House debates Questions without Notice

Rockhampton: Roads

Thursday, 25 July 2019 House of Representatives

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Oxley, Australian Labor Party

2:13 pm

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. When will work on the Rockhampton Ring Road commence?

Michael McCormack

Michael McCormack Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals

As I said yesterday, work is phased in. When you have a $100 billion infrastructure rollout across this nation, work gets rolled out. When Labor makes election commitments in their own electorates, prior to an election, we don't have to meet those particular commitments, because Labor didn't win the election. News flash: Labor didn't win on 18 May; we did. But we are, indeed, rolling out $100 billion of infrastructure across the nation.

When it comes to the member who asked the question's electorate: on the Ipswich Motorway from Rocklea to Darra, we're spending $200 million; urban congestion funding for the Ipswich Motorway, $50 million; financial assistance grants, up to $50 million; the Major Project Business Case Fund, $25 million. But if the member—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

The question was very specific. It's about Rocky. When will it start?

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.

Mr Buchholz interjecting

The member for Wright! If he wants to ask a question, he'll have to get on the list, I presume. The Deputy Prime Minister has the call. He needs to be relevant to the question, and, as I said yesterday, that relates to the subject matter. I'm prepared to be tolerant, provided he keeps it to the location that the question has asked about.

Michael McCormack

Michael McCormack Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals

I hear the opposition leader say it's not local government. It's also state government. We have to work in conjunction with state governments. Maybe, if the Queensland Treasurer's house were somewhere near the road, they might be a little bit more forthright in actually approving these projects and letting us get on with building them.