Mr TRUSS (Wide Bay—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) (14:22): I thank the member for Lindsay for her question. What is obvious from members opposite is that they are trying to put their heads in the sand and discredit the report, because they have no confidence in the future of this country. They are trying to talk down the achievements of our country and our potential for the future. This report has an enormous amount of information in it about what our country will be like. Mr Champion interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Member for Wakefield will leave standing order under 94(a). It is Thursday; he always enjoys an early mark. And take a bus! The member for W akefield then left the chamber. Mr TRUSS: The Intergenerational report makes it clear that as a nation we will have a larger population and a bigger economy, and therefore we will need to invest substantially in providing the infrastructure to support a bigger nation—a nation that is contributing more internationally and providing a better lifestyle for the people of the country. Indeed, the report identifies infrastructure investment as absolutely critical to our economic future. That is why this government's $50 billion investment in infrastructure is so timely and so important for the future. It is important to this generation because it is creating jobs. It is creating economic activity now. But it builds the basic lifelines that will be so essential to underpin our economy in 40 years time. What we are doing now is therefore an investment in the future. It helps build our nation now, but it is also an investment in the future. I guess there is no area where this is more important than in Western Sydney, where a large proportion of our nation's growth will actually occur. The forecasts are that there will be substantial population growth in Western Sydney. That is an area that is going to need significant infrastructure investment, and our $3-plus billion package for Western Sydney will help provide some of that vital infrastructure to support the growth in that region. Not only will we be building new roads and other important infrastructure of that nature—such as the new airport—this will be an area that will be a real part of the life and breadth of the new Sydney. That is work that we are undertaking now. Eight thousand people will be engaged on the roadworks project that we have committed to for that region. This is an investment in Western Sydney. It is an investment in providing infrastructure for today. It creates jobs and economic growth today, but it is also an investment in the future of that region, to ensure that it will have a lifestyle befitting its population and will contribute to the nation as a part of our intergenerational growth. Mr Ciobo: I rise on a point of order. The member for Charlton made repeated disparaging comments about older Australians, and he should withdraw them. The SPEAKER: Most certainly! Withdraw them. Mr Conroy: Madam Speaker, I said nothing about older Australians, but I withdraw to assist the House. The SPEAKER: It would be rather unwise if you did!