Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to reports that the government has frozen $2 billion worth of grants as a result of a $120 billion black hole in its budget and the NBN cost blow-out. Can the minister confirm that part of this freeze includes the $1 billion Regional Development Australia Fund, which it promised to the Independents in return for their support after the 2010 election? Can you confirm that you will deliver all promises to regional Australia in the time frame you promised the Independents?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I congratulate Senator Joyce on campaigning in his own portfolio area. The government is building on the $4.3 billion investment announced in the 2011-12 budget by continuing to invest in regional health initiatives, education, liveability, skills and infrastructure in the 2012-13 budget. The 2012-13 budget invested in regional Australia with projects including $3.7 billion for the national Living Longer. Living Better aged-care plan—including improving aged-care service delivery in regional, rural and remote areas, recognising special regional needs and including zero real interest loans and a viability supplement to assist providers in targeted areas; $1.5 billion for the Remote Jobs and Communities Program to provide a more integrated—

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Mr President, obviously on relevance, and maybe he has got the wrong briefing note or he is just making it up. The question is: are you going to deliver all promises to regional Australia in the time frame you promised the Independents? Don't worry about the palaver, just give us the answer.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is answering the question. The minister has 55 seconds remaining.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. As I was saying, $1.5 billion for the Remote Jobs and Communities Program to provide a more integrated and flexible approach to employment and participation services for people living in remote areas of Australia; a billion dollars over four years to start the first stage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, providing people with disabilities in up to four regions personalised care and support; $524 million to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system, which underpins our unique biosecurity status—

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once more I have a point of order on relevance, Mr President. He is reading out a form guide but he is not answering the question: is he going to deliver all the promises to regional Australia in the time frame they promised the Independents?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, Mr President, Senator Conroy is exactly responding to that question by detailing the delivery of the commitments made to regional Australia. He is providing the detail of those commitments, of the delivery of those commitments and of the record of huge investment in rural and regional Australia, for the first time in many years, across a range of portfolios. So I would suggest, Mr President, that Senator Conroy is exactly responding to the question asked, which was about commitments given to invest in regional Australia.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. As I was saying, $524 million to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system, which underpins our unique biosecurity status— (Time expired)

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my supplementary is also to the minister. I note Minister Crean's statement this morning that it is not a freeze but a stocktake. Can you please explain exactly what you mean by the word 'stocktake'? What is the purpose of the stocktake? Didn't you actually know what was in your own budget?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I know exactly what is in the budget and, as has already been pointed out, I am going through it point by point because Senator Joyce is too lazy to bother to read the budget papers. So $225 million to assist parents with the cost of child care including those in rural and remote areas of Australia who are undertaking work, study or training, to better enable them to take advantage of employment opportunities; $77 million over four years for a new grants program to help dentists relocate to regional, rural and remote areas; $34.9 million to meet increased demand of GPs wanting to move to and remain in rural and remote communities; $7 million to enable the not-for-profit organisation Community Based Employment Advice Services to better meet the demands of clients in regional areas with restricted access—(Time expired)

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have just heard the most peculiar definition of 'stocktake' ever given in the parliament.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a question we need, Senator Joyce.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I am getting to it. So, Minister, let us be honest: 'stocktake' is just code for delay.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a commentary, so if you have got a question—

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. Is 'stocktake' just code for delay so that you are not actually going to deliver on your promises to the Independents? Because you are not delivering on those promises, don't you think it is time that they deliver on their promise to withdraw support from you?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And the stocktake goes on: $2.9 million to continue the reform process that the Australian and Norfolk Island governments are undertaking to build a more sustainable future for the island. Then of course for rural and regional Australia there is the NBN—about which you should be ashamed for not supporting in this chamber and out in your electorates. Go and talk to some of your regional and rural constituents. But, as Mr Crean said this morning, we will honour our agreement.