Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to commend to community organisations in my electorate of Menzies and, indeed, community organisations throughout Australia, the Australian Aid: Friendship Grants, which were launched by the foreign minister here at Parliament House earlier today.

These are grants of between $30,000 and $60,000 for community organisations which are undertaking projects in many countries in our area, the Indo-Pacific area. I'm sure we all know of individuals and organisations who volunteer their time to go into countries in the region, from healthcare workers and doctors who spend a few weeks or even a few months, in some instances, going to countries within the South Pacific or elsewhere, through to the wonderful work which is auspiced and undertaken through Rotary International of eradicating polio throughout the world.

These sorts of programs and many other programs—not just in the health area but through land management and care and various other things—actually help to build rapport between the people of Australia and the people of the countries in our immediate region. I commend these new grants to community organisations throughout Australia. Through them, the government can help to assist the valuable work that they do in our neighbourhood.