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 Labor government delivering for regional Australians, and how does this compare to other approaches?

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

I thank the member for Gilmore for her question. At the last election, the people of Gilmore elected her because they wanted cheaper medicines, cheaper child care, free TAFE, reduced student debt, better roads and tax cuts, and that's exactly what this side of the House is delivering. We're investing billions in remote, rural and regional Australia. We're investing in health, in education and in infrastructure, making a real difference for communities across the country.

Since coming to government, we have doubled the Roads to Recovery Program to $1 billion a year which is a significant increase to every local council across the country. We've substantially increased the Black Spot Program funding, now investing $150 million a year to fix dangerous roads and intersections. In 2024-25 alone, 102 projects in rural, regional and remote Australia shared in $64 million worth of funding under this program, and just last week I announced an investment of $3.8 million through our $200 million Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program to support Thora, Gleniffer, Dorrigo and Bellingen communities in regional New South Wales through the replacement of two timber bridges. The communities have been asking for these upgrades for a long period of time. The Mayor of Bellingen Shire Council said the, 'council greatly values the Australian government's continued commitment to regional communities.' I'm proud to be part of a government that is delivering more money for regional roads because our communities deserve them. More projects under round 4 of the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program will be announced soon.

We know how our Medicare urgent care clinics have been a game changer for Australia's healthcare system. There are now 126 urgent care clinics across the country, 40 of which are in regional, rural and remote Australia, and the new Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will open this week thanks to the advocacy of their local member. They are all getting rave reviews. Micah from Bega took her son to the new Bega Medicare Urgent Care Clinic recently. She said: 'It was lifechanging. It's a great service, especially when you're not sure when you need to go to the hospital emergency department.'

Speaking of reviews, I read with great interest the review of the election campaign of the Liberal Party. Much to my surprise, there was not one mention of the regions in that review's recommendations. The Liberal Party did identify that they have even more problems with the female vote, but they promptly rolled their first female leader who's from regional Australia.

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

Has the minister finished her answer?

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

No.

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

Okay. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister was asked about policy alternatives. How you can see that as a policy alternative is just ridiculous. I'd ask you to bring her back to the actual policies.

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

I'll hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister was asked, 'How does this compare to other approaches?' The approach she's referring to is exactly another approach that was taken by the opposition.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That should be, in practice, referring to policies, not a political review. You know that to be the case, and, if you look at Practice, it is the case.

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

Alright.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There have been decisions made on it.

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

The manager is entitled to raise his point of order, and he's doing his job. The minister is also entitled to do her job to answer the question that she was asked. If she's talking about reviews or policies, she needs to make it directly relevant, not simply about a political attack on another party. I'll 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

As I said, their approach to the regions was that they didn't have one. But you do you, guys. On this side of the House, we'll keep delivering real infrastructure, real investment in education and real investment in health.