The Hon. JOHN AJAKA: My question is directed to the Minister for Roads and Ports. Will the Minister for Roads and Ports update the House on the New South Wales Liberal-Nationals budget commitments to road infrastructure?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: I thank my Parliamentary Secretary for taking time out of what is a important day for him and for St George.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I call the Hon. Mick Veitch to order for the first time.

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: In his budget reply speech yesterday in the other place the Leader of the Opposition was at it again, attempting to whip up fear and loathing in the community. It was not the Hon. Steve Whan this time; it was Mr John Robertson. This time it was about the Government's budget. Fortunately, very few people outside the trade union movement are listening to Mr Robertson, and even they are starting to tune in to more radical people such as The Greens. The Greens have usurped Labor. We saw it yesterday when the union movement rejected the Labor Party and gravitated towards The Greens. The vast majority of people understand that this budget will deliver long-overdue investments in critical infrastructure—infrastructure that Labor failed to deliver for 16 years. Mr Robertson and his colleagues now suffer from a nasty ailment, that of relevance deprivation. It makes Opposition leaders say silly things; it covers them in a rash of desperation.

The Hon. Steve Whan: Point of order: I recognise that the protestors were marching down a road, but the Minister is taking a long time to refer to the Roads budget.

The Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox: Whan-dering.

The Hon. Steve Whan: Marching with purpose is what I would have said.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The member will not make debating points under the guise of a point of order.

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: Once again, it shows that those opposite just do not like good news. Here are a couple of key facts worth noting from the 2011-12 State budget—good medicine that might help Mr Robertson's growing illness. Fact number one: This year's investment in roads, building maintenance and safety is at a record $5.4 million. That equates to a $700 million increase from Labor's last budget—$700 million more, Mick. Tell the people of regional New South Wales about that. While motorists, train operators and business groups have come out welcoming this record spend, Mr Robertson has broken out in hives. Frankly, like Opposition members in this place, he is allergic to good news. Fact number two: This year's investment in regional and rural roads is a record $4.2 billion. Suck that up, Country Labor. That is 20 per cent more than Labor's spend on country roads last year. Fact number three—

The Hon. Jeremy Buckingham: Is that millions or billions?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: That is billions. It is little wonder that Country Labor is in its death throes. It had to recycle members onto the losers lounge to boost support because there was only one Country Labor member left—one with a little credibility compared with some of the others. Fact number three— [Time expired.]

The Hon. JOHN AJAKA: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister elucidate his answer?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: Fact number three: Even in the face of a $5.2 million budget black hole left by Labor, the New South Wales Liberals and The Nationals have committed an additional $468 million to 2013-14 to upgrade the Pacific Highway. Now, while Albo the Good would be delighted with such a prescription for New South Wales, I fear Mr Robertson would need some sugar to help the medicine go down. Fact number four: We have committed $100 million in this year's budget to upgrade the Princes Highway, an increase from Labor's $62 million allocation last year. Fact number five: The Government will also invest more than $888 million in roads in the Hunter region. This compares with Labor's $612 million allocation last year. Put simply, that is a 45 per cent funding increase for the Hunter.

I suspect that Mr Robertson broke out in a cold sweat when he heard this one. The level of Coalition funding is a timely reminder to the people of the Hunter about Labor's past neglect and mismanagement and the fact that they made the right decision in replacing the tired old hacks that were up there. I could continue with more good news but, for the sake of Mr Robertson's fragile health, I think it is time we let him rest and recuperate and get his maths in order, because yesterday in his reply he made a $100 million mistake. I suspect he was rattled when he was standing on the balcony of Parliament House copping the "boos" from the crowds walking by. They know that— [Time expired.]