Ms JO HAYLEN (Summer Hill) (15:03): My question is directed to the Deputy Premier. Given that his Government's funding for the Regional Seniors Transport Card only provides for uptake by 40 per cent of eligible seniors, will the Deputy Premier and Treasury spend the next three years hoping that the remaining 60 per cent of seniors in regional New South Wales do not collect their $250?
Mr JOHN BARILARO (Monaro—Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade, and Deputy Premier) (15:03): This is another question that I find difficult.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Maitland to order for the first time.
Mr JOHN BARILARO: The member for Summer Hill has the luxury, when she steps out of her home, of being able probably to jump on a bus or a train. She probably takes that for granted but that is subsidised to the tune of $1 billion by the New South Wales taxpayers. But those who live in regional or rural New South Wales do not have the luxury of the option of public transport.
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Maitland to order for the second time. I call the member for Coogee to order for the first time.
Mr JOHN BARILARO: In the 2019 election the New South Wales Nationals, along with our Liberal Coalition partners, announced a $250 seniors travel card to support our seniors who need to travel. Of course, that comes at an expense. We want seniors to be able to connect with family and to be able to make medical appointments. We know that the tyranny of distance and isolation plays an important part. Our commitment of a $250 travel card for seniors in regional and rural New South Wales was ridiculed by those opposite. It was dismissed by those opposite. It was not matched by those opposite, yet the member for Summer Hill has the hide to come into this House today and try to play politics with the seniors of regional and rural New South Wales.
Ms Jo Haylen: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Rockdale to order for the third time. I remind the member for Rockdale that he was called to order three times yesterday. This is his final warning.
Ms Jo Haylen: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. The question was very specific about the funding black hole in relation to the regional travel card.
The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier is being generally relevant.
Mr JOHN BARILARO: There is no budget black hole or funding black hole. The program starts in January 2020—a few months away. That was the commitment. The Government has not even started the program yet but those opposite are talking about a black hole.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Summer Hill to order for the first time.
Mr JOHN BARILARO: I can assure the member. She has seen the fight that I can put up—the fire in my belly. I can assure those opposite—
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Summer Hill to order for the second time. I call the member for Maitland to order for the third time.
Mr JOHN BARILARO: I can assure those opposite that The Nationals are delivering for regional and rural New South Wales. Those opposite ridiculed this announcement. They did not support the announcement, which means they do not support seniors in regional and rural New South Wales staying connected with their families or making their appointments. It took a unique solution to address a difficult issue that we are facing in regional and rural New South Wales. Why? Because members of The Nationals and members of the Liberal Party live, work and play in our communities in regional and rural New South Wales. The question that I have today is: Why did this question come from the member for Summer Hill rather than the shadow transport Minister? The member for Summer Hill has the luxury of public transport each and every day, yet she wants to deprive the seniors of regional and rural New South Wales of that opportunity.
The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Summer Hill to order for the third time.
Mr Jihad Dib: Point of order: It relates to Standing Order 129.
The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Deputy Premier will continue. The member for Lakemba will resume his seat. I call the member for Lakemba to order for the first time.
Mr JOHN BARILARO: Isn't the member for Summer Hill the shadow Minister with responsibility for seniors? My question is: Why wouldn't the question come from the shadow Minister for the regions or the shadow Minister for transport?
The SPEAKER: I am not going to take a point of order from the member for Campbelltown if he just walks to the table and expects me to recognise him. Members should stand in their places and seek the call to take a point of order.
Mr JOHN BARILARO: The shadow Minister for bike riding has come into this House to deprive the seniors of regional and rural New South Wales. The Nationals were proud to announce such a policy. The Nationals are delivering on this policy, one repudiated by those opposite.