David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister outline the government's plan for infrastructure development in New South Wales—in particular, the plan to duplicate the Pacific Highway, which runs through my electorate of Lyne?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Lyne for his question, because New South Wales receives almost $15 billion under the coalition's $50 billion infrastructure investment plan.

Mr Champion interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield is warned.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What a difference that is going to make to the road system in New South Wales, both in Sydney and in provincial centres, and of course there is $5.6 billion for the Pacific Highway. Finally, the dream of duplicating the Pacific Highway all the way from Sydney to Brisbane will be achieved.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler has been warned. One more utterance and he will leave.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is $5.6 billion on the table over six years to complete that task. Before the end of this year the $115 million upgrade of the Kundabung to Kempsey sections and the $683 million for the Oxley Highway to Kundabung section will be underway. They will be major projects that will employ many people on the way but will also make a real difference to the movement of traffic along the Pacific Highway. There is another 115 kilometres between Woolgoolga and Ballina still to be commenced, but the design work is advancing on that project. All of this has been possible because the coalition has restored the traditional 80-20 funding mix for the Pacific Highway, unlike Labor, who were demanding that the state pay 50 per cent of the cost—money that they did not have. Under Labor this project would have taken a decade to complete, or even more, because the state would not have been able to find—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. In order to be relevant the minister must indicate a single new dollar for a single new project.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The member will resume his seat. The Deputy Prime Minister has the call.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Five point six billion dollars—that is not $1; that is $5.6 billion! That is money that will deliver the job. It will deliver the construction of this important piece of highway—something that would never have happened if Labor had been returned to government. This is indeed an extraordinary project. It will cut at least 90 minutes off the travel time for heavy transport—even more for lighter vehicles. What it will also do is reduce the road toll on this road—the number of deaths on the Pacific Highway. The work already completed has basically halved the number of deaths on the highway. This is an important project and one that the coalition will complete.