Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, on 22 January 2019 Anthony Albanese put out a press release titled 'Rockhampton Ring Road a certainty under Labor'. The Rockhampton Ring Road is the biggest infrastructure project in regional Queensland and it is already out to tender. Yesterday the ABC reported that the $800 million earmarked by the coalition for the ring-road project has been put off for a few years. Local businesses have contacted me and the member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, furious about this broken promise by the Prime Minister. Mr Albanese's comment that it was a certainty had encouraged many local businesses to spend thousands of dollars on their tender applications. Minister, is the only certainty that Australians can bank on that this government will break its promises?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've seen some of the social media by Senator Canavan on this.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm glad you follow me, Senator Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, avidly. I particularly liked you in your high-vis vest in your backyard. I thought that was great. It's clearly a very dangerous backyard you've got! I should have put that on when we were doing the kids' trampoline. It's a very risky backyard there. Anyway, I make these points. First, the government is committing—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Bandt—I'm sorry; I beg your pardon; my bad. Obviously my glasses need renewing. My apologies; I thought you were someone from the other place. I'm sorry to have interrupted you, Minister. Please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Obviously the minister for infrastructure is being represented by—

No, that's fine. I'm answering the question. I'm just trying to be helpful, Senator Canavan.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Canavan, you've put your question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Obviously Senator Watt is more across this than I would be. I understand, in relation to that particular project, it is incorrect to assert that it is being cut. It is the case that those opposite, as was the habit of the Morrison government, made a lot of announcements without making sure that those announcements could actually be delivered. It is an extraordinary thing, isn't it, to have a government that actually wants to make sure that, when it announces projects, it is funding them in a way that can make sure—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, please resume your seat.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a point of order on relevance. The question is about a statement that the Prime Minister made. It is about the article about the government's agenda. But all I have heard from Senator Wong is blaming the previous government here.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There's to be no commentary, thank you, Senator Canavan. Please resume your seat.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She's insulting the businesses of Central Queensland.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please resume—

Senator Canavan, please resume your seat. I remind senators: if you are rising on a point of order, the point of order is to be short and sharp and is not to have commentary. Minister Wong is being relevant.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was trying to explain what was occurring in relation to the project in question. We have reviewed projects in the infrastructure program to better align investment with market capacity, consulting with the states and the territories through this process. This is what responsible governments do. I will be very clear: I understand that the $823 million for the Rockhampton Ring Road remains in the budget. It remains in the budget, but unlike the former government we're actually being upfront about project delivery time lines. That's the responsible thing to do.

Senator McKenzie, you can yell all you like, but an announcement is not delivery. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind you, Senator McKenzie, that calling out across the chamber is—

Senator McKenzie, it does not require commentary; I am drawing you to order. Senator Canavan, a first supplementary question?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This next question is on behalf of those businesses, so it might be useful if the senator did not yell at them from here in Canberra. As I mentioned, those people—those mum-and-dad businesses—have spent thousands of dollars on the word of the now Prime Minister that this was a certainty. What do you propose they do now, Minister Wong, given they haven't been able to rely on the words of the Prime Minister?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm asked about local businesses, and I understand that the local business organisation Capricorn Enterprise in fact warned you. It warned the former government there weren't enough construction tradies to fill the infrastructure pipeline. You ignored it. This is the problem with a government—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Canavan, I haven't called you; I am calling the chamber to order. When the minister is trying to answer the question, there needs to be silence.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam President, a point of order on relevance again. As I mentioned, this question was about the businesses in the local area and what they've spent. Again, the foreign minister is talking about the former government. That is clearly not relevant.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, you've called the point of order. The last time you stood and called a point of order—

Governm ent senators interjecting—

Order on my right! On the first point of order you called, I asked you for no commentary. And you've completely ignored me, and there was commentary again. I do believe that Minister Wong is being relevant. I will listen carefully.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan seems to be asserting that Capricorn Enterprise, the business chamber, is irrelevant to a question about business.

Maybe you should explain that to them, Senator Canavan. The reality is that the money remains in the budget for that project. There are over 700 regional budget commitments tonight, no matter the scare campaign from those opposite. The reality is, as with so much in the modern Liberal Party and modern National Party, they think that, when they announce something, they've delivered it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator McGrath!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You think that, when you've announced something, you've delivered it. The reality is: you couldn't deliver it, and you weren't actually interested in doing what you had to do to deliver it. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I have a senator on his feet waiting for silence so he can be called. Senator Canavan, a second supplementary question?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the Prime Minister has broken his promise to reduce power bills by $275 a year. He's broken his promise on methane emissions from cattle. And now he is breaking his promise to fund infrastructure. Why is the Prime Minister so gutless that he could not be upfront with the Australian people about his plans before they voted for him?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, I ask you to withdraw that comment.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What? How is that unparliamentary?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You made a slur against the Prime Minister. I asked—

The:

Senator Canavan, it's not a debating point.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I ask you to reflect on that ruling, Madam President, because I have heard much worse in this chamber. I did not reflect on the Prime Minister's—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, I've asked you to withdraw; I expect you to withdraw.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will withdraw and reword the question. Can I have that opportunity, and could I ask that you do reflect on that decision?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy to reflect.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for withdrawing.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It seems a little inconsistent. So have I got a full clock?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, resume your seat for a moment, please.

An honourable senator interjecting—

Order! I ask all senators in this place to be respectful. Senator Canavan, I will give you the opportunity to rephrase that question. I'm happy to reset the clock, but I would ask you, when I give my directions, to stop responding. You're not in a debate with me. Please continue.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has broken his promise to reduce power bills by $275 a year. He's broken his promise on methane emissions from cattle, and now he is breaking his promise to fund infrastructure. Why has the Prime Minister not had the courage to be upfront with the Australian people about his plans before they voted for him?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is a man of courage and a man of authenticity. Those opposite might not like that fact, but that's what he is. No amount of coming in here and asking such—really, Senator Canavan, if you want to give a speech, why don't you just give a speech? That's not even a question here in question time, is it? It's just a little bit of diatribe, trying to get a little bit of invective up in the chamber. It's not actually seeking any information, which is what question time should be.

I've made it clear that there are 700 regional budget commitments tonight that relate to the regions, which includes $9.6 billion of election commitments for infrastructure. The project to which Senator Canavan refers remains in the budget.