Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting regional communities to rebuild following a natural disaster, and how does this approach compare to the previous government?

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for the question and acknowledge the fantastic work she did during disaster response but also recovery, so much of which she doesn't spruik because our communities don't need it spruiked.

We know natural disasters have changed the lives of many Australians. Communities have been impacted across the country by floods, by fires and by cyclones and adverse weather events. Those communities really don't need to be used as political pawns, and we have seen time and time again those opposite do exactly that. Unbelievably, the New South Wales Auditor-General has now found that the New South Wales government has followed in the Morrison government's footsteps: colour coded spreadsheets which dudded local communities—a decision by all cabinet members of the New South Wales Liberal and Nationals government.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume her seat, and I'll hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the actions of the New South Wales government are not within the minister's responsibilities, and she ought to be directed back to the question.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order I'll hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the point of order: the minister is responding to how federal money was used. It is about how federal money was used and the question specifically asked for how the approach of this government compares to that of the previous government.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't uphold the point of order. I was dealing with a matter with the member for Hume at the time, so I didn't hear exactly what the minister was saying and full—

The member for Barker is warned. Do not speak when I'm ruling on a point of order. I don't know how many times I have to say it. I ask the minister to make sure she is relevant to the question. I'll be listening carefully to what she says. I give her the call.

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know the Morrison government showed absolute arrogance and disregard for communities that suffered catastrophic events. During a natural disaster, the thing communities need to know is that the government has their back.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume her seat. The member for Groom will withdraw that statement immediately.

Garth Hamilton (Groom, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give the call to the minister.

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We on this side of the House have communities' back because we are delivering transparency and integrity when it comes to funding. We won't waste regional dollars on inner-city swimming pools. I don't know where those opposite—those regional champions—were when our regional dollars went to the North Sydney pool. Where was the outrage?

We on this side of the House are helping our regions to recover, to rebuild and to grow. We've committed $1 billion in regional funding programs, which will have clear application criteria and transparent assessment processes. We've increased jobs with our $1.9 billion Powering the Regions Fund. We've prioritised access to Commonwealth supported university places for regional Australians. We're delivering 180,000 fee-free TAFE places in 2023 alone and we're wiping the HELP debt of nurse practitioners and GPs who practise in our rural and remote communities. We're investing $1 billion over five years for disaster risk reduction and resilience. We're delivering $656 million in our better connectivity plan for the regions. We've introduced our $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, dealing with the housing crisis in the regions left by those opposite. We'll establish the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund because the lesson learnt from the pandemic is that we need to build more things here. Do you know what? That will strengthen our regional communities. Perhaps you should get on board and vote for it. The Albanese government will continue to clean up the mess from those opposite, will implement funding and will deliver it to those who need it when they need it.