Mr Rudd and the Labor Government have their so-called “stimulus package” but only after using disturbing pressure-salesman tactics to force the Senate to make a quick decision. The Australian people are now looking at a price tag that will ultimately lead to a $200 billion debt. This means the money for everything else has run dry. There is no money for paid maternity leave, no money for infrastructure, no money for anything really, apart from a few trinkets and a cash handout to some. 

The Labor Government will have to borrow to fund its so-called stimulus package while Regional Australia gets none of the infrastructure that it needs to enhance the ability of people to live and work and create prosperity for themselves and their towns. All over Australia mothers will miss out on paid maternity leave. It was a great idea and we could have afforded it up until Friday. Now we just don’t have the money. If we keep borrowing at this rate we will end up printing money and it’s all over, Good night Irene. It is all over.

Part of my week involves getting home to St George, whether from Canberra when Parliament is sitting, or from other regions. On Friday night my staff and I had to sit it out in Brisbane because bad weather prevented our small plane from flying. We got there on Saturday with pilot Mark Davies from Great Western Aviation after a few bumpy moments. With the collapse of MacAir there is no regular air service to St George and a number of regional Queensland towns. Even when it was operating, flights would not turn up, they would be late or sometimes there would be trouble with the plane. 

A reliable air service is vital if you want to be part of a town in the 21st century. It will be a sad day if we let another service slip through our fingers. Qantas, with its proud beginnings in Queensland, should step in and fill the void left by MacAir with a regular flight route incorporating the centres of St George, Charleville, Roma and Toowoomba.