PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Ms PAYNE (Canberra) (12:20): I move: That this House: (1) recognises that the Government is delivering the infrastructure Australia needs to support growing communities, improve road safety, strengthen productivity and build better-connected communities; (2) acknowledges that the 2026-27 budget continues the Government's long-term commitment to transport and community infrastructure that creates jobs, supports economic growth and improves the lives of Australians wherever they live, including within our territories; (3) commends the ongoing Commonwealth investment through the Infrastructure Investment Program to strengthen: (a) communities; (b) freight productivity; (c) regional connectivity; and (d) economic development across the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory; (4) notes that the Government is supporting the Northern Territory Government to deliver infrastructure that meets the territory's needs, including most recently: (a) progress on upgrades to the: (i) Santa Teresa Road, which is part of the $332 million Government investment in the Northern Territory Strategic Roads Package; and (ii) Central Arnhem Road; and (b) community infrastructure investments to deliver amenities and services in remote communities, while supporting local jobs and economic opportunities; (5) further notes that the Government is supporting the Australian Capital Territory Government to ensure Canberra's infrastructure keeps pace with the demands of a growing region, including: (a) a $50 million investment to deliver the staged duplication of Drake-Brockman Drive; and (b) a further $50 million towards upgrades for the Sydney to Canberra rail corridor; and (6) further commends the Government for continuing to invest in nationally significant and local community infrastructure projects that support territory communities, regional development and economic opportunity through the 2026-27 budget and the Infrastructure Investment Program.

The Albanese Labor government is delivering the infrastructure Australia needs to support growing communities, improve road safety, strengthen productivity and build better-connected communities, and nowhere is this more true than the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, which my colleagues the member for Lingiari and the member for Solomon will speak to shortly as well.

In the ACT, we continue to benefit from having three federal Labor MPs and Senator Gallagher working closely with the ACT government to advance the interests of all Canberrans. Canberra bashing is a real thing, and it has real impacts on our city. There was a time before this government was in power that representatives of our communities were not taken as seriously as they are now.

When we come into this place and talk about the needs of our community, I'm proud to say that the Albanese Labor government takes those concerns seriously, as they do with other communities all around this country. But it hasn't always been the case. Under the previous coalition governments, Canberra was seen as nothing more than a political punching bag and not a real community with the needs, challenges and opportunities that cities, towns and regions all around our country face.

I have been so proud that we have a prime minister who believes in the nation's capital and who has chosen to live here, as prime ministers should, at the centre of our government, the diplomatic corps and the Public Service. It is incredibly important and it shows a respect for our city and its purpose. Our city is the home to the Public Service but also to a thriving business community who really punch above their weight and make our city what it is: a wonderful place to visit or to live.

I'm really pleased that the sorts of issues about building our city are as important to our government as they are for other places around this country. In the last parliament, I was really pleased to chair an inquiry into fostering and promoting the significance of the nation's capital, where we heard from many engaged and deeply committed Canberrans about what future they wanted to see built for our city.

I'm really pleased that some of those recommendations have been taken up. First and foremost is the building of a new convention centre—one befitting of a nation's capital. This is something that people have advocated for and worked towards for decades, and it will be a game changer for our city.

While I don't want to knock our current convention centre, it's simply not fit for purpose for the kinds of events that a nation's capital would want to hold, particularly international events and things like that. They are currently turning away business because they simply don't have the space to run concurrent events. It's just not up to scratch.

I'm so pleased that our government has committed to building that new convention centre, working with the ACT government. As part of that, we have also committed to building a new Canberra aquatic centre in the heart of the city. The new convention centre will be where the current Civic pool is, which is also in need of some upgrade.

The government has committed $68.9 million to deliver the new Canberra aquatic centre, seeing the current Civic pool upgraded and rehomed in Commonwealth Park. Through the public consultations, it has been made incredibly clear that Canberrans care deeply about our local pool facilities, especially with summer coming up. In the most recent budget, the government announced $50 million to deliver a staged duplication of Drake-Brockman Drive and a further $50 million towards upgrades of the Sydney-Canberra rail corridor that will make the rail journey quicker and smoother.

This was recommended by my committee, in the National Capital and External Territories Joint Committee report. It's something that people have been advocating for for so long. It's as a result of the ACT government, the New South Wales Labor government and our government working together to ensure that we fix that rail corridor between Sydney and Canberra and make it a bit quicker so that it's a more competitive method of transport.

People love to get the train to Sydney. It's good for the environment; it's a good thing for people to do, and I'm really pleased that we are investing in that. We have also committed $50 million to plan for Canberra Light Rail Stage 2B be on a 50:50 basis with the ACT government.

The stage 2B extension will run from Commonwealth Avenue through the National Triangle, along the east of State Circle to Adelaide Avenue, and then on to Woden. Our federal Labor government is investing in Canberra, and I couldn't be prouder of the work that we're doing there, working alongside the ACT government to build the capital city of the future. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Fernando ): Is there a seconder for this motion?

Ms Scrymgour: I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.