Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, you're too cruel! I have to acknowledge that the member for Flynn is retiring. He has had a marvellous career here—over a decade—after being a great success in business. One of the most understated people in this building is the member for Flynn. He has written more cheques and done more business than many other people here combined. That's the sort of acumen we want. With his fuel businesses, hotel businesses—I know he's got a great love of the racehorse business. He has stood behind his people. He has stood behind the 845 people of Biggenden, as he just mentioned, with the $5.7 million they got for the Biggenden water treatment plant. If the people of Biggenden had to pay for it per person—man, woman and child—that would be over $6,700 each that they would have to find. Of course they can't find that money, and that's why we have a coalition government—Nationals and Liberals—to make sure the people of Biggenden are looked after.

It's not just there. It could be the Ivy Anderson Home at Springsure. As you know, people want to be born in an area, live in an area, work in an area and spend the rest of their days in that area. In Springsure, with 5,100 people, it was $4 million that the Nationals and Liberals, the coalition government, provided so that people have those nine extra units.

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