Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I'm happy to refer to the Deputy Prime Minister in responding to this question about the many achievements that this government has been able to realise for rural and regional Australia. I simply make the point that the challenges that are occurring globally because of the world's response to climate change will have significant impacts on rural and regional Australia. But they also present significant opportunities, and the plans that the government are considering will ensure that we can deal with both the costs and the benefits. We understand there are impacts and that this is not a road where you will only find opportunities. You will also find difficult impacts on Australia, and the government understands that: the Liberal Party understands that and the National Party understands that, because that's where our constituents live.

Between the Liberal and National parties, the Liberal Party in particular, we represent more regional electorates in this parliament than any other party in this parliament. We are joined to the Nationals, and together we are overwhelmingly the representatives of regional Australia in this parliament. That means we understand the impacts on rural and regional Australia, and that's why our plans carefully consider those impacts. That's why our infrastructure plans, our skills plans, our manufacturing and industry plans ensure that we can have heavy industry in places like Gladstone and even down in the Shoalhaven, with the plants there. For all of these places we understand the importance of heavy industry, agriculture and the resources sector to rural and regional Australia, and the contribution those sectors make to Australia's future. That's why every single plan you get from a coalition government will be good for rural and regional Australia. But the Deputy Prime Minister may wish to add.

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