Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

It is an enormous responsibility to come to this parliament, the federal parliament of Australia, and it behoves us to act in a way that is at all times responsible, particularly economically. It is the decisions we make today that chart the course of Australia for our children and grandchildren.

We've seen, under Labor, some of the most reckless decision-making over the last four years—things that have turned the ship of Australia away from the prosperity we've enjoyed in past generations, that have turned it away from our children believing they would have the same or a better quality of life than we have had. This is the first time in generations that young people feel they will be worse off than previous generations. The last four years under the Labor government have seen those opportunities squandered. We've seen the war on fossil fuels. We've seen them turn their back on the energy sources that would mean Australians would continue to be the First World country we've enjoyed being.

I've been disappointed to see the Greens embrace this same kind of economic nihilism, and this urgency motion to expand public transport around Australia, whilst well meaning, is incredibly poorly thought through. Senator Waters proposed the expansion of public transport across the country but then went on to use examples in Queensland, where there is no public transport in the vast amount of the state. Sure, there's a bit of public transport in Gympie and on the Sunshine Coast, and Brisbane and the Gold Coast. But the rest of the state does not enjoy public transport. Once again, we're cementing the disadvantage. You come to Townsville, Senator Waters, and find out just how little public transport there is.

Anyway, it's my turn now, Senator Waters. I didn't interrupt your input.