Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry—New England, Riverina, New England and Maranoa. They systematically underinvested in bush communities in my electorate. The social and important infrastructure challenges we face today were paved at the time of the previous Liberal-National government.

If the opposition did its work, it would understand that our government, the Albanese government, is working hard to address the cost of living in regional and remote Australia. Across the country we have 106 remote stores who are receiving subsidised freight, meaning cheaper groceries and essential items for people out bush. We are driving jobs and economic development through a massive infrastructure boost not only in the Northern Territory but across the country. We are driving jobs by scrapping the inefficient and wasteful CDP and replacing it with a much-improved employment program, which will mean real jobs for people. We are investing in roads, making it easier to move freight around the country. We are progressively increasing the Roads to Recovery Program to $1 billion per year. We have invested a further billion dollars through the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.

In regional health, we are making it easier and cheaper for people to visit a GP or get the health care they deserve. We have rolled out 31 urgent care clinics in the regions. In my home town of Alice Springs, the urgent care clinic is going extremely well, and I acknowledge the Minister for Health for his support, lowering the strain on the Alice Springs Hospital and saving families a visit to the GP. And, if they need to visit a GP, we are also making sure clinics can bulk-bill. Over 2.5 million additional visits have been bulk-billed.

We are cutting costs across the board, and we are delivering on those tax cuts. We're providing 10,000 incentives for apprentices, which we need in the construction industry, meaning we can build more houses. We are committed to strong government for regional and remote Australia that delivers the support it needs.

The Nationals are all hat and no cowboy when it comes to delivering for regional Australia. If they want to get some dust on their RM Williams, they should come out bush with me. I will show them lower costs for essential items. I will show them roads that are getting sealed and urgent clinics in regional Australia. I can show them what investing in community really looks like. The Liberals and Nationals had a long time to address issues in regional Australia, and instead of going forwards we went backwards. Maybe that's why the member for New England is getting a bit tired of them. Well, Labor is here to fix up their mess. We are investing heavily in regional and remote communities, but I do urge them: come on a trip with me and I'll show you how good the bush is in Lingiari.

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