Mr LATHAM (2:30 PM) —My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Is the Acting Prime Minister aware of concerns expressed at my community forum at Bundaberg in Queensland that, with an average taxable income of just $33,000 per annum, 92 per cent of workers in the seat of Hinkler will miss out on a tax cut? Why has the government forgotten about rural and regional Australia, with 92 per cent of workers in the seats of Gippsland and Gwydir missing out on a tax cut, 94 per cent missing out in the seat of Richmond and 95 per cent missing out in the seats of Page and Cowper?

Mr ANDERSON (Minister for Transport and Regional Services) —I have no doubt that at the same community forum he showed the leadership necessary to point out that the very great bulk of those people he claims have no benefits have children and will do very well. Did he point that out? No doubt he also pointed out that we have provided for some very generous co-contribution arrangements for lower income earners who are contributing to their own super. But he also pointed out, no doubt in the same breath, that he was going to stop it, that he did not support it, that he wanted to take it away from them.

The fact is that the budget, far from overlooking regional Australians, does them proud. It makes a very real difference because a large number of them are in a situation where they particularly need better opportunities for their children. I do not think it is any secret that a lot of country people have families, perhaps more than the national average. They even tend to have more children and they are in more necessitous circumstances, as you point out. Nothing could benefit them more than being in a situation where, overwhelmingly, they are $600 a child better off per family. Add to that a whole range of other measures designed to promote businesses in rural Australia.

You said it was in Bundaberg. That is an interesting place for you to mention. What have we just done for the most important industry up there, the sugar industry? It is something that the member for Melbourne said we should not touch. We have looked after the sugar industry. We have secured a future for them. Did you mention that? Did you mention the reforms for the wine industry that are very widely welcomed? Did you mention, since you are keen to talk about environmental issues, the money for piping and capping, the bore scheme, right across Australia? It is a very good budget for regional Australia, and anyone suggesting that regional Australians do not get enormous benefit out of the tax changes is simply not being fair dinkum.

The SPEAKER —Before I recognise the member for Cook, could I point out to the Acting Prime Minister that, while I did not interrupt him, his references to `you' did in fact implicate the Speaker in a way that he had not intended.