STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr KATTER (Kennedy) (13:30): I once had a dream of our country so grand Where rivers outback irrigated the land With dams and canals in that wasteland out there And big inland cities with work everywhere … … … Then I woke from my dreaming to reality That the wealth of our nation goes over the sea Stan Costa—Slim Dusty described him as the greatest wordsmith in the English language, and I would agree with that.

Charters Towers was once the biggest city in Queensland. It had wealth, people and opportunity, and it awarded those that lived there and worked there. It was that way because the visionaries, the great risk takers, saw opportunity where others saw wilderness.

The town was built by prospectors, miners, blokes seeking work, blokes out to make a quid for themselves and their families. They wouldn't wait for government grants or environmental impact statements. They backed themselves and got the job done.

We can build Australia. We can advance Australia fair through irrigation. The bridging scheme in Western Australia, the Bradfield Scheme in Queensland, the Clarence River diversion in New South Wales, opening up the Galilee coalfields and fast-tracking CopperString will bring billions and billions of dollars of wealth into the Australian community.

The Bridle Track Tunnel—some $6,000 million is prospective—would open up the Chillagoe mineral province, which is described as the most diverse mineral province on earth. Now, why are all these things on hold with— (Time expired)