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

and even in the member for Barton's electorate—we are making sure local councils get the funding they need. Our recovery will not be Canberra led. It will certainly not be Brisbane led. It will be led through local engagement, local stakeholders, local people and local excavators on local sites. That's what we are doing through local government areas.

Ms Collins interjecting—

Yes, you're right, Member for Franklin: through local governments. We are also, as part of our budget plan, a blueprint for the future, supporting essential social supports with increased mental health services—that's pretty important in regional areas and in all electorates—and also through the JobKeeper plan. Damien Connors, owner-operator of The Dispensary, a restaurant in downtown Mackay, went from 70 staff to 20 staff overnight. But he has put half of those staff back on, through JobKeeper. That's local delivery. That's a good local small business we are supporting.

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