Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I presume the honourable member knows of the very significant injection of funding into Playing Australia. I think I am safe in saying that in the May 2006 budget we took it from $2½ million or $3 million—do not hold me to the exactness of these figures—to about $4 million. It was a very substantial increase. It was in recognition of the success of the program. Playing Australia is acclaimed by regional and rural audiences across our nation. The government is a strong supporter of Playing Australia. I have no doubt there are good and proper reasons why the minister is still considering the recommendations of the Playing Australia committee. Bear in mind that they are recommendations—and do not read anything into this because I do not know the particulars of the issue the member is raising—and a minister does not blindly accept a recommendation and rubber stamp it. We cannot delegate completely our responsibilities. We can delegate the gathering of information and the sourcing of advice, but a minister has to carefully consider issues and stand by his or her own judgement. There is nothing unusual about a minister wanting to carefully consider recommendations from an advisory body.

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