Mr NEHL —My question is addressed to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Would the minister inform the House of the most recent developments on the Pacific Highway and how this massive infrastructure project is benefiting the communities and industry of northern New South Wales?

Mr ANDERSON (Deputy Prime Minister) —I thank the honourable member for Cowper for his question. I note in passing that he is known to many as `the member for the Pacific Highway'. I do not think anyone has done more in the time that I have been here to promote a cause than the member for Cowper has, particularly following a tragic accident some 10 years ago on a stretch of road to the north of his electorate. He was in here on his feet, day after day, week after week, promoting this extremely worthwhile project. The latest development in this is that, on Sunday next, the $130 million Bulahdelah-Coolongolook deviation opens. That is in the seat of the member for Lyne.

Opposition members —Say that again!

Mr ANDERSON —I have been challenged to say it again. I can tell you that it is quite a handful. Coolongolook—that is how you say it.

Mr Slipper interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —I warn the member for Fisher.

Mr Horne —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order because it is not in the electorate of the member for Lyne at all. It is in Paterson.

Mr SPEAKER —I warn the member for Paterson. That is not a valid point of order. The minister was asked a question about the Pacific Highway, and I ask him to respond.

Mr ANDERSON —This is a very significant development indeed. It is actually the largest project within the $3.2 billion program of upgrading the Pacific Highway. That is being jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It is in fact the largest government sponsored civil engineering project since the Snowy Mountains scheme.

This section of the road that is now about to be opened—the Bulahdelah-Coolongolook deviation—recorded 355 crashes in the decade or so between 1988 and the middle of this decade, resulting in a tragic 32 deaths and 85 serious injuries. There is no doubt that this new section of highway will make a very real difference on a wide number of fronts. It will help in the simple reduction of fatalities. It will help in the overall objectives of reducing fatalities on the Sydney-Brisbane run by 80 per cent, it is estimated, by the year 2000 and cut an hour off the travelling time between these two great cities. There are, of course, benefits too to the economies of the regions involved all the way along the highway, and the linkages for the transport industry are greatly improved as well.

So since that announcement was made by the now Treasurer at Tweed Heads just prior to the 1996 election, you have seen the government getting on with a major project that it committed itself to. That in turn is reflective of us delivering on the improving of regional infrastructure in a very substantial way in this country.