Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

The Liberal-National government is committed to growing our regions and creating jobs, because when the regions thrive so does Australia. Through Roads of Strategic Importance, $1.5 billion was earmarked for key corridors across northern Australia to improve road reliability and connectivity across the supply chains for key agricultural and mining regions and to better connect communities. This investment will support major freight movements and better connect businesses to markets and export facilities. It will underpin the expansion of key local industries by building capacity and improving access and safety on these key roads. The initiative supports sustainable employment and skills development by providing ongoing opportunities and would provide certainty for businesses operating right across the north. Priorities funded through the northern Australia Roads of Strategic Importance will build on the important upgrades already progressing under the $600 million Northern Australia Roads Program and the $100 million Northern Australia Beef Roads Program, in a similar vein to the Northern Australia roads programs— (Time expired)