Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Paterson can create all sorts of excuses as to why they did not undertake the project in 11½ years. He can try as hard and as much as he likes, but the fact is this: in 11½ years they did nothing. That is an uncontestable fact. But I do not want this to be a blue about who takes the credit. I just want the thing opened, as do Hunter residents. I do need to make this point. The first thing we did in Senate estimates after the 2007 election was to make a few inquiries about that $780 million the member for Paterson was just talking about. I remember this very vividly too. John Howard, the then Prime Minister, flew into Williamtown on his VIP—possibly weeks, but I think it was days, before the election. The member for Paterson will remember it well—

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