Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Resources in Northern Australia. How has the Albanese Labor government building a future made in Australia to create new jobs and boost regional economies? How does this compare to other approaches?

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Leichhardt for his question. He knows that a strong north means a strong Australia. The Albanese Labor government is committed to developing northern Australia, because the Labor Party is the only party in this House that truly represents the interests of northern Australians and, indeed, the interests of all regional communities right around the country. Twenty-four members of this government, 24 members behind me here today, directly represent regional and remote communities around the country. That's many more than the 14 Nationals that we have in this chamber today. I might, to inform the House, take this opportunity to remind everyone that only one member of the Nationals today spoke in favour of the NAIF legislation before the parliament, and that is the former leader of the Nationals—well, one of the three former leaders of the Nationals in this House today.

The conflict in the Middle East has shown why it's important to build a future made in Australia, to support local industries, to strengthen our national resilience and our supply chains. From day one, the Albanese Labor government has been bolstering Australia's sovereign capability so that the nation can weather these international disruptions. One of the best examples is this government's support for the Perdaman urea project in Karratha through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. Urea is the N, the nitrogen, in the famous fertiliser made of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This project is due to start production next year and, in the meantime, as the Minister for Climate Change and Energy and the    Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has explained, Australia is well supplied for urea.

Very importantly, the Perdaman project will ensure our farmers have a secure supply of fertiliser to strengthen Australia's food security and the food security of the region. Then there are the jobs—2,000 jobs in construction for the Perdaman project and 200 ongoing jobs. The NAIF has provided about $475 million to this project—to Perdaman itself, $220 million; to the Pilbara Ports Authority, $160 million; and to the Water Corporation as well.

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

The member for Durack is warned!

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is the largest project of its kind in the country and the largest manufacturing investment in Australia's history.

I'm asked about other alternatives, and I'm asked about the issues that may arise. The answer is that the threats to regional Australia are those opposite. As I mentioned before, only one member of the Nationals spoke on the NAIF bill. Another former leader of the National Party—again, there are three of them here—was the member for New England. He urged the new Leader of the Nationals, Senator Canavan, to push out the member for Capricornia so he could take up his rightful place as the Deputy Prime Minister in this chamber. Have you ever seen such entitlement from a bunch of agrarian socialists? Well, here they all are—three of the former leaders are sitting here. We'll get on with the job. (Time expired)