Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I would haven't thought we would be compensating groups who are unsuccessful in receiving government funding. Across every single portfolio of government there are far more organisations that apply for funding than it is possible to fund. We don't fund any groups who are unsuccessful in obtaining funding. I don't know whether the particular groups that you're talking about were eligible for funding. But the reality is that, from what I can see, there are a large number of organisations from every state and territory in the country who have received funding, ranging from the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre Inc. to the Nja-marleya Cultural Leaders and Justice Group, in Maningrida, in the Northern Territory. Of course, it would be disappointing for those who missed out on funding, but it simply isn't possible to fund every organisation who seeks government funding, whether it be in this portfolio or in any other.