The Hon. JENNIFER GARDINER: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for Roads and Ports. Will the Minister update the House on the upgrade of the Pacific Highway?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: This is an important question. I am pleased to report that at the end of April work on the Ballina bypass was completed, and on Tuesday 1 May the new Teven Road interchange was opened to traffic. The Ballina bypass is a major infrastructure project which forms an integral—

The Hon. Lynda Voltz: Where is that?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: If the member listened she might learn. That is why she does not know anything: she never listens. The Ballina bypass is a major infrastructure project which forms an integral part of the Pacific Highway upgrade. I am particularly pleased that my colleague Don Page, the Minister for Local Government and member for Ballina, could be there to open the new Teven Road interchange. Minister Page has been a fantastic advocate for the area and I pay tribute to the dedication he has shown in supporting the local community in its campaign to get the Ballina bypass built.

The new Teven Road interchange provides direct access to the Pacific Highway north and southbound and to Ballina via River Street. The opening of the new Bruxner Highway connection at Pimlico will see traffic travel on a new bridge over Emigrant Creek south to meet the recently opened Teven Road interchange. Motorists can now enjoy a much safer connection to the Bruxner Highway. The upgrade enables local residents to drive direct between Lismore, Alstonville and Ballina without using the Pacific Highway.

The Ballina bypass was jointly funded by the New South Wales and Federal governments. The completion of this project is a perfect example of how teamwork between Federal and State governments can produce a fantastic result. This is why it beggars belief that the Federal Government has said it is cutting its funding contribution for the remaining works from 80:20 to 50:50. In real dollar terms this cuts its contribution by $2.3 billion. The political acolytes on the losers lounge of the Labor Party here will not stand up for New South Wales. They are the same people who did not stand up for workers in the workers compensation scheme. They play politics and offer their platitudes, pretending they are supporting the carbon tax, although I see their previous leader has stepped away and left them out there as a useless wing on the losers lounge.

I reiterate that the New South Wales Government supports the Prime Minister's goal of completing the highway upgrade by 2016. But what we do not support is the Australian Government's attempt to short-change the people of New South Wales by $2.3 billion. To make it even worse, it is a New South Welshman who is doing it—a New South Wales member of the Labor Party supported by this rabble over there and their Independent mates in Canberra. It is an unholy alliance.

The Hon. Greg Donnelly: You used to call him "Albo the Good".

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: I did call him Albo the Good when he was working to help New South Wales. Now that he is no longer working to help New South Wales he is an enemy of the State. He deserted those opposite and he has deserted us. This man is not— [Time expired.]