REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:45): Will the minister confirm that the amounts she has announced in the council today replace the previous arrangement of three-year funding agreements for the RDAs?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:45): I have put on record in this place and elsewhere regularly the changes to funding arrangements for the RDAs. As I said, it is on record ad nauseam. The new RDF fund replaces the RDIF fund and now provides funding to the RDAs directly. Stream 1 of that fund is $1.4 million per annum, and the RDAs also have access to stream 2, which is creating competitive regions, and that is $1.6 million per annum. That provides support for projects and infrastructure and supports growing advanced manufacturing, realising the benefits of the mining boom for all South Australians and premium food and wine from our clean environment priorities. As I said, the RDAs have access to those funds as well.