Ali France (Dickson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How will the Albanese Labor government's record investments in infrastructure support communities across the country? Why is this investment needed?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Dickson very much for that question and particularly for her support of infrastructure investment and her longstanding advocacy for upgrades to the Dohles Rocks Road in Queensland, a project that is now underway, thanks to this government.

This government is making a record investment in infrastructure across our cities and our regions—a pipeline of projects across the next 10 years, with a record $125 billion of investment. That record investment stretches right across the country, throughout our regions and throughout our cities, our towns and our suburbs—projects that enhance the productivity of our industries, improve safety for our road users, connect us with our loved ones and save us time when we're travelling to and from work.

In Queensland, we are, of course, delivering an unprecedented investment into the Bruce Highway, including our historic $7.2 billion safety package, all of which is in regional Queensland. We're delivering the Rockhampton Ring Road that was dramatically underfunded by the former coalition government and stage 1 of Sunshine Coast rail, to get it to Caloundra. We are also delivering in Queensland the Olympics infrastructure that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

In New South Wales, Western Sydney airport is nearly complete. We're delivering critical road infrastructure in Western Sydney: Fifteenth Avenue, and Mamre Road and Elizabeth Drive. These were long neglected by those opposite. We're delivering the new Richmond Bridge, the Muswellbrook Bypass and, of course, Coulsons Creek Road in New England.

In Victoria, Sunshine Station, Melbourne Airport Rail link, North East Link, Western Freeway upgrades and, of course, the Princes Freeway as well continues to receive investment. Down in Tassie, we've delivered and opened the Bridgewater Bridge, we're investing in the Mornington Roundabout and the Lyell Highway. In South Australia, we're delivering the Torrens to Darlington project, Whyalla Airport opened just recently and the Mount Barker to Verdun interchange upgrades—and in Western Australia, the METRONET, Brooking Channel Bridge, Bunbury Outer Ring Road and more.

In the Northern Territory, we're improving the Tanami Outback Way, investing in Middle Arm and also the Stuart Highway between Katherine and Darwin, and here, in the ACT—the light rail, the Molonglo River Bridge and Belconnen.

We have also doubled the amount of money that is going to every single council across this country—doubled that money for local roads in our regions as well. Every single council now under a Labor government gets double the amount of Roads to Recovery money, something those opposite never even touched. We've had to do that because of the decades of neglect of those opposite, who never invested in regional Australia, only pork barrelled, that's what they're upset about, because those days are over.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! There's far too much noise. The minister for infrastructure can definitely cease her answer. Order!