Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to see how interested the opposition is in these matters that might impact upon their electorates! We have funded in the order of 365 new projects valued at $13.1 million under this program. They cover rural, remote and urban electorates across Australia. They help communities with emergency water storage, developing emergency response plans, flood mitigation, training equipment for rural fire brigades and the installation of emergency lighting at regional airstrips as well as the purchase of satellite phones.

Volunteers in all of our electorates play a vital role in assisting in emergencies and disasters. This is the second full year of funding under this initiative. There has been overwhelming support from the emergency services area. I might remind members—particularly members of the opposition, who do not seem very concerned about these matters—that applications for the next funding round will open in December, and members who are assiduous in representing the interests of their electorates may well be able to follow up on those.

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