Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Cowper for his good question. A strong economy means we can have more jobs. A strong economy, built upon by the strong economic policies of the Liberals and Nationals in government, means regional communities such as Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie can prosper now and into the future. That's what we are delivering—strong prosperity and strong growth, certainly in regional economies. What it all boils down to is jobs—jobs for today, jobs for tomorrow. When you have a strong economy, businesses have the confidence to back themselves. Small businesses in particular back themselves—such as Eagle Copters in Coffs Harbour. They are a wonderful decentralisation story. They moved to Coffs. They've expanded their operations. They've employed more people. They're the sort of business that puts on apprentices and puts on older Australian for perhaps a career-changing move. That's what we want to back. We also want to back infrastructure—because infrastructure backs employment, backs jobs—such as Bardens Bridge. For those opposite—I can hear them yell out—Bardens Bridge has replaced a timber bridge.

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