Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment Bill 2026

Senator DEAN SMITH (Western Australia) (19:59): I'd like to begin by associating my remarks on the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment Bill 2026 with those of Senator Canavan, who talked about not just the important contribution of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund but the important stewardship of former prime minister Tony Abbott. If I remember correctly, it was in former prime minister Tony Abbott's election manifesto for the 2013 election that many of the ideas on the prominence that's been given to Northern Australia policy development were foreshadowed.

They were then, of course, implemented under his stewardship as Prime Minister. He was ably supported by the Hon. Andrew Robb, who I think was the first Minister for Northern Australia and very involved in much of that policy development work at the time.

Debate interrupted.