Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to shock everyone here. My policy question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. Grant program guidelines for the coalition government's $940 million Community Development Grants Program indicate that only applications 'identified by the Australian government will be considered'. Of the $940 million, Minister, how much has been allocated to projects in the Hunter Valley?

Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan!

Senator Dastyari interjecting—

Senator Dastyari, you've asked your question.

Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator O'Sullivan and Senator Wong!

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

In relation to the Hunter Valley, I'll take that on notice. But I would say to the Senate—and I appreciate the question from the senator; it is a policy portfolio related question—and point out again the fact that over the last few days there've been a number of questions from the Labor Party about issues that the people of Australia simply don't see as a priority. We've seen eight questions since Monday morning—two non-portfolio questions. Do you know how many questions the Labor Party have asked me about regional development since the beginning of the year? Thirty? Twenty? Ten? Two. There've been two questions since the beginning of the year on my portfolio. Since Monday morning, just in a very few short hours, we've seen eight on an issue that the Australian people don't see as a priority. Again, it's incredibly disappointing that the Labor Party are again showing their disregard for regional people.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dastyari, a supplementary question.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My supplementary question is: can the minister confirm that while $12 million has been expended on the New South Wales Central Coast, only $305,000 has been awarded to projects in the Hunter? Is this consistent with the Commonwealth grant guidelines, which say:

Competitive merit based processes should be used to allocate grants …

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Give us all money on an equal basis!

Senator Dastyari interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan. Senator Dastyari, you've asked your question.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, mate, they run you! They've got you!

Senator Wong interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan and Senator Wong. Order! The minister has the call.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to 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.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dastyari, a final supplementary question.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My final supplementary question is: given the obvious disparity in the distribution of funds under the program, is the minister concerned that community groups who fail to achieve funding will capitalise on her potential ineligibility and challenge her decisions?

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

Again, wouldn't it be refreshing if the Labor Party focused on the things that were important for our communities, particularly across regional Australia? The senator has made a number of assertions there. I am very confident in the capacity of our processes to deliver out to our communities funding that is balanced, well thought out and measured. We take no backwards step from doing that. We identify where that need is, we put the proper processes in place and funding is expended accordingly.