Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (14:58): First, this government is the greatest supporter of regional Australia this nation has seen in a very long time. We have put more money into regional health and regional infrastructure than you ever managed to get out of the Liberal Party. The National Party really have to be known as the doormats, because they never managed to get this sort of investment into regional Australia when they were in government. They never managed to get the great Peter Costello to put this much money into regional Australia. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, come to the question. Senator WONG: I am asked to guarantee, rule in or rule out. Firstly, I will guarantee that we will ensure that we properly cost and fund our policies. We will ensure that our budget adds up. We do not have $70 billion of cuts to services including in regional Australia, unlike those opposite. We will go through the proper budget process and no-one in this chamber would expect any minister to come in and do a rule-in rule-out when it comes to the budget. I can tell you this: we do not have $70 billion worth of services to cut, which is what the opposition has. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Wong, just wait a minute. There is a discussion taking place between Senator Conroy and someone else on the other side. I am finding it difficult to hear your answer and I am entitled to hear your answer. Senator Conroy interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, you should remain completely orderly so I can hear the answer of Senator Wong. Senator WONG: Thank you, Mr President. For example, in terms of the budget, we committed $3.2 billion to health infrastructure projects with 37 per cent going to regional areas. Just recently, I understand that the Regional Priorities Round of the Education Investment Fund of $500 million has been opened. I would have thought that the National Party would have welcomed that. But no, you do not want to welcome it, do you, even though it is going to the people you represent because you cannot bear the fact that it is a Labor government which has delivered these initiatives for regional Australia.