Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I wanted to start on a controversial basis and actually commend the member for Mackellar. He's doing his job. He should be standing up and speaking on behalf of his community, particularly in that part of Sydney, about the need for greater infrastructure investment. In a lot of communities across the country, there are a lot of representatives who think that there should be more infrastructure investment, particularly in crowded cities, to get people moving more. But the reality is, in this day and age, governments—particularly at the federal level—have not realised that if there was any time in which to invest more into infrastructure, this is the time. In terms of the cost and the opportunity to make a real difference, that time is right now.

The member for Mackellar, in doing so, is highlighting two things. The first is the inability of his own side to actually deal with the pressure points that are in his area and the inability to get that money flowing there. You would think the money could be there and it could be put in this time. But it's not happening. That's why he is bringing this resolution. The second thing is—I offer a ray of hope for the member for Mackellar—if you look at the way in which this government makes decisions on infrastructure, he won't have to wait too long. Based on what The Australian wrote on 23 November, when the government made its sudden announcement that it was going to be releasing all this cash for infrastructure, even The Australian acknowledged 'Roads cash splash a win for coalition seats'. The member for Mackellar doesn't have to wait too long. I'm sure if he waits in line, it will happen! It's clearly not being done on the basis of need; it is absolutely being done on the basis of political need.

In New South Wales, only $24 million was new money in the infrastructure spend that was announced by the government back at the tail end of last month. Only $24 million was new, and approximately $550 million had been brought forward. When I cast an eye over all the seats that got it: Page, coalition; Richmond, congratulations, that's a Labor seat; Calare, coalition; Parkes, coalition; Riverina, coalition—

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