been done in thousands of primary schools, 9,000 existing social housing units have had repairs and upgrades and over 30,000 homes have had insulation installed since February and have claimed the $1,600 rebate. Road safety projects and new rail level-crossings are being built. Twenty-eight new rail level-crossings will be completed by the end of the month, and this is just the start of the construction projects; we are talking about 35 construction projects. It is a monumental project, a gargantuan project. It is a reflection of the difficulties in the global financial crisis and the strong, positive and decisive action that this government, led by Kevin Rudd, is taking.

With your indulgence, Mr Deputy Speaker, because I am mindful of the time and of the fact that we are due to conclude, I would like to—and this will sound very bizarre at the end of a discussion about appropriations—pay tribute to the retiring member for Higgins, Peter Costello. Regardless of where we stand on each side of the political divide, both of us know, and as the member for Mayo will know as time goes on, this is a very difficult life. It is a life that separates you from your family and puts you under enormous constraints. All of us here are in here for the right reasons: to advance the cause of the national interest. We do it in different ways. The member for Mayo will have a different way in which he sees that he can take our nation forward and I have a different way.

But the great part about this chamber is that we can have a robust exchange of ideas without being at gunpoint as in other places around the world. It is one of the great benefits of our democracy. I would like to acknowledge the substantial contribution that the member for Higgins has made, particularly in his role as Treasurer. I am not quite sure of the reasons why he made the decision, but can I say to you that in my private conversations with him I have found him to be a very decent fellow and a very family oriented individual. I, and on behalf of this chamber, wish him well for his future. I look forward to hearing about his progress in his subsequent life outside of this place.

Proposed expenditures agreed to.

Remainder of bill—by leave—taken as a whole, and agreed to.

Ordered that the bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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