QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:00): Thank you. In relation to this and other aspects of the grants program, the government has made clear that we had a specific program to deliver on election commitments—election commitments that were made public, that we ran on publicly and that we were elected by the Australian people to deliver.

Proper processes were followed to deliver these commitments in accordance with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles following the government's re-election. I think that is very clear and very transparent. Since coming into office, we have also provided $2 billion in open and competitive grants for community infrastructure and committed to a new compact with local government services.

The reality is we have done both open and competitive processes in government and very clear, transparent processes to deliver and fulfil our election commitments, which include the commitment that you have made reference to. The PRESIDENT: Senator McGrath, first supplementary.