Claire Clutterham (Sturt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Let me begin by saying this: no-one in this place disputes that outcomes in regional Australian communities matter deeply. They do, and they should. It is something I care about personally. I hold a metro seat, like many people, but we are all Australians, and metro seat holders—just like the Albanese Labor government—care about regional Australia.

I also grew up in the Riverland, on the Murray River, and I understand firsthand both the opportunities and the challenges that come with living outside our capital cities. When I was a kid, catching a Greyhound bus down to Adelaide and stopping off for chips and a strawberry milkshake at the Blanchetown Roadhouse was an exciting adventure, because the city was big and it felt so far away.

I also know those challenges are being felt more acutely in the current climate. But where we disagree with this motion is its suggestion that the regions are being ignored. That is simply not the case. This government is responding to changing conditions and the real impact that they are having on regional Australians. The Regional Investment Framework continues to ensure investment works better for the regions, guided by local voices, grounded in evidence and coordinated across all levels of government.

Our regions are central to planning and building a stronger, more resilient future, and we see that clearly in the recent budget. In the member for Mayo's own electorate, this government has announced $45 million for upgrades to the South Eastern Freeway, a significant infrastructure investment that will improve safety for communities across the Adelaide Hills and beyond. The budget also provides an additional $20.6 million each year, ongoing and indexed, to support priority local road projects across regional South Australia. That funding will deliver vital upgrades to improve safety, strengthen freight routes and enhance connectivity for regional communities.

I've also long been a strong supporter of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which is not just a healthcare provider but a lifeline. Whether it's delivering emergency care, bridging vast distances or ensuring people in remote communities can access specialist services that those in the cities take for granted, the RFDS shows what real support for the regions looks like. The federal government partners with the RFDS through multi-year contracts, and the recent federal budget included a $25 billion boost to public hospitals, directly complementing regional and remote retrieval services. This is targeted practical investment.

Just as importantly, the government is delivering broad based reforms that benefit regional Australians, because when you strengthen the fundamentals, regional communities gain the most. That being said, this government's approach is not to divide Australians into 'regional' and 'metro' but to deliver universal policies that lift outcomes for all Australians—including those in the regions—while also making the targeted investments to meet regional needs.

Take tax cuts. They are permanent structural changes that put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Australians, including families, small businesses and workers in regional communities, where cost-of-living pressures can be even more acute. The newly announced $1,000 instant tax write-off and the $250 Working Australians Tax Offset apply equally to regional Australia.

Then take the universal outdoor mobile obligation. This is a landmark reform that will extend mobile coverage across Australia not just where it is commercially viable but where it is needed. For regional Australians that means safer travel, better connectivity and improved access to emergency services. Future investment in low-Earth-orbit satellite technology for direct-to-device connection will also improve this, facilitating mobile connectivity anywhere in this country. These are not niche programs. They are designed to deliver real and lasting benefits to regional Australia.

We should also consider how the government responds in times of crisis. During the recent fuel supply disruptions, it was regional communities that felt the impacts first and most severely. The government recognised this and established a fuel taskforce, working with states and territories to prioritise supply to the regions. Regional communities were not an afterthought; they were a priority. The reality is this: improving outcomes in regional Australia is achieved through investing in infrastructure where it matters, delivering cost-of-living relief and strengthening essential services. The government is doing that. Regional Australians don't need to be told they are being left behind; they need governments like the Albanese Labor government to deliver for them.

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