Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. The Prime Minister expanded the Safer Communities Fund after the Christchurch terrorist attack to address risks associated with racial intolerance. The same fund, the Auditor-General has now confirmed, was used to favour coalition seats. The Holland Park Mosque applied for a grant after being subject to a number of Islamophobic attacks, including vandalism that referenced the Christchurch shooter as a 'saint' and someone wielding a machete. Why did they miss out?

Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. I am absolutely delighted to take a question on such important matters as our national security. The member has raised issues in relation to the Safer Communities Fund and the way that that grant funding is allocated. I can say that there have been a number of applications that have been made from communities right around Australia. In fact, since 2016, there has been more than $265 million invested into well over 600 projects to make sure that our communities remain safe.

As a government, we have always acted in the best interests of our communities. Clearly, in relation to grant funding—and I make this point very sincerely, and those opposite, I understand, have not been in government for quite some time and so maybe are not up to speed with what grant funding guidelines actually mean—it is very clear that grant funding guidelines in relation to the Safer Communities Fund were complied with.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will resume her seat for one moment. Don't go too far. The member for Lyons will go to the microphone and withdraw that comment—that unparliamentary remark.

Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

And he will now withdraw from the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Lyons then left the chamber.

Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

What I was saying at the time was that the grant funding programs are properly administered, and in fact the ANAO have on numerous occasions indicated that relevant grant funding programs have been properly administered.

In relation to particular grants that were awarded under the Safer Communities Fund, I think it's important to note that a lot of the funding that went towards these programs came from proceeds of crime, so it was money that was actually taken from criminals and rediverted into the community. There were a range of programs that were assessed by the department and, yes, there was some intervention from ministers and some of—

Opposition members interjecting—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left, you might want to listen to the answer.

Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

There was some intervention from ministers responsible to support key programs in a number of seats. So those opposite can get all precious and work themselves up about how grant funding was in fact allocated, but there were instances where ministers did take specific responsibility to make sure that programs could be supported in various communities.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley?

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) | Link to this | Hansard source

We have been going for three minutes where a specific question was asked about a mosque that had a swastika daubed on it, and this minister cannot answer the question at all and has gone around in generalities.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley will resume his seat. I accept that there was a degree of specificity about—

Member for Blaxland, that is entirely inappropriate. The question goes to the Safer Communities Fund. It did expressly go to a specific church—or mosque. If the minister is able to comment on a specific application, the minister should say so. If the minister can't, the minister should say so. But the minister has been asked about the Safer Communities Fund. She is relevant.

The member for McEwen will leave under 94(a).

The member for McEwen then left the chamber.

Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I take on board the concerns that people have in relation to swastikas on buildings, and there is strong evidence that the coalition government has always been strong in relation to taking— (Time expired)