I have observed this weeks shenanigans with some concern. If the current government was at all conscious of the state of regional infrastructure then the current spend presents the ideal opportunity to do something about it. Can you imagine for a moment the benefits of a decent regional rail network to replace the antiquated, neglected & abandoned system that currently exists? Plenty of jobs & lasting community benefit there.
What about the equally neglected & run-down regional road network? Same must apply there.
And how about the long-promised National Broadband service?
The previous government are nearly as much to blame, they had their chances to do all this.
I fear that what will eventuate will be the concentration of spending of this $42 billion within a 2 hour drive of capital cities, with the occasional project outside of this circle. The cynic in me suggests some of these will be most likely in the electorates of Messers Katter, Oakeshott & Windsor.
As for the Xenophon amendments, in bringing forward water buybacks within the Basin, you can be sure that Mr Xenophon has extracted some sort of commitment that they won't happen in his state of SA. Because of Victoria's statutory barriers to trade, they will be concentrated in NSW & QLD. That fits his agenda nicely, as most of the communities with a reliance on irrigation industries lie well beyond the urban zone. Not many votes way out there. Who cares if a few towns in some far-flung part of NSW or QLD, that few people have ever heard of, let alone been to, are exterminated by this political maneuvering? The value of a community in a marginal urban electorate is far greater than a safe seat of any political persuasion, in the regions.
I am not suggesting a conspiracy to achieve this, just an observation of the political realities. If you are outside the urban zones, your value as a member of society is diminished.

Yeh, spot on Jeff.
I mean, everyone supports the idea of a healthy environment. Noone I know wants to rape & pillage the countryside, which is why when some of these green groups say the things they do, it gets my back up.
But there is plenty of evidence that productivity can be maintained & even improved as well as achieving a truly healthy environment. It takes some changes in management by a few people, but it can be done. Whats more, it can be done cheaply !!
The way they are taking us now, will erode productivity & cost us profitability in the short & long terms.

Thanks Steve, I agree with what you say wholeheartedly.

My sympathy goes out to those who have lost so many cattle. Having lived & worked in that area I know they will bounce back & make the most of the benefit that this wet will bring in the coming seasons. They have a hell of a mess to clean up in the meantime though.

The sad truth is why the hell would they spend any money in the regions? Political reality, driven by Australia's urbanised population, demands that nearly all of this money will be spent within an hours drive of the coast. That is where the votes are.
It won't be until the cities begin to become short of food that their attention will move in our direction. Then they will demand that agriculture must get a 'Rescue Plan' in order to make their food cheaper & to reduce overseas imports of food.
Unfortunately, there are more votes in putting a plasma TV in every city home than there are in specifically ensuring the future of rural people & the food & fibre they produce through their labour.