Labor is trying to con regional Australia that it is actually investing in regional projects said Senator Joyce today.

“It has been revealed that the much trumpeted $1 billion Regional Development Australia Fund won't happen if Labor’s mining tax is not passed. This fund is nothing but a classic con job.*

“Labor plans to take almost $40 billion from the mining tax out of regional Australia in the next decade and this so-called ‘regional’ fund is not even guaranteed to go to regional areas.

“Yesterday I felt slightly touched by the regional development fund, today I feel totally ripped off.

“It is truly the case of you give me $40, I’ll buy you a $1 present and a couple of independent mates will walk out in front telling everybody what a great gift $1 is.

“Regional Australia gets diddly squat of Mr Crean’s regional fund unless they pass the mining tax. It’s a wonder we didn’t hear this at yesterday’s announcement.

"The Green-Labor-Independent government’s concern for regional Australia is a total and utter charade.

"It’s like the promise to not introduce a carbon tax. It’s like the “I’m more likely to play full forward for the Western Bulldogs than challenge Kevin Rudd". It’s like the independents will always represent the views of their electorate.

It is just a litany of statements with all the validity of the sideshow clairvoyant.

* The Department’s website states that the financial grants will be subject to “passage of the Mineral Resource Rent Tax” http://www.regional.gov.au/regional/programs/rdaf.aspx