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Enhancing infrastructure in regional Australia needs to be prioritised says Darren Chester

Darren Chester highlights the lack of infrastructure achievements by the current government, humorously likening them to a "Big Banana" and criticising their tendency to claim credit for projects funded by the previous government.

By news@gippsland - 11th August 2023 - Back to News

As you know, Mr Speaker, I'm an optimistic kind of bloke. I've noticed that these matters of public importance are often quite negative. So today I thought I'd try and start on a more positive note. Given that this MPI is all about infrastructure and delivery, I thought I'd do the right thing by the government. I thought I'd do the right thing by the Albanese government and list their infrastructure achievements, reading them for the benefit of the parliament, so we'd all be better informed.

Regional neglect evident in missing programs. Minister claims credit for projects, touts local road program while lacking substantial backing

Minister's empty portfolio

So we searched. We checked the ministerial press releases. We read through social media. I didn't check under the despatch box, but maybe I should have! But here is the definitive list - zero, zilch, nothing, duck eggs. We couldn't find a single project that the Minister - who hasn't stayed here for the MPI - or this government has announced, designed, funded and delivered in the past 15 months.

I note that my good mate the Member for Cowper is right behind me today. His electorate is famous for the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour. As a child, I visited the Big Banana. I'm worried that the infrastructure minister also visited the Big Banana as a child but took that as some sort of ministerial job description for a future career, because she has become the Big Banana of the Albanese cabinet; building absolutely nothing anywhere near anything.

It used to be the infrastructure portfolio; now it has become the banana portfolio - build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything. There are some dangerous places in the world today - hostile areas with particularly inhospitable environments. Among the top 10 of the most dangerous places in the world are: Death Road, Snake Island, the Gates of Hell, the Skeleton Coast and Death Valley - they all sound very dangerous, but I'm quite sad to report this list isn't quite complete. It's out of date.

Claiming unearned credit

There's another place in Australia today which needs to be added to the list. There is one other place you just don't want to find yourself loitering for too long. You never want to stand between a Labor minister and a ribbon-cutting event on a project they had nothing to do with. Never stand between a Labor Minister and a ribbon-cutting event that they had absolutely nothing to do with. You see them lining up for the project openings.

Be very careful, colleagues, in your own electorates - if you actually get invited - be very careful if you're there, you will be killed in the stampede for the photo opportunity. They're claiming credit for projects that were fully funded by the previous government, claiming credit for projects that commenced construction during the term of the previous government, claiming credit for projects fully funded by the coalition.

They're not only claiming credit but also boldly posting with gushing praise on their social media accounts. Then they come in here, whinging that the previous government did nothing.

Regional progress absent

If you travel anywhere in regional Australia today and you see a bulldozer, a grader or a crane working on a new infrastructure project, you can be certain of one thing: it wasn't funded by this Labor government. On this side of the chamber, we are proud of our achievements.

We had record infrastructure investment which changed and actually saved lives. We built roads, we built railway lines and we built airports. We funded local councils to build community infrastructure. After 12 months, we are waiting for the ministers in the Albanese government to build anything other than their own egos.

Coalition's impacts listed

If you listen to those opposite, it's like a variation on that famous Monty Python sketch: what have the Romans ever done for us? 'What has the coalition done for us?'. Well, apart from:

• Fully duplicating the Pacific Highway from Sydney to Brisbane
• Massive upgrades to the Bruce Highway right through Queensland
• Starting construction on the Western Sydney Airport
• Light rail and inland rail, an extra lane to the Monash Freeway
• Beef Roads Program
• Roads of Strategic Importance
• Second road crossing in Toowoomba
• Increased funding for local and regional roads
• Introduced the Local Roads

And the community infrastructure program, which those opposite have now abolished. Mr Wallace said, "Apart from all of that - "

Minister's empty accomplishments

Apart from all of that, what has the Coalition done for us? Apart from the Monty Python attack lines from this minister, it all falls flat on one critical point: the minister, who can't be bothered coming in here for a matter of public importance on her own portfolio, hasn't built anything. She really is a banana minister - builds absolutely nothing anywhere near anything.

Those of us who were here for the Treasurer's speech on budget night might have noticed one thing: he didn't mention the word 'infrastructure' once. He couldn't even bring himself to mention the word 'roads' once. But that hasn't stopped this minister from hitting the ground complaining and reviewing. She hasn't funded a single project of her own, so she's out there taking credit for the work of the previous government.

This would be laughable if it wasn't so bad and so sad for regional Australians. The infrastructure and transport portfolio is so important for the future of rural and regional Australia. All this minister has been able to do in 15 months is announce a review into the infrastructure investment pipeline. She has been the minister for 15 months, and on her 90-day review - we're up to 110 days now, I think - we are still waiting for the outcomes of this razor-gang review.

Lost regional support

This lack of support for regional Australians is reflected very obviously in the programs that have gone missing under this government. The minister is out there opening projects, taking credit, putting out press releases and saying how wonderful the local roads community infrastructure program is - she loved it so much, she abolished it.

The Roads of Strategic Importance program - it's gone. The regional airports infrastructure program - that's gone. And the Treasurer stood here this week and admitted the Stronger Communities program is goneski as well. On this side of the House we actually trust regional people to make good decisions. That's why we believed in them to set local priorities and fund local projects.

We believed in the future of regional communities and we invested heavily in them. Those opposite have just kept on cutting programs. It's because they don't want to support our regional people.

Labor's evident neglect

In closing, this lack of support for regional people has never been more obvious than in Victoria today. The most obvious example of that today is the Victorian Labor Party and its illogical, treacherous and bloody minded decision to ban the native hardwood timber industry in that state.

• What did we hear from those opposite, the once great champions of the working class?
• What we hear from them when Dan Andrews showed no respect to timber workers and cut the guts out of the industry?
• What did we hear from those opposite?

Not a single word of complaint, not a whisper, not a murmur, not even a raised eyebrow - because that's the new Labor way. Old Labor could be trusted to fight for blue-collar jobs. The only thing that new Labor fights for is Greens preferences. The only thing they're interested in is Green's preferences. Those opposite know how true this is because, every time I've raised this issue in the parliament, they never stand up and take a point of order or raise a single word in defence of Australian timber workers.

Political decision's impact

Those opposed are simply too gutless to stand up to the Victorian Labor Party and say a single critical word, even when they know that this decision was based entirely on political science. It had nothing to do with environmental science, and it is devastating for regional communities not only in my electorate but right across regional Victoria.

Their own colleagues are sneaking around the back trying to get motions up at their own federal conference to ban the entire industry across Australia. They're shaking their heads now and saying it's not true. Well, stand up and fight for the blue-collar workers right across regional Australia.

Green influence criticised

Let me give the Labor Party a little tip. If the Greens are cheering your decision, it's probably a very bad decision. If the light Greens - sorry, the Teals - are cheering you on, think again. The Teals are just the Greens with trust funds. It's obscene to watch members from some of the most privileged communities in the nation demanding timber workers right across Australia lose their jobs.

The Teals and the Greens enjoy all the spoils of a life created from the hard work of regional Australians, but that doesn't stop them from trying to campaign to take their jobs away. This government has had 15 months in office, and all they've done is cut regional grants programs, whinge about the previous government and turn their backs on hardworking families in rural and regional Australia.

Pictures from Darren Chester Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• RACV survey highlights Gippsland highways among Victoria’s most concerning roads, prompting renewed calls for improved safety
  RACV’s 2026 survey ranks Gippsland highways among Victoria’s most concerning roads, citing potholes, poor surfaces and safety issues. Nationals MP Danny O’Brien has outlined a $5 billion regional roads commitment.
• South Gippsland Council highlights Seniors Festival 2026, road safety projects, community initiatives and other updates across shire
  South Gippsland Shire Council highlights Seniors Festival events, $2.849 million in road safety funding, a new Nyora public toilet, resilience initiatives, community programs and feedback opportunities across the region.
• Ted Summerton Reserve upgrade marks major milestone for Moe’s sporting community and regional events
  Ted Summerton Reserve in Moe is undergoing major upgrades, including improved sporting facilities, accessibility, lighting and training infrastructure, boosting community participation, regional events and tourism across Latrobe City.
• Mobile Service Centres bringing government support across South Gippsland communities an August and September
  Australian government Mobile Service Centres will visit 12 South Gippsland communities, offering Medicare, Centrelink, myGov and Veterans’ Affairs assistance, with accessible facilities and Wi-Fi.
• Moe’s first women’s cricket team makes history as $11M Ted Summerton Reserve upgrade boosts regional sport and accessibility
  Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve has received an $11 million upgrade, delivering improved sporting facilities, accessibility and female-friendly change rooms ahead of the town’s first women’s cricket match. The project supported 370 jobs.
• Gippsland commuters stranded after V/Line services end early, prompting calls for reliable regional rail services
  Melina Bath criticised Gippsland rail disruptions after AFL fans were stranded following an early service cutoff, calling for reliable regional transport and promising 1,110 additional seats on Traralgon and Bairnsdale services.
• East Gippsland Mayor Jodie Ashworth thanks community members, reflects on achievements and highlights upcoming projects in final annual mayoral column
  East Gippsland Mayor Jodie Ashworth thanks residents for their contributions, highlights upcoming projects and community celebrations, and encourages feedback on the Bairnsdale 2050 Strategy before concluding her annual mayoral column.
• Gippsland Water reports progress on major projects, renewable energy and community engagement commitments
  Gippsland Water’s 2026 Community Report highlights progress on major infrastructure projects, achieving 100 per cent renewable energy, emergency support initiatives and increased community engagement through its Sounding Board.
• Labor government boosts Latrobe Valley businesses with funding to strengthen supply chains, expand markets and support future growth
  The Carroll Labor government is funding six Latrobe Valley businesses to upgrade equipment, software and skills, strengthen supply chains and expand markets.
• Labor government invests $750,000 to support young Gippslanders into education, training and employment opportunities
  The Victorian Labor government is investing $750,000 in Ladder Step Up Latrobe Valley, supporting 120 young people facing barriers to education, training and employment through 2028.
• Walhalla Museum launches virtual reality experience bringing gold mining history to life for visitors through new Regional Tourism upgrade project
  Walhalla Museum has launched a $50,000-funded virtual reality experience showcasing its gold mining history, with multilingual and accessible visitor facilities supported through the Victorian government's Tiny Towns Fund.
• Victorian government funding to help Drouin West Timber and Truss expand production, create jobs and boost housing supply
  Victorian government funding will help Drouin West Timber and Truss expand production with robotics, create six jobs, boost housing construction capacity and strengthen Gippsland's local building supply chain.
• Latrobe Mayor slams government's community safety funding decision, demands urgent support despite region's higher crime and social harm rates
  Latrobe Mayor Sharon Gibson has criticised the Victorian government for again excluding Latrobe from Community Connectors funding, despite higher crime, family violence and drug-related harm rates than funded metropolitan municipalities.
• The Nationals blame Labor government after 84 more jobs cut at Maryvale paper mill in Latrobe Valley
  Nationals MP Martin Cameron blamed the Victorian Labor government after Opal announced 84 job cuts at Maryvale, arguing forestry policy and timber supply failures caused ongoing workforce losses.
• Bass Coast Shire Council urges state government to act on urgent on Western Port Woodlands protection controls before caretaker period
  Bass Coast Shire Council has urged the Victorian Government to introduce interim protections for Western Port Woodlands, citing significant biodiversity values and seeking action before caretaker provisions begin on November 3.
• Wellington Shire Council backs West Sale Airport for proposed Gippsland Police Academy training campus
  Wellington Shire Council will advocate for a Gippsland Police Academy at West Sale Airport, citing existing infrastructure, the former TAFE campus, expansion capacity and potential regional jobs, investment and training opportunities.