House debates Questions without Notice
Urban Public Transport Projects
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
2:49 pm
) ( ): My question is again addressed to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Does the assistant minister believe urban passenger rail projects are nationally significant?
Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
I thank the member for Grayndler for the question, and we hope today that the member for Grayndler will support our Infrastructure Australia bills which are in the parliament. They will strengthen the independence of that body to ensure that a stronger outcome for infrastructure is achieved by the infrastructure government led by the infrastructure Prime Minister. Urban rail projects are important, and we believe the state—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
You have had your go, Albo.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The minister will simply refer to people by their correct titles.
Opposition members interjecting—
Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
Yes, endorsement from you is okay, Tania, I do not mind that. They are all very fired up over there, though, aren't they. There are three days left, guys, three days left.
Opposition members interjecting—
Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
Urban rail projects are important projects, and we believe that state governments should invest in them.
Opposition members interjecting—
Rumpole, calm down! They are very substantial projects.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The minister will refer to people by their proper titles.
Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
They are substantial projects, and the state government should invest in them.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
I wish to raise a point of order on relevance, Madam Speaker. It was a pretty easy question to answer. We have not had an answer yet; we have just had a bit of chitchat across the chamber. Can the assistant minister be asked to actually answer the question.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
You are straying off your point of order. I will ask the minister if he has completed his answer. He has completed his answer.