House debates Questions without Notice
Taha Humanity Association of Victoria
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
2:54 pm
My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. In her last answer, the minister said that she is looking into the matter of $670,000 being promised to the Taha association. When was she made aware of this issue and when did she start 'looking into it'?
Anne Aly Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Minister for International Development
I thank the member for his question. I refer to my previous answer, but I do want to reiterate something. I want to reiterate the fact that, like all governments, we do give grants to community organisations, whether they be religious organisations, mosques, temples or sporting groups. But we take very seriously our expectation that the activities of those organisations and the activities of those groups are conducted within the rule of law and within the expectations of taxpayers and the standards that taxpayers expect. In relation to the question and the specific issue that I know the member was standing up to interject on, I was made aware of this in the last 24 hours, I might say.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! Members on my left, the minister is answering the question directly.
Anne Aly Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Minister for International Development
Having been made aware that there was an election commitment made to said group, I have now instigated with the department to halt any further actions on meeting the grant or continuing the funding process.