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

I'm glad to be able to speak on our government's delivery in regional Australia. As someone who lives in one of the most remote parts of the country, I know exactly how important it is that our regional communities get the same opportunities and services as Australians living in our big cities. Under the last government, regional development was all about announcements, never about delivery. The coalition, which claim to represent the bush, failed, time after time, to bring results when they were in government.

But I'm glad to say that our government has been delivering, particularly for those in remote Australia, where employment markers are thin. We are delivering 6,000 jobs—1,700 remote jobs have already been rolled out, and 4,000 more jobs are on the way. This $299 million investment is having a real impact, especially in my electorate. Remote jobs with good wages and conditions are so much more than just jobs. They bring security, confidence and stability for people who are, in some cases, working for the first time. This is exactly what addressing regional inequity looks like—making sure that anyone, no matter where they live, is able to access stable employment.

Our government hasn't just been focusing on jobs. Anyone who lives in the regions knows that road infrastructure is not an optional extra; it is an essential of everyday life. We have doubled Roads to Recovery funding. This is a game changer for our regional roads, with 85 per cent of the $4.4 billion going to regional areas. There are so many areas in my electorate that were cut off for many weeks and months at a time. People living there do not need to be told just how important good roads are. They feel it every day.

With recent fuel issues, we know that our regions are being hit the hardest. We've halved the fuel excise and reduced the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero for three months to make sure that people who rely on our roads are given support from the Commonwealth.

In my electorate, it's small businesses that keep our rural and remote areas moving, whether they're remote stores and roadhouses or hospitality businesses, which bring jobs and opportunities out bush. The new instant asset write-off and the broader reforms to regulatory burdens will save time and money for small businesses across our regional communities.

It is the regions that face the brunt of food security issues, especially in my electorate, which includes more than 70 remote communities. Fresh, healthy food is often too hard to find or too expensive to buy. Small storage facilities and massive distances make food security a big challenge. Our food security strategy will boost the resilience of our food system, which is so important for health and life expectancy outcomes in remote communities.

When it comes to regional health, it hasn't been easy to clean up the mess, but we are now making big strides. The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of bulk-billing practices of any state or territory. Two years ago, it was one of the lowest. I hope that those opposite take note of what it looks like to deliver in regional health.

The Albanese Labor government knows that the cost of living is the No. 1 issue absolutely everywhere, and that includes in regional Australia. Our tax cuts are being rolled out, and the new Working Australians Tax Offset will save every working person another $250 each year. This is just one part of our cost-of-living relief agenda, which the Liberals have opposed every step of the way.

Regional inequity is something that this government takes very seriously. I know that, on this side of the House, we have a government that makes sure that regional Australians get their fair share. After the coalition took our regions for granted and neglected their concerns for decades, it's no wonder people are turning away from them in droves. Those opposite can continue to carry on about who they say they represent, but, when you look at the record, you can see exactly who is building the future for our regions.

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