Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

There are a number of grants programs that the government run in my portfolio area, including the area that Senator Dastyari is talking about. The decisions that are made around those projects and the funding that is expended are done on a very sensible and measured basis. This government makes absolutely no apology for providing funding to communities that need that funding from the government in partnership to ensure that they have strong and sustainable futures. Those decisions are made on merit. They are made in a very balanced and well-judged way, and we are not taking a backwards step from continuing to work in partnership with our communities so that those communities have strong futures.