Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (14:25): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer please indicate when the government will announce the successful applicants for the Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:25): Very, very soon. I am hopeful we will be in a position to announce the successful applicants, who I understand are all waiting with bated breath, no later than maybe Monday or Tuesday of next week. We had indicated publicly, as part of the process, that we had hoped to advise councils of the successful decisions by the 19^th, which is tomorrow, but we are going to need a couple of extra days in terms of handling the paperwork and advising all of the successful applicants clearly in terms of any conditionality there might be in relation to various funding applications.

By that, if I can give by way of an example, what we have seen is that some councils have, in our view, met the eligibility criteria of the scheme and are therefore recommended, but they also have an application in to one of a number of federal government programs. So in some cases there will need to be an element of conditionality; that is, should they be successful in relation to federal government funding for a particular program, the state government grant would be adjusted accordingly in relation to that particular application.

As I said, it is the government's intention to advise councils no later than early next week—either Monday or Tuesday is my current thinking—in relation to their success or otherwise in terms of the application. I can say in conclusion that there was a very strong application process. Not all councils in the state made applications, although the overwhelming majority of councils did. Some councils made applications for a single application, some made applications for a number of applications. There was a panel process that was utilised by the government. I can indicate that I have accepted all of the recommendations of the independent panel. I have not adjusted, amended or altered any of the amended allocations.

What I have done, if I can place it on the record, is that because of the number of applications and the quality of applications, based on the advice I received from the independent panel I have actually, or I am in the process I should say—I don't know that I have signed the document yet—today of moving a quantity of funds from one of the business and jobs support funds over into this particular Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program to provide an additional element of funding for local government partnership programs.

They, in and of themselves, will be excellent in terms of stimulus activity and creating jobs, which is what this government is about, stimulating jobs. We see the partnership with local government as being an important element of that particular program. I think the quality of the applications, the advice I received from the independent panel—and ultimately under the guidelines of this, I had absolute discretion, if I so chose, in relation to selection of the successful applicants. I am in the process of providing additional funding into this particular package to ensure that more councils will be able to undertake very important community infrastructure programs in their local communities over the coming two-year period.