Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Urquhart, for your question. I'll have to take the details of that on notice and check with ministers concerned. But I've already stated in answer to previous questions that the Australian government notes the findings of the ANAO performance audit on the awarding of funding under this particular program. The department's working proactively to address issues. Despite the assertions being made and the cherry-picking of certain sections of the ANAO report, it's worth noting that apparently the ANAO report concluded that there was no bias 'evident in the assessment and decision-making' process concerning funding of projects in RJIP regions over others. The Regional Jobs Investment Package delivers much-needed funds to regional communities to stimulate employment not just into the future but in the here and now. In respect of requests for specific project details, it's all publicly available on the website.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Urquhart, a supplementary question?