Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. I am pleased that she has drawn attention to this very important initiative by the coalition government to provide support for worthwhile projects in the most disadvantaged areas of Australia.

This program is an economic program rather than a social program although it, obviously, has social benefits as well. It is designed to help those areas that have been left behind in our nation's growth or those who are suffering particular local or individual difficulties. As a result, the projects that were announced in the first round, including quite a number in the honourable member's electorate, have been about addressing disadvantage and providing opportunities in regional communities.

For the second round, as the honourable member referred to, the applications have closed. The assessment is at an advanced stage and I expect that announcements about the successful projects in this round will be made in the next week or so.