Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

It is an interesting alliance across the chamber between Senator Macdonald and the Greens. It is a bit like yesterday between Senator Abetz and the Greens. It is a new approach from those on the other side, one I am sure that Senator Brown and Senator Siewert might look upon with a little bit of consternation, some might say!

Senator Siewert, what I can say to you is to remind you that a number of these programs were only funded to the conclusion of the current financial year. As I said, it is obviously natural that staff contracted or attached to such projects, which were only funded under the previous government till 30 June 2008, would also cease at that time. As some senators might be aware, the government has provided some transitional funding to regional bodies. As you would be aware, Senator Siewert, we have provided all regional bodies with 60 per cent of their historical funding level for 2008-09. I can advise the Senate that in terms of additional transition support funding each of the 56 regional bodies has recently been advised of their share of the 2008-09 transition support funding, which totals $31.8 million. Senator Siewert, this means that on average regional bodies will receive around three-quarters—that is, 75 per cent—of their historic funding level in 2008-09.