Senator JOHNSTON (Western Australia—Minister for Defence) (14:22): I thank the senator for his question and for his longstanding interest and commitment to the state of Western Australia. The infrastructure issues in Western Australia will soon be very clear to this chamber—that is, the coalition is committed to delivering world-class infrastructure to Western Australia without a mining tax. Senator Sterle: Funded by the previous Labor government. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator JOHNSTON: I hear some interjections across the chamber. The PRESIDENT: Order! Interjections are disorderly. You should ignore the interjections and address your comments to the chair. Senator JOHNSTON: Senator Pratt, of course, adores and loves the mining tax—a senator from Western Australia. Senator Lines is enamoured with the mining tax. Senator Sterle: Don't leave me out of it! There should be more— Senator JOHNSTON: Senator Sterle is enamoured with the mining tax and the carbon tax. Labor continually claim that projects, including the— Senator Cormann: Mr President, on a point of order: I just want to make sure that Hansard has recorded that Senator Sterle said there should be more mining tax, not less. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no point of order. On my left and my right, Senator Johnston is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator JOHNSTON: The Labor Party, in government, continually claimed that the Gateway project, a billion dollar project; the Northern Highway project, $307 million, Muchea to Wubin, stage 2; the North West Coastal Highway, $150 million; and the Swan Valley Bypass, $480 million, would be fully funded. Of course, they tied all of those programs to the mining tax. What a poisoned chalice for the people of Western Australia—a tax which, in fact, raised no money. Mr President, a coalition government will deliver the Perth Airport Gateway project for the people of Hasluck and greater Perth. It will also deliver the Greater Northern Highway, stage 2; the North West Coastal Highway; the Swan Valley Bypass; and a whole host of other black-spot programs. But the important thing is that the $3.8 billion funding for those programs comes without a mining tax— (Time expired)