COMMITTEES

Senator HODGINS-MAY (Victoria) (16:19): I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4. Leave granted. Senator HODGINS-MAY: I move the motion as amended: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 18 November 2026: The administration of the Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program including: (a) program design, guidelines, funding criteria and eligibility requirements; (b) the processes for identifying, inviting, assessing and selecting applicants; (c) the role of the offices of the Prime Minister and other relevant ministers or members of Parliament in determining which organisations were invited to apply, which grants were awarded and who would announce successful grants; (d) the role of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts in identifying and recommending which organisations were invited to apply; (e) the geographic and electoral distribution of grants; (f) any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest involving ministers, members of Parliament and applicants or grant recipients, or breaches of the Code of Conduct for Ministers; and (g) any other related matters.