QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Ms CATHERINE KING (Ballarat—Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) (14:59): I thank the member for Indi for her question. As the member would know—and I have had numerous discussions with her about this—at elections, political parties make election commitments. And then, under the grant rules, we are required to establish a program to then assess, fund and contract those election commitments.

That is what that fund does. That is the same way in which the Community Development Grants Program of those opposite was supposed to be used, and, if I'm asked about that, I might talk a little bit more about that as well. We are already delivering billions of dollars of community infrastructure projects across our regions and our suburbs.

Those programs have included $317.65 million, through the Thriving Suburbs Program, for 30 projects; $587 million through the Growing Regions Program for 110 projects that are currently being delivered; $67.6 million for the Urban Precincts in Partnerships Program; and the 230.3— The SPEAKER: The minister will pause. The member for Indi on a point of order. Dr Haines: On relevance, Mr Speaker.

I appreciate the list the minister is giving us, but the question was: how do our local councils and community organisations secure an invitation to this special program? The SPEAKER: The minister did address that part of the question at the beginning of her answer—I was listening carefully—where she specifically addressed the explanation. I may allow her to continue, making sure she is directly relevant, but I think she did address that part of the question.

Ms CATHERINE KING: I specifically answered your question in relation to that program and the requirements of me under that particular program. But, as I was saying, we are delivering billions of dollars of community infrastructure projects right the way through the regions and our suburbs. And I note, in particular, there are a number of projects being delivered in the member's own seat at the moment.

She has done very well out of the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, and the Growing Regions Program as well. Those projects are incredibly important to her community, because she has advocated very strongly for them. From the Benalla Art Gallery to the 'Lords Around the Ground' package, the Eildon Maritime and Community Hub, the Porepunkah baseball club—they are all projects that are being delivered in the member for Indi's electorate.

I could list projects right the way across the country, in the seats of those opposite, the seats of those on the crossbench and the seats of those over here as well. And that also comes on the back of this government's doubling of the Roads to Recovery funding, which is seeing an increase on the funding that those opposite provided, an increase for local road funding right the way across the country in our regional areas.

The SPEAKER: I will hear from the Leader of the House before I call on any other member. Mr Burke: I will just raise a point of order under standing order 90, reflections on members. During that answer, there was a serious reflection of an improper motive made by the member for Goldstein, which should be withdrawn.

The SPEAKER: If the member for Goldstein made a comment, it would assist the House if he were to quickly withdraw it so that we can move on. Mr Tim Wilson: I happily withdraw whatever. The SPEAKER: Thank you, Member for Goldstein.

The member for Goldstein has done the right thing and we will move on.