Regional Australia

Scrymgour highlighted government investments in the Northern Territory, including a subsidy for 30 essential food items in remote communities and $842 million for the Northern Territory Regional Infrastructure Initiative. Scrymgour disputed claims that the Territory had been left behind, citing increased GST payments and infrastructure funding for roads. Scrymgour emphasised that these measures were improving living standards for families in remote areas.

Conaghan argued that the government had slashed funding for veterans centres and infrastructure projects in National Party electorates, such as a $5 million allocation for a veterans centre and road upgrades in Port Macquarie. Conaghan claimed that applications for housing and sewerage projects were rejected despite local needs. Conaghan asserted that the government prioritised Labor seats over regional communities and urged voters to support the Nationals to restore funding.

Mitchell criticised the previous government for cutting trade training centres and road funding, including mobile black spot towers in bushfire-prone areas. Mitchell highlighted the government's investment in school buildings and the announcement of $7 million for a northern railway upgrade in Victoria. Mitchell argued that the opposition had a record of neglecting regional education, health, and infrastructure, while the Labor government was delivering tangible improvements.

Birrell focused on the reduction of water allocations for agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin, arguing it threatened food production and exports. Birrell criticised the replacement of the Building Better Regions Fund with programs he deemed insufficient and described the government's tax cuts as inadequate, amounting to only 70 cents per day. Birrell also challenged the government's promise of $275 in power bill relief, calling it a broken pledge.

Coker detailed infrastructure projects in her electorate, including a $190 million upgrade to Barwon Heads Road and a $40 million indoor pool for the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre. Coker highlighted investments in local roads, mobile black spot programs, and a planned Medicare urgent care clinic in Torquay. Coker also mentioned support for apprenticeships and HECS debt relief to encourage young people to live and work in regional areas.

Gillespie argued that the government's policies, including water buybacks and nature repair schemes, were detrimental to agriculture and food security. Gillespie criticised the renewable energy strategy as expensive and unreliable, noting that coal still provided the majority of electricity. Gillespie also claimed that Medicare urgent care clinics were not delivering new doctors or facilities in regional areas and that the government was abandoning rural road programs.

Repacholi highlighted infrastructure projects in the Hunter region, including the Singleton and Muswellbrook bypasses and upgrades to Mandalong Road. Repacholi noted investments in healthcare, such as Medicare urgent care and mental health clinics, and $7.9 billion in bulk billing support. Repacholi also mentioned free TAFE places, apprenticeship incentives, and NBN upgrades, arguing that the government was delivering real outcomes unlike the previous administration.