Regional Growth Fund

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on regional development.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: It's novel, I know. In the 2022-23 budget, $15 million was allocated to the Regional Growth Fund. On the department's own website, applications for the competitive round of strategic pool have been closed since at least 3 June 2022—more than 12 months ago. The Regional Growth Fund was established to unlock new economic activity in our regions, to deliver critical economic infrastructure, create direct benefits across regional industries and strengthen regional communities.

My question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development is: other than the $600,000 Thriving Communities Program, how have regional communities wanting to invest in projects that enable regional industries to grow jobs and strengthen regional economies been able to access grant funding to that effect over the last 12 months?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:35): Regional communities have been able to access funding based on guidelines and open grant programs that are advertised on the PIRSA website.