Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to quote from the website of the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport. It said:

The Regional Development Australia Fund … supports the infrastructure needs of regional Australia.

Round 4 funding—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear, hear!

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is cheering me on! About $20 million of funding has been announced in round 4 funding, with four new projects. As a regional member, I had a look. I was disappointed to see that all four were in Labor held seats. Where are these projects? Well, two are in the new minister's seat of Ballarat—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Orange, Parkes?

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will get to those. Two of them are in the new minister's seat of Ballarat. Not a great look, but at least she can claim to be in regional Australia. The other two are beauties; you will love these ones. One is in the seat of Watson: Canterbury City Council—right out there in the boondocks of regional Australia; 15 kilometres from the Sydney GPO—got $4 million for the Sydney Multicultural Arts and Sports Precinct. I will give you a clue if you are not sure where regional Australia is: if it has 'Sydney' in the title, chances are it is not really entitled to receive a regional Australia grant.

There is one more project announced in round 4. It is way out there, past the Westgate Bridge and all the way to Werribee. That is right, it is 25 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD—the Prime Minister has her hand up—and $9 million will go to the Wyndham City Council for the Western Indoor Sports Hub in the Prime Minister's own seat, way out there in Werribee. What a strike rate.

Ms Gillard interjecting—

I actually lived in Werribee once, Prime Minister; thank you. Five more have been announced in the past hour. Three are in Labor-supporting Independent seats, two in National seats. Guess what? There is $34 million for Labor and Labor Independent-supporting seats, and $5.5 million for— (Time expired)