Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I do thank the member for Ballarat for her question. I remind the House of some of the key points made by the Auditor-General in his report:

The department has provided clear funding recommendations in respect to the 33 projects for which it had submitted written briefings to the Minister. Reflecting the results of the department's assessment of project eligibility and merit, on each occasion the department recommended that funding be provided.

The Auditor-General's report also makes it perfectly clear:

Under the Infrastructure Investment Program arrangements, the Australian Government may commit funding to an investment project at any time for any phase based on information it deems appropriate.

So the minister had the authority. The minister was acting within authority. What the Auditor-General also said was:

I do apologise, Mr Speaker. I have accidentally gone to the wrong Auditor-General's report. I have accidentally gone to report No. 9 of 2014-15, The design and conduct of the third and fourth funding rounds of the Regional Development Australia Fund. And who was the minister? It was the member for Ballarat.

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