QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:21): I thank the member for Bullwinkel for her question. Of course, the member for Bullwinkel was a member of Mundaring council in her local electorate. Importantly, I don't think she'll be rerunning in the next local government election, because one job is enough for the member for Bullwinkel.

Tonight, I will have the pleasure of addressing the Australian Local Government Association. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! Order!

Members on my left are just interjecting nonstop. I will have to take action if that kind of level of noise continues. It's completely disrespectful.

The House will come to order. The Prime Minister is in continuation. Mr ALBANESE: At the ALGA conference I'll be able to talk about the respect that we have for local government.

Led by Minister McBain, Commonwealth investment in local government is not just growing; it is at a record level. Every dollar invested in local government helps councils deliver the services and the infrastructure that Australians rely on every day. Through last month's budget, our government is providing $3.6 billion.

Mr Chaffey interjecting— Ms Catherine King interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The minister for infrastructure and the member for Parkes are both now warned. You're simply having that conversation while the Prime Minister is speaking.

If you wish to do that, please take it outside. The Prime Minister is in continuation. No more interjections.

Mr ALBANESE: We're providing $3.6 billion in untied financial assistance grants—real money for real priorities. Last Friday, we paid 80 per cent of those financial assistance grants ahead of schedule. Mr Chaffey interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister will pause.

I just warned the member for Parkes. Mr Chaffey interjecting — The SPEAKER: Thank you, Member for Parkes. You will leave under 94(a).

The member for Parkes then left the chamber. The SPEAKER: If people are warned during an answer, obviously action will be taken and so it should be. Mr ALBANESE: We're fast-tracking last-mile infrastructure funding for housing as part of our $47 billion Homes for Australia plan and $2 billion for the Housing Support Program.

We have doubled funding for the Roads to Recovery Program, a vital program, to $4.4 billion. We've opened new opportunities for infrastructure funding, including the $500 million Active Transport Fund, the $200 million Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, and the $750 million for the Growing Regions Program and the Thriving Suburbs Program. In further recognition, we're continuing to engage with local government directly, and I know that the minister has met with over 50 council representatives just this week.

I welcome every delegate who's made the journey to the national capital. I know how deeply you care about your communities. When we work together, we achieve so much more for the people we so proudly represent and serve.

I was very proud to be the local government minister in a former government. There's nowhere more important you can engage with local communities directly than through local government.