Micro Finance Fund

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (15:20): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation: on how many occasions did the panel assessing the inaugural 46 applications for grants from the Micro Finance Fund call upon the pool of independent experts?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for his question. The sooner his talents are properly recognised and he becomes a shadow minister the better, quite frankly. He will have less time to pick on me and—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Many people suspect that as soon as he is a shadow minister he will be elevated almost immediately to Leader of the Opposition in this place. In terms of how many times outside experts were called upon, I don't have an answer to that; I don't have all the details of every time all our panels have met for the great array of grants and assistance programs. However, it is a very good question and I am happy to find out the answer and bring back a response as soon as possible.