REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:58): Has the minister received a request from the Murray and Mallee Local Government Association to add a member to the Riverland and Murraylands RDA Board to add to the balance between the two regions and, if so, will she agree to it?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:58): I am happy to take that question on notice and bring back a response. I tend not to get involved in the individual regions' operational matters.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: It was correspondence to you.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I may or may not: I receive thousands and thousands of pieces of correspondence. I am happy to follow that up and to check whether there was a request and bring back a response. I am always willing to assist RDAs in any way I possibly can, to encourage extensive representation and participation. I am certainly very committed to doing that and always have been, and I will continue that practice and will check whether I have received such a request, and I will be more than pleased to bring back a response.