Mr MARTIN FERGUSON(5.27 p.m.) —I rise to speak about the all-important issue of regional Australia, and in doing so to place some facts on the record going to the failure of the government to actively support regional Australia, not only in the most recent budget but also in the budget of last August.

The Prime Minister (Mr Howard), in the lead-up to the election, said that he was going to govern for all Australians. I will tell you what: there is one section of Australia that has lost, and lost dramatically, as a result of this government's decisions in its first two budgets. I would remind the chamber that soon after being elected, the Howard government said that there was no constitutional role for the government to actually serve and assist regional Australia. I must say that to me there is one issue of major importance to regional Australia at the moment. That goes to the questions of jobs and job security. For regional Australia, it has been a wasted 15 months of government; regional Australia has lost. It has lost because of a failure of this government to give support for initiatives aimed at attracting industry and investment. It has lost because this government has really walked away from its responsibility to give ongoing support, for example, to area consultative committees and regional economic development organisations.

The facts speak for themselves. The Prime Minister, in the lead-up to the recent budget, went all around Australia in the media suggesting that he was going to get relevant. That was the headline in the Australian in the week before the recent budget. The Prime Minister, after 12 months, thought it was necessary that he had to thump his chest and tell regional Australia that he was going to get relevant.

I will tell you why he had to tell regional Australia that he was going to get relevant: there was one reason and one reason alone. He basically failed regional Australia on the question of jobs. I would like to refer to this government's record with respect to jobs in regional Australia after the first 12 months. It is interesting to note that outside of the capital cities, after the first 12 months of this government, 77 per cent of rural and regional Australia have seen no dent in the unemployment queue.

Let us go to a couple of states, because facts speak loudly. Outside of the Melbourne metropolitan area, unemployment went from 8.5 per cent in March 1996 to 10.3 per cent in March 1997. Outside of the Sydney metropolitan area, unemployment went from 9.8 per cent in March 1996 to 10.6 per cent in March 1997. I know the Minister for Veterans' Affairs does not like these facts.

Outside of the Brisbane metropolitan area, unemployment grew from 10.3 per cent to 11.5 per cent in the first 12 months of this government. Outside of the Perth metropolitan area, unemployment grew from 7.5 per cent to eight per cent. Finally, outside of the Adelaide metropolitan area, unemployment grew from 7.3 per cent to 7.8 per cent. Yet this government has the hide to come in here today and suggest that it is a government that governs for all of Australia. It has the hide to come here today and suggest that it cares about unemployment in regional Australia. Regional Australia has lost because of a lack of attention and support for regional Australia. Regional Australia requires a government that is prepared to get involved, roll up its sleeves and offer a helping hand to try to reduce unemployment in regional Australia.

The real problem is that it is getting worse. I take the chamber to the most recent long-term regional unemployment figures and I will deal, by way of example, with the seats of Richmond, Page, Cowper and Lyne. In March 1996, unemployment was 11.8 per cent. Guess what it is this week in four coalition seats: it is 14.5 per cent. This government suggests that it cares about unemployment in regional Australia. I would hate to see what the government is doing for those seats if it did not come in here and claim that it was delivering on the issue of jobs. In that area, there are now 3,000 more unemployed people than there were in March 1996.

But that is not the real black spot. There are worse areas of regional unemployment as a result of the first 15 months of this government and the fact that in its budget strategy it has walked away from its responsibilities. It has taken jobs and services out of regional Australia. It has closed Commonwealth Employment Service offices. It has closed taxation offices. It has closed Family Law Court opportunities. (Time expired)