Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I commend the member for Kennedy for the work that he has done for the people of North Queensland and as a voice for so many people in so many regional areas. Although at times we might not agree, I absolutely respect the effort he puts into that. He raised the issue of Hells Gate Dam. We are expecting the business case for that early in the next year. What I can say is that the best chance the member for Kennedy has of getting that dam built is if a coalition government is in place. That would be the best opportunity and the best chance, because we too—and I definitely—have the vision of taking water west to fulfil the national vision that we would open up new agricultural precincts in the black soils of western Queensland, which I know the member for Kennedy knows so well.

The member for Kennedy is also a great advocate for North Queensland. It's the coalition government that is moving the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority from Canberra to North Queensland. That is the sort of decentralisation package that stands behind our belief of getting people away from this great city into other parts of our nation as well. We also note his work on the Hughenden irrigation scheme, which he has believed in for so long. I know that the member for Kennedy must get some solace and satisfaction from the fact that, after battling for these projects for so long, the prospect and the probability and the commitment to get these projects done—to get projects for North Queensland done—is going to be under a coalition government. He knows those who reside on the other side have nothing more than a plan for the inner suburbs of the cities that are their only hope of ever being supported.

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