Gary Nairn (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

I will have to check the detail of that. I know the program well. It is a great program, particularly for members who represent electorates in rural and regional areas. In the latter half of 2006, either $120 million or $150 million was spent on the program. I cannot remember exactly what it was. I know there were applications for substantially larger amounts of money than that—about tenfold.

That was the reason the minister responsible, as part of the budget process, sought an expansion of that particular program. In doing so, part of the additional funding was made available in this financial year. There were projects that had already been submitted and assessed as being appropriate but they could not be funded because there was not enough money originally allocated last year. There was an extra $250 million that could be spent. In explaining those differences, I am not exactly certain whether that affects what the member is talking about in this cash accrual aspect, but I will check it.

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