House debates

Thursday, 12 November 2020

Matters of Public Importance

Morrison Government

3:53 pm

Photo of Angie BellAngie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd also like to congratulate the member for Chifley on his return to the front bench. Hopefully, when the inevitable leadership change arrives, he stays there, because he seems to be a sensible type, and I do like and respect the member for Chifley. Being sensible, however, on that side is not always welcome, and maybe the member for Hunter could give him a few pointers on that one. Unfortunately for the member, the pressure is on in his new role and he's been handed the same lines that weren't working for the current Leader of the Opposition because they're just not credible to anyone who is listening to them during the pandemic. The real failure of delivery in this place is the failure of the Labor Party to make a meaningful contribution to emissions reductions over the course of 14 years. The Labor Party just continue to make themselves irrelevant to everyday Australians, who expect better.

Let's look at the Morrison government's record of delivery that Labor deliberately ignore. They ignore the $70 billion in JobKeeper that has gone out the door—the Treasurer's words. It doesn't suit their narrative. Just in Moncrieff alone, JobKeeper is supporting a revised number of businesses. There are now 10,500 businesses on JobKeeper in Moncrieff.

Moncrieff light rail has enjoyed support from all levels of government. The federal government, the Morrison government, has contributed $95 million to stage 2 and is contributing $269 million to stage 3 that will go from Broadbeach down to Burleigh Heads and that is underway. We completed the last section of stage 2, and stage 3 is now underway. We have delivered that and we have kept our promise.

Of course governments should and do make announcements about plans. It keeps people informed and it invites scrutiny. The Morrison government, as we know, is trusted to deliver for the Australian people because we stand on our record. The Morrison government has committed $750 million to the Coomera Connector, which is an important piece of infrastructure that leads to Moncrieff. You don't have to take my word for it that it will be built, but you should ask the Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk if and when the Queensland government will proceed with that project. The Stronger Communities Program is another good example of Morrison government delivery in Moncrieff. No, they are not quite as visible as the large projects like light rail, but these community projects are very important to the good people of Moncrieff.

Some of the projects underway have been funded with over $626,000 from the Morrison government. I will just outline a couple: a $13,000 contribution to the upgrade of stage lighting at the Southport High theatre—that is important to that school; close to $6,000 for the Southport Bowls Club to upgrade lighting and power; $20,000 towards the upgrade of the patrol operation centre of the Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club—that is very important. Moncrieff is a safer place for families to drive now, thanks to over $2.75 million in recent Black Spot projects. I'll just list some of them: Alexander Drive, Armstrong Way, Highland Park, Ashmore Road, Carrara Street in Benowa, Ashmore Road and Racecourse Drive in Bundall, Gold Coast Highway, Waterways Drive in Main Beach, Hinkler Drive, Mortensen Road in Nerang, Southport-Burleigh Road, Southport Nerang Road, Sunshine Boulevard, Markeri Street in Mermaid Waters—that is pretty close to where I live—Surf Parade, Australia Avenue on Broadbeach, Surf Parade and Chelsea Avenue, Broadbeach. All of these projects I have just listed in my electorate are finished and completed—box ticked. Thanks to the work of the Deputy Prime Minister, Moncrieff is directly benefitting from over $1.2 billion in infrastructure projects, regional development and cities measures. Indeed there is a similar story in other portfolios—clear evidence of a strong record of effective and efficient delivery.

The good work continues with the JobMaker hiring credit that Treasury has advised will support 450,000 jobs. The member for Chifley may be a little too busy in his new portfolio working out how not to get caught in the crossfire between the member for Hindmarsh and the member for Hunter, so let me help him out a bit on what the Morrison government has been delivering for his electorate. There are around 76,400 taxpayers in Chifley. I know Chifley well. I used to work in that area of Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Rooty Hill—I know where you are. Those 76,400 taxpayers will receive up to $2,745, thanks to the Morrison government. That is about $200 million to the good people of Chifley. (Time expired)

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