Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Manufacturing) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, I have several questions and it is clear that I will not be able to get to them. I was thinking that perhaps we should revert to the House standing orders, where we only have three minutes to answer questions. Minister, I fully accept your understanding of the auto industry throughout this country. You would be well aware of the impact that the impending closure of car-making in Australia is having, particularly in communities in South Australia and Victoria. Indeed, the impacts are already being felt and job losses have already begun to occur. With respect to the Manufacturing Transition Grants Program, I understand that, of the 19 successful projects that were given grants, one was from South Australia and only three were from Victoria. Can you advise why that was the case? Can you also advise which other applicants from South Australia and Victoria applied for funding and why they were rejected? Can you also advise, with respect to the Next Generation Manufacturing Investment Program, which I understand was announced in December 2013, why it has taken so long for an announcement that any project has been successful in getting funding?

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