House debates

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Statements by Members

M1 Pacific Motorway, Morrison Government: COVID-19

1:51 pm

Photo of Meryl SwansonMeryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

So you're back from outer space—at least, that was the inquiry—and I look to see you there with that sad look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock. I should have made you leave your key, member for New England, if I'd known that you'd be back to bother me. I say, 'Go on, now, go'—I will survive, but I need the M1 done, member for New England. I need the M1 done for the people of my community. The New South Wales government has said that this government—now the Morrison-Joyce government—hasn't delivered enough vaccines and hasn't delivered quarantine. I've lost faith now in the member for Wagga Wagga; he's not delivering the M1 upgrade. So I am saying: deliver this. Deliver vaccines and deliver quarantine, but deliver the M1 upgrade in my electorate. It is the last chokepoint between Sydney and Brisbane—not that you can get out of Sydney at the moment, thanks to this government. Not enough people have been jabbed. We've heard so much gab from this Prime Minister. He is the master of spin and marketing, but he couldn't build a quarantine system to save himself. Now, everyone in my electorate and in Sydney have been impacted by this. All of the small businesses across Australia have been terribly impacted by this. There's only one person to blame, and that's the Prime Minister, now aided and abetted by the new Deputy Prime Minister.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I say to the member for Paterson that she needs to address her remarks from her allotted seat.

Ms Swanson interjecting

Yes, yes.

Photo of Meryl SwansonMeryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

Is that the case for everybody, Mr Speaker?

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Frontbenchers can do that. I've made it very clear. I'm not going to waste the time of members. You've got an allotted seat, and it's very clear. I'm not going to have any argument on the matter.