PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Ms SCRYMGOUR (Lingiari) (12:31): Since coming to office, the Albanese government has invested heavily in infrastructure for the Northern Territory. For much of the previous government, we were left with significant infrastructure shortfalls. Our roads, our bridges, our remote communities and our urban centres were neglected.

This left a huge amount of work to be done—work we have set about doing over the last four years. The Albanese government has committed to and is delivering on substantial funding and investment in the Northern Territory. These upgrades are absolutely critical and long overdue.

The sealing of the Ltyentye Apurte, or Santa Teresa, road was promised for many decades and was yet to be delivered. The Albanese government is getting it done. Sealing this road will make an enormous difference for this community out in the south-east of Alice Springs, enhance access to services and help grow the local economy.

We have also funded critical local upgrades in Central Australia through the Central Australia Plan. This has seen local playground upgrades in Atitjere and Engawala, new change rooms in Pmara Jutunta—or Ti Tree—and Papunya, and a basketball court in Wilora. We've also seen major infrastructure upgrades for vital health services in Mutitjulu, Mparntwe Alice Springs and Santa Teresa.

These refurbished clinics will see people in our remote communities have greater access to the care they deserve. In the Barkly, we are funding major infrastructure projects through the Barkly Regional Deal. Recently I went to visit the boarding school under construction in Tennant Creek with the mayor of Barkly.

This project will have a huge impact on regional education and help strengthen the future of the region. The Barkly Regional Council is also busy delivering on the youth space in Ali Curung, which will lead to safer and stronger outcomes for our young people. For tourists in the Barkly, the Australian government has funded major upgrades to the visitor centre on Battery Hill.

I went up there with the CEO of Tourism Central Australia, and you can feel the excitement about how this might help drive the local tourism industry. In one of our most remote Barkly communities, Alpurrurulam, I recently attended the opening of a shaded community space. In one of the hottest parts of the country, having a shady place together is more than just an infrastructure project; it is about liveability.

In the Top End, we have recently announced the second phase of the Tiwi Roads package, which will see critical roads upgraded on Melville Island. Tiwis always talk to me about the state of their roads, so I know how much work we have to do here—but it is an important piece of work that we have started. Our government has also funded major upgrades to the Central Arnhem Highway.

By 2027, a further 14 kilometres will have been sealed. People might think that's not much, but, when you live in the bush and in the regions, that makes a real difference—making life for people along that road a bit easier. This is part of a broader $355 million package, of which the Australian government is committing $280 million.

There are still key projects in the pipeline. The Mereenie Loop and the regional logistics hub for the Northern Territory need to be moving quickly. While the Commonwealth is turning up to the table, it's time for the Northern Territory government to move beyond its spin machine and do the work delivering the infrastructure needs in the bush.

The Northern Territory government has endlessly dragged its feet and not delivered any of the infrastructure projects we have funded them to deliver on time. We have a Northern Territory government that has an allergic reaction to anything beyond the Berrimah line. I've always said that, if we do not invest in the bush, the bush comes into town.

Our government understands this and has put our money where our mouth is. There is more to be done in doing the hard yards of redressing the decades of infrastructure neglect that we have seen in the Northern Territory, but we have a federal government that is finally investing in the necessary infrastructure that we need to keep our bush communities viable into the future.