Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I want to talk about the difference between fantasy and reality. On election night the Prime Minister promised that he would govern for all Australians. He promised that no-one would be left behind. The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has this on her website:

The Australian Government is committed to investing in Australia's regions to create jobs, build opportunity and unlock economic growth and productivity.

It's a fantasy! The reality is cuts to regional development programs.

We've seen this minister for infrastructure and transport cut the Roads of Strategic Importance program, cut the Building Better Regions Fund, cut the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and cut the Community Development Grants program. We see the difference between fantasy and reality. The fantasy is she says she's going to invest in regional communities and the reality is she's going to cut the programs. Actually, that's not entirely true. She hasn't just cut our programs; this minister is so good that she cut her own program! She created the Growing Regions program, and, after two years, cut that as well. What sort of minister can claim to represent regional areas when, after she has finished cutting coalition programs, she cuts her own program as well?

All I can say is: be careful, Australia. Be careful when you're deciphering the comments of the Prime Minister and the infrastructure minister to understand the difference between fantasy and reality. The fantasy is: when this Prime Minister says no-one will be left behind, regional Australians know he's making it up. (Time expired)

See this speech in context